England vs Bosnia-Herzegovina match report: Jill Scott pops up to end Bosnia resistance in blustery Bristol
England 1 Bosnia & Herzegovina 0
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Your support makes all the difference.The England head coach Mark Sampson blamed the weather after what was expected to be a comfortable Euro 2017 qualifying victory turned out to be a hugely frustrating game, despite the home side’s dominance, played in swirling wind and rain that was of no benefit to either side – particularly to England’s attacking efforts.
Sampson’s team could not find a way through Bosnia’s tight-packed defence until the substitute Jill Scott headed the only goal after 69 minutes. “Credit to Bosnia,” said Sampson, “they made it bloomin’ difficult for us.
“But the conditions were the winner today. The players were desperate to put on a show for the supporters and win the match with style and lots of goals. But instead they had to be strong, resolute and stay patient. The important thing was getting the three points to keep us on track for the Euro finals.”
Three days after a well-earned goalless friendly draw that might have been a victory against the European champions Germany, England found it a tough task to break down a team who sit 67 places below themselves at 72nd in the Fifa rankings.
The game was played almost exclusively in the Bosnia half, but Sampson’s side found it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities.
They went close on just three occasions during the opening 45 minutes, most notably when Jordan Nobbs had a 20-yard drive pushed on to the bar by the goalkeeper Almina Hodzic.
The Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko then missed a couple of close-range chances, shooting wide of the near post from the Manchester City midfielder Isobel Christiansen’s cross and then heading over the top from a Christiansen corner.
England pushed even harder after the interval, Sampson noting: “Our two central defenders were camped half-way in the Bosnia half.” But still his players were unable to find a way past the outstanding Hodzic.
The Bosnian stopper made fine saves from further long-range efforts by Nobbs and also did well to palm away an in-swinging free-kick by Christiansen under pressure from three England players.
But Hodzic was finally beaten when Aluko crossed from the left and Scott’s downward header squirmed under the body of Hodzic to cross the line.
The goal gave England their second qualifying win after beating Estonia 8-0 in their first group game. And after a year that brought a bronze medal at the summer’s World Cup finals, Sampson said: “2015 has been a fantastic year for English women’s football – the challenge now is to keep the momentum going.”
England Bardsley; Turner, Houghton (Rose 84), Stoney, Stokes; Nobbs, Bassett; Clarke (Scott, 55), Christiansen (Duggan, 60), Davison; Aluko. Substitutes not used Telford, White, Kirby, Williams.
Bosnia & Herzegovina Hodzic; Dijakovic (Lihovic, 81), M Hasanbegovic, Spahic (Piskic, 90), Aleksic, Radeljic (Stanic, 90); Nikolic; Seslija, Hadzic, Kulis; Spahic. Subs not used E Hasanbegovic, Numanovic, Kameric, Crnjak.
Referee F Guillemin (France).
England midfielder Jill Scott celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game PA
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