England vs China in FIH Women’s World Cup: English Defence Too Good for Chinese Team

England registered a satisfying, if not a comprehensive, win over China in the FIH Women’s World Cup, by a margin of 2-0. This win placed England at the top of the table in Pool B and boosted their chances of making it to the next round. While China never looked outplayed, they were never able to look penetrative enough in attack to threaten the English goal.

The fact that both the goals for England came through penalty corners shows that even China managed to keep their defensive wall reasonably intact. In the end, it was PC conversion that proved the difference between the two sides.

England vs China in FIH Women’s World Cup: Full Match Report

Yes!!

That’s a win for England and we are through to the crossover phase on Sunday. Phew!

A very good performance, a bit of fortune to find the net but overall we performed admirably throughout 🏑

ENG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2-0 🇨🇳 CHN pic.twitter.com/EKWU8UJR50

— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) July 7, 2022

Both teams looked evenly matched in the early stages of the game. England started to slowly gain the upper hand and keep the ball in China’s half for, seemingly, longer than the other way round. The first goal came in the 10th minute when Grace Balsdon’s PC drag-flick deflected off the body of a runner and went into the goal. The goal was reviewed by the field umpire herself and the video umpire decided to uphold the decision, deeming the hit to not have been dangerous.

The English team were making some good attacking moves every now and then with Lily Owsley playing a key part. It was her good dribbling that earned her team another PC around the 27th minute of the game. This time, it was Giselle Ansley who put the ball into the net.

However, controversy erupted as the Chinese players complained about the ball not having gone over the line at the top of the circle from the injection. Since China had already lost their review, they couldn’t get the goal looked at by the video umpire. As a result, the goal stood but the replays suggested that indeed, the ball probably didn’t go out of the circle, as it has to in a penalty corner set-up.

#HWC2022 #HockeyEquals @EnglandHockey v #CHN https://t.co/kDeiTOZn9Z pic.twitter.com/5R0MzGMXv0

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) July 7, 2022

From then on, it was a case of both teams defending stoutly and neither managing to get easy shots at the goal. England were especially impressive in the defence as they didn’t allow China’s attackers any room inside the ‘D’. Every time a player from the Asian side got the ball, she was put under serious pressure by more than one player.

China can look back at this game and review their inability to be more creative inside the last 25. England, on the other hand, would hope that Owsley continues to be as impressive as she was in this game.

England vs China in FIH Women’s World Cup: Goals

Grace Balsdon (10′)

Giselle Ansley (27′)

England vs China in FIH Women’s World Cup: Player of the Match

Lily Owsley