Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough

HOOPS
performance since last year’s
European Championship finals.
“Without three key players,
Kelly Smith, Karen Carney and
Anita Asante – each of them
missing through injury – Hope
Powell’s team at times lacked
fluency and almost contrived
to hand goals to hard-working
but limited opponents. But with
Philadelphia Independence’s
Sanderson, one of five
America-based players in
the starting line-up, having
a fine evening in Smith’s
position, there was plenty of
inventiveness and no lack of
scoring opportunities.
“Aluko set up the 16th-minute
opener, crossing for Sanderson
to score with a header that
deflected off the right-back
Susanna Gahleitner to loop
into the net. After the goal
Powell’s team fell away for a
spell and Austria might have
equalised nine minutes before
the interval when the left-back
Susanna Höller’s powerfully
struck 35-yard drive had to
be turned over the bar by the
goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
“Austria went close again nine
minutes after the interval, the
right winger Daniella Tasch
driving in a 15-yard shot that
bounced out off the underside
of the bar. England retaliated
with their best spell, though
the right-winger Alex Scott
missed two simple chances
before Aluko volleyed in the
second goal from Sanderson’s
perfectly flighted 68th-minute
through ball.
“The midfielder Fara Williams
hit the bar with a tremendous
25-yard drive in the 84th
minute and the final goal was
expertly finished by White
with a chip from a tight angle
after collecting a neat pass by
Sanderson.
“England face the group
leaders Spain next Thursday
and Powell confirmed that
Smith would be back in the
team.”
England (4-2-1-3): Bardsley;
Susi (E White 62), F White,
Stoney, Unitt (Rafferty 87);
Williams, Chapman; Sanderson;
A Scott, Aluko, Yankey (S Smith
87). Subs not used: J Scott,
Brown, Bassett, Johnson.
Austria (4-4-1-1): J. Pfeiler;
Gahleitner, Hoeller, Wenninger,
Entner; Tasch, Prohaska,
Puntigam, Hanscaitz; Aigner;
Groebner sub: Burger (63).
Subs not used: Reischer,
Hoellmueller, Gatternig.
Referee: C De Boeck.
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