 Long's two goals were not enough to prevent an England defeat
|
England's women were beaten 3-2 by the United States in the first of two warm-up games for the World Cup.
The US side took a 2-0 first half lead at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre through goals from Keli Smith and Michelle Kasold.
Rachel Dawson added a third for the visitors shortly after the break.
Two goals from Leicester's Katie Long, the first from a penalty corner, gave England hope of earning a result but the response was too late.
The game proved to be a stern test for England's women, who travel to Rosario, Argentina to compete in the World Cup, which gets underway on 25 August.
The US, who narrowly missed out on a place in the World Cup following a qualifying defeat by Korea in April, are placed four places below sixth-placed England in the world rankings.
 |
606: DEBATE
|
Smith gave them the lead just before the half hour when she latched on to a pass into the circle and fired home.
England were on the back foot for much of the first half and they conceded again just before half time when Kasold deflected home a cross.
Dawson made it three on 42 minutes, diverting in a Smith pass.
England finally began to gain a foothold in the match in the final quarter and were rewarded through Long's brace - the first from a penalty corner in the 58th minute and the second a good finish from Jo Ellis' cross with five minutes to go.
But they were unable to force an equaliser and will hope to fare better in Thursday's second warm-up game against the same opposition.
Reflecting on missed chances, England head coach Danny Kerry said: "In the first 10 minutes we should have taken the lead but didn't. We missed an open goal and a stupid error at the back gave the US the lead.
"They had more belief than us and we lost our way a bit. In the last 20 minutes of the second half we got back to playing hockey, we got on top and we pulled two goals back but it was too late by then."
Potenshöjande medel - potenshöjande medel
No comments:
Post a Comment