England 1, Argentina 0
England qualified for the knockout stage of the Wormen’s World Cup with their second win in a row – 1-0 over a stubborn Argentina side.
Embed from Getty ImagesJodie Taylor’s second half tap-in broke the deadlock after Vanina Correa saved Nikita Parris’ first half penalty and also made saves from Beth Mead, Parris, and Taylor to frustrate England.
Much has been made of the standard of goalkeeping in the tournament but the highly defensive Argentina side protected their goal with their lives until they overcommitted in the second half and paid the price when England took their chance on the break.
England manager Phil Neville declared that he knew his starting XI for each game and duly made four changes from the side that beat Scotland on Sunday for the game in Le Havre.
Top scorer Jodie Taylor came in for Ellen White, while Carly Telford replaced Karen Bardsley in goal for her first appearance at a major finals at the age of 31.
Abbie McManus kept her place in the side to start her first World Cup game after replacing the injured Millie Bright against the Scots and Jade Moore replaced Keira Walsh in midfield.
Lucy Bronze headed wide from Nikita Paris cross just seconds after the kick off but England were unable to capitalise on their bright start up against an Argentina side who were committed to combating their rivals and chances were few in the first half.
Jill Scott had a battle in midfield with her opposite number Ruth Bravo to set the tone for the game.
Captain Steph Houghton sent a 25 yard free kick over the bar while Fran Kirby’s lob into the area was turned past her own post by a sliding Aldana Cometti after it was driven into the box.
Argentina had an even bigger let off soon afterwards.
Alex Greenwood won a penalty after 27 minutes when Beth Mead’s cut back found the United left back marauding and she was brought down by Bravo.
Nikita Parris missed a penalty against Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa
Parris stepped up but her spot kick to the right was a good height and superbly palmed against the post and out by Vanina Correa with Taylor only skewing the rebound wide under pressure.
Set pieces were a danger for England as they struggled to break down the aggressive and defensive Argentina team.
Beth Mead’s free kick was turned towards Taylor by Scott but the England forward was just offside as England finished the half strongly with Mead having a shot saved by Correa.
England improved after the break and could have scored early on with Parris’ curling cross foxing Correa and flashing across the face of goal.
But they had to be alert, with Jaimes narrowly offside after almost catching Houghton and McManus out with the ball to her feet.
Parris was thwarted again by Correa after she tried a rising left footed drive through a forest of bodies after Mead’s free kick had been knocked back into the danger area.
Taylor’s free header from 8 yards out was right at Correa from Parris’ cross as England’s superior fitness began to tell in the second half.
The goal that had been coming finally arrived when Argentina got overconfident and committed too many players forward.
Jodie Taylor breaks 430 day international goal drought for England against Argentina
England broke and Fran Kirby found Mead on the left hand side and her cross was converted at the back post by Taylor from four yards after 61 minutes.
It was Taylor’s 7th tournament goal in 9 matches but also her first international goal for 14 months, since an April 2018 World Cup qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and released the pressure immediately.
Scott headed over the bar from Mead’s corner as the game opened up.
Greenwood’s diagonal ball into the area should have been converted by Scott but the Manchester City midfielder got underneath her header and saw it land harmlessly on the roof of the net.
Argentina had to come out and play and substitute Mariana Larroquette finally gave Carly Telford a save to make.
Neville brought on Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly, and Karen Carney for Mead, Parris, and Kirby as England saw out the game.
MATCH STATS – England 1, Argentina 0
England Women: Telford, Bronze, Houghton, McManus, Greenwood, Scott, Moore, Parris (Daly 87), Kirby (Carney 89), Mead (Stanway 81), Taylor
England Subs not used: Bardsley, Earps, Walsh, Bright, Stokes, Williamson, White, Staniforth
Booked: Moore 45+2
Goal: Taylor 61
Argentina: Correa, Sachs, Barroso, Cometti, Stabile, Banini (Larroquette 68), Bravo, Mayorga, Benitez (Santana 77), Bonsegundo, Jaimes (Oviedo 90)
Argentina Substitutes not used: Garton, Pereyra, Gomez, Potassa, Coronel, Chavez, Ippolito, Juncos, Menendez
Booked: Cometti 39, Barroso 69