**written at 01:00, Septembr 12 – please forgive any typos/errors until editing can be done after I’ve got some sleep!**
Japan 2 England 2
SHANGHAI, 11 September 2007
Japan grabbed a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of the game, but England will be kicking themselves for failing to kill the game off earlier.
After missing gilt-edged chances either side of half-time, England clawed their way back from 1-0 down thanks to two Kelly Smith goals in as many minutes. As they sought to wind down the clock rather than push for a third, they paid the ultimate price as a clumsy challenge 25 yards out allowed Aya Miyama to step up with her second free kick goal of the night.
The first half started poorly and hardly got better. If last night’s game teetered between the sublime and the ridiculous, this was decidedly dull. Stray short passes and aimless long ones became a depressing recurring pattern.
England set out their stall to flood the Japanese midfield and flummox their defence by employing Eniola Aluko as a lone striker with three forwards in a line behind her. After early unease, Japan responded by dropping deep when they were in possession and maintaining a frighteningly efficient off-side trap of which George Graham’s Arsenal would have been proud.
Few clear cut chances were created by either side, but neither England’s fans nor their bench could believe it when Aluko missed an open goal. Miho Fukumoto in the Japanese goal had raced out and missed the ball, pushing Aluko wide and closing down the angle, but the miss could prove costly in the race for second place in the Group behind Germany.
Kozue Ando came on for Japan in the second half and was given much more of a license to go forward down the right wing. She caused no end of problems and her surging runs led the attacks that forced both free kicks for the goals.
Having gone 1-0 down on 55 minutes, England rallied strongly and could have had a hat full of goals before Smith equalised – Japan defended in numbers and needed to as Aluko and Smith had efforts cleared off the line.
Eventually the pressure paid and Smith was able to stab home on 81 minutes. Just two minutes later, she found herself with room to run down the left and to take the ball around two Japanese defenders before smashing it into the back of the net at the second attempt. In celebrating her first, she kissed her own boot. Her team-mates were on hand to oblige this time around.
But the celebrations were premature. From a promising counter-attack position, England tried to play down the clock at the corner flag, but, as so often with both teams on the night, just could not hold onto the ball. A late knock for Sarah Brown was not excuse enough to be beaten again as much because of poor positioning as by the placement of the free kick. England applauded the crowd, but left the field looking and probably feeling as if they had lost, while Japan were able to bask in the delight of their many, many fans in the Hongkou Stadium.
Woman of the Match: Kelly Smith. She played an important role in a well-intentioned tactical ploy of switching forwards around all game. She was the spark in any England attack and, crucially, the only one with the clinical finishing necessary at a World Cup Finals.
Posted by l 