Chelsea star Lauren James scored twice as European champions
England swept past shellshocked China 6-1 and into the Women’s World Cup last
16 on Tuesday to set up a clash with Nigeria.
It equalled England’s biggest-ever World Cup victory and
booked them top spot in Group D, while consigning the Asian champions to their
earliest ever exit.
Denmark beat Haiti 2-0 in the other group game to finish
second and line up a knockout-round meeting with co-hosts Australia.
England made an explosive start at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh
Stadium with an instinctive finish from Manchester United striker Alessia Russo
in just the fourth minute.
Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp and James added further goals
before the break.
Wang Shuang converted a second-half penalty for China, but
James got her second with a sublime volley, substitute Chloe Kelly was gifted a
fifth after a goalkeeper howler and Rachel Daly got in on the act as the clock
ticked down.
England and Japan are the only teams to win all three group
games so far, reaffirming their status as among the favourites to win the World
Cup.
While they celebrated, China’s tournament ended at the group
stage for the first time ever.
The Steel Roses, an early powerhouse in women’s football,
made at least the round of 16 in the six previous World Cups they have played,
finishing runners-up in 1999 during their heyday.
England, who only needed a point to top the table, started
without injured Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh.
Manchester United captain Katie Zelem replaced her in one of
three changes with Jess Carter and Hemp returning in place of Kelly and Ella
Toone.
They made a dream start with Hemp breaking down the left and
whipping in a dangerous cross which James headed down to Russo who took one
touch before burying it in the corner.
China struggled to assert themselves and the inevitable
second goal came in the 25th minute.
Skipper Millie Bright won possession and slotted through to
James who played in Hemp between two defenders and she finished confidently.
Lucy Bronze clattered the post with a header before James
added their third from a well-worked freekick routine, firing a stunner from
the edge of the box.
They were unlucky not to be 4-0 ahead at half-time with
another fantastic James strike disallowed for offside.
China had to wait until the 52nd minute for their first
chance, but they won a penalty for handball with Wang calmly converting from
the spot to give them a glimmer of hope.
But James produced a high-class side-footed volley from an
inch-perfect Carter cross for their fourth and when Chinese goalkeeper Zhu Yu
horribly misjudged a ball over the top, Kelly pounced for their fifth.
Daly made it a memorable night with another fine volley at
the death.
Danes ease through
The Danes, playing at their first World Cup since 2007,
thought they had scored early against Haiti in front of just under 18,000 in
Perth but it was ruled out after a VAR review found Simone Boye was just
off-side.
Denmark made their early pressure count when Haiti conceded
a penalty — their third at this World Cup — for handball.
Skipper Pernille Harder scored from the spot.
Haiti woke up and had a golden opportunity just before the
half-hour, but captain Nerilia Mondesir’s effort was weak and easily saved by
goalkeeper Lene Christensen.
Haiti refused to go quietly in the second half and Melchie
Dumornay headed weakly at Christensen from close range as they chased a first
World Cup goal.
Denmark sealed the deal deep in stoppage time through Sanne
Troelsgaard.
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