June 6, 2005

Last gasp winner keeps England hopes alive

England 3 Finland 2
UEFA Championship 2005
Group A
Sunday, June 5, 2005
City of Manchester Stadium
Attendance: 29,029

Scoring
England (Own goal Sanna Valkonen) 18th. minute
England Barr , 40th.
Finland Rantanen , 56th.
Finland Kalmari , 89th.
England Carney, 91st.

Match report
Colin Aldis
Although Rachel Yankey was awarded player of the match, it was a bright young prospect, Karen Carney who helped produce and finish a stoppage time goal, to win the host country’s first match, and on the first day of the 8 team tournament put them top of the group.
After a cautious and cagy opening period with most of the players being nervous in front of a record attendance for a European finals match, England put on the pressure and were
rewarded with a rather fortunate own goal. From the left Karen Carney sent a free kick low into the goal area, and Finnish keeper Satu Kunnas could only push it away. But it hit captain Sanna Valkonen, and trickled into the goal.
As with many matches luck plays its part, and Finland could have equalised after 24 minutes, but a looping header by Anne Makinen hit the bar and bounced clear. Once again Kelly Smith showed the flash of brilliance that has often earned her the best player tag, with some neat footwork and a terrific shot from 25 metres. The ball hit the post but fortunately fell to Amanda Barr who headed it goalwards. Satu Kunnas dived back and clawed it away from the goal but the assistant referee had signalled a goal, and it was 2-0. The TV replay did not confirm that the whole of the ball had crossed the line. Once again the need for new technology in a major competition would have been very useful, especially for Finland, and considering what was to happen later.
After her long spell out with injury it was no big surprise to see Kelly Smith rested for the second half, but this helped Finland gain some initiative. After a poor clearance by Rachel Unitt, Anne Makinen set up Anna-Kaisa Rantanen to hit a shot from 20 metres to beat Jo Fletcher.
Not surprisingly there was a certain amount of tension in the play with few clear cut chances. Karen Carney went close with another free kick from the left, and Satu Kunnas did well to push it over the bar. The arrival of Eniola Aluko gave the England attack an injection of pace, and twice she broke clear of the defence. Again the Finnish keeper did well to dive down to save the first at the feet of the striker, and then dive to her right to push the ball away for a corner.
England captain Faye White was taken off for the last 4 minutes, and it could have been a disaster with her tall presence so important, as Finland grabbed an equaliser. The
defence did not deal with a cross into the area, and the ball popped up perfectly for Laura Kalmari to head home from 5 metres.
The joy for Finland was short lived, as 2 minutes later Karen Carney played the ball through to Eniola Aluko. Her shot was saved by Satu Kunnas but she could only push the ball into the path of Karen Carney, who showed great composure to side foot it into the roof of the net,and send the very vocal spectators home happy.

England
1. Fletcher, Josephine (GK)
2. Scott, Alex
3. Unitt, Rachel
4. Chapman, Katie
5. Faye, White-Captain (Johnson, Lindsay,86)
6. Phillip, Mary Rose
8. Williams, Fara
9. Barr, Amanda (18. Aluko, Eniola, 73)
11.Yankey, Rachel
12. Smith, Kelly (10. Westwood, Emily ,46)
14. Carney, Karen

Substitutes not used
13. Brown, Rachel-GK
20.Hall, Leanne-GK
17.Asante, Anita
15.Stoney, Casey
16. Exley, Vicky
7. Handley, Jody

Head Coach Hope Powell
_________________

Finland
1. Kunnas, Satu -GK
2.Vaelma, Petra
3. Julin, Jessica
4.Valkonen, Sanna-captain
5. Salmén, Tiina
6. Sarapää, Eveliina
7. Mäkinen, Anne
9. Kalmari, Laura
10.Rantanen, Anna-Kaisa
11. Kackur, Heidi (18. Talonen, Sanna, 81)
13. Thorn, Jessica (8. Mustonen, Minna,75)

Cautions
Kackur, 79

Substitutes not used
12. Junkkari, Virva-GK
20. Matikainen, Noora
14. Ahonen, Heidi
19. Lindström, Heidi
16.Uusi-Luomalahti, Terhi
15. Malaska, Sanna
17. Lindqvist, Emma

Head Coach Michael Kald

Referee Gyongyi Gaal (Hungary)
Asst.Refs
Blazenka Logarusic (Croatia)
Irini Mirt (Romania)
4th. Official
Dagmar Damkova (Czech Republic)