Published 06 July 2022 5 min read
England Women's Senior Team
England 1-0 Austria - UEFA Women's EURO 2022 match report
- B. Mead (16′)
FULL TIME
UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Group A
Wednesday 06 July, 08:00 PM
Old Trafford
1
0
HT: 1 - 0
A first-half goal from Beth Mead gets the Lionesses off to a winning start at UEFA Women's EURO 2022
07 Jul 2022
2:19
Highlights: England 1-0 Austria
Watch the best of the action from our game as the Lionesses kick-off UEFA EURO 2022 with a win
PLAY WOMEN'S & GIRLS' FOOTBALL
England started their UEFA Women's EURO 2022 campaign in confident fashion as they defeated Austria 1-0 at Old Trafford.
Beth Mead scored the first goal of the tournament and the only one of the game with a composed chip over the head of Manuela Zinsberger, that led to a moment of late VAR confusion before being ruled official.
Hosting the tournament on home soil for the first time since they failed to make it out of the group stage in 2005, Sarina Wiegman's team were made to work throughout by their Group A opponents.
But while it was at times a hesitant display on an historic occasion, it was ultimately an effective performance from the Lionesses in front of a record-breaking crowd of 68,871.
England started to apply pressure after ten minutes as Lauren Hemp fired a left cross into the box that was just too high for Ellen White to get any power behind.
Beth Mead scored the first goal of the tournament and the only one of the game with a composed chip over the head of Manuela Zinsberger, that led to a moment of late VAR confusion before being ruled official.
Hosting the tournament on home soil for the first time since they failed to make it out of the group stage in 2005, Sarina Wiegman's team were made to work throughout by their Group A opponents.
But while it was at times a hesitant display on an historic occasion, it was ultimately an effective performance from the Lionesses in front of a record-breaking crowd of 68,871.
England started to apply pressure after ten minutes as Lauren Hemp fired a left cross into the box that was just too high for Ellen White to get any power behind.
Georgia Stanway drove forward on a confident run after 16 minutes, but it was Mead who claimed the first goal of the tournament as her own a minute later, with a stunning touch to lift the ball over Zinsberger to put England ahead.
A touch-and-go call as to whether the ball fully crossed the line before Austria's Carina Wenninger knocked it away brought VAR into play before referee Marta Huerta de Aza confirmed the goal to officially make it 1-0.
England banked on their confidence and a quick pass by Fran Kirby to Hemp saw White fishing for her 51st goal for the Lionesses but she was unable to deliver as her header went wide.
Austria found themselves victim to some brilliant build-up play by England before the half finished but were able to get their bodies in the way several times to deny Wiegman's team at the final hurdle.
Irene Fuhrmann's side chased their first goal in the 43rd minute, but Verena Hanshaw missed the opportunity as she put the ball over the crossbar.
A touch-and-go call as to whether the ball fully crossed the line before Austria's Carina Wenninger knocked it away brought VAR into play before referee Marta Huerta de Aza confirmed the goal to officially make it 1-0.
England banked on their confidence and a quick pass by Fran Kirby to Hemp saw White fishing for her 51st goal for the Lionesses but she was unable to deliver as her header went wide.
Austria found themselves victim to some brilliant build-up play by England before the half finished but were able to get their bodies in the way several times to deny Wiegman's team at the final hurdle.
Irene Fuhrmann's side chased their first goal in the 43rd minute, but Verena Hanshaw missed the opportunity as she put the ball over the crossbar.
There was then almost a moment of extra-time excitement for Hemp but a difficult pass from Kirby meant that Zinsberger was able to produce a fine save and keep her team safe.
After a stunted and slightly wasteful first half for both sides, it was Austria who started stronger after the break as Nicole Billa almost got a chip past Mary Earps.
And they kept up a strong defence as Kirby saw her first shot at goal in the 52nd minute but couldn't find the power to finish it.
Katharina Naschenweng made a strong and clean strike from the left after 56 minutes but went clear of the goal and created no real danger for Earps.
Substitute Alessia Russo nearly brought the needed change in the 71st minute as she was left unmarked six yards out from the goal but the Manchester United player was unable to get a clean strike on the ball to capitalise.
After a stunted and slightly wasteful first half for both sides, it was Austria who started stronger after the break as Nicole Billa almost got a chip past Mary Earps.
And they kept up a strong defence as Kirby saw her first shot at goal in the 52nd minute but couldn't find the power to finish it.
Katharina Naschenweng made a strong and clean strike from the left after 56 minutes but went clear of the goal and created no real danger for Earps.
Substitute Alessia Russo nearly brought the needed change in the 71st minute as she was left unmarked six yards out from the goal but the Manchester United player was unable to get a clean strike on the ball to capitalise.
Another replacement in Chloe Kelly kept the energy high with a bolt down the right but fired from too far out before Barbara Dunst gave Earps her first save of the game with a lovely strike on target for Austria.
But the clock ran out at 1-0 as both teams suffered tired legs and first outing nerves in the opening game of the tournament to give the Lionesses an important three points.
But the clock ran out at 1-0 as both teams suffered tired legs and first outing nerves in the opening game of the tournament to give the Lionesses an important three points.
England (4-2-3-1): 1 Mary Earps (Manchester United); 2 Lucy Bronze (Barcelona); 3 Rachel Daly (Houston Dash); 4 Keira Walsh (Manchester City); 6 Millie Bright (Chelsea); 7 Beth Mead (Arsenal); 8 Leah Williamson (c) (Arsenal); 9 Ellen White (Manchester City); 10 Georgia Stanway (Manchester City); 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City); 14 Fran Kirby (Chelsea)
Substitutes: 20 Ella Toone (Manchester United) for Kirby 63'; 18 Chloe Kelly (Manchester City) for Mead 64'; 23 Alessia Russo (Manchester United) for White 64'
Substitutes not used: 5 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City); 12 Jess Carter (Chelsea); 13 Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa); 15 Demi Stokes (Manchester City); 16 Jill Scott (Unattached); 17 Nikita Parris (Arsenal); 19 Bethany England (Chelsea); 21 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City); 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Coach: Sarina Wiegman
Goals: Beth Mead 17'
Austria (4-1-4-1): 1 Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal); 3 Katharina Naschenweng (1899 Hoffenheim); 7 Carina Wenninger (AS Roma); 8 Barbara Dunst (Eintracht Frankfurt); 9 Sarah Zadrazil (Bayern Munich); 10 Laura Feiersinger (Eintracht Frankfurt); 11 Viki Schanderbeck (c) (Arsenal); 12 Laura Weinroither (Arsenal); 15 Nicole Billa (1899 Hoffenheim); 17 Sarah Puntigam (Montpellier); 19 Verena Hanshaw (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Substitutes: 18 Julia Hickelsberger-Füller (1899 Hoffenheim) for Naschenweng 59'; 2 Marina Georgieva (SC Sand) for Schnaderbeck 77'; 14 Marie Höbinger (FFC Turbine Potsdam) for Feiersinger '86
Substitutes not used: 4 Celina Degen (1899 Hoffenheim); 5 Annabel Schasching (Strum Graz); 6 Katharina Schiechtl (SV Weder Bremen); 13 Virginia Kirchberger (Eintracht Frankfurt); 16 Jasmin Eder (SKN St. Pölten); 20 Lisa Makas (SKN St. Pölten); 21 Isabella Kresche (SKN St. Pölten); 22 Stefanie Enzinger (SKN St. Pölten); 23 Jasmin Pal (SC Sand)
Coach: Irene Fuhrmann
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (ESP)
Attendance: 68,871
Substitutes: 20 Ella Toone (Manchester United) for Kirby 63'; 18 Chloe Kelly (Manchester City) for Mead 64'; 23 Alessia Russo (Manchester United) for White 64'
Substitutes not used: 5 Alex Greenwood (Manchester City); 12 Jess Carter (Chelsea); 13 Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa); 15 Demi Stokes (Manchester City); 16 Jill Scott (Unattached); 17 Nikita Parris (Arsenal); 19 Bethany England (Chelsea); 21 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City); 22 Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Coach: Sarina Wiegman
Goals: Beth Mead 17'
Austria (4-1-4-1): 1 Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal); 3 Katharina Naschenweng (1899 Hoffenheim); 7 Carina Wenninger (AS Roma); 8 Barbara Dunst (Eintracht Frankfurt); 9 Sarah Zadrazil (Bayern Munich); 10 Laura Feiersinger (Eintracht Frankfurt); 11 Viki Schanderbeck (c) (Arsenal); 12 Laura Weinroither (Arsenal); 15 Nicole Billa (1899 Hoffenheim); 17 Sarah Puntigam (Montpellier); 19 Verena Hanshaw (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Substitutes: 18 Julia Hickelsberger-Füller (1899 Hoffenheim) for Naschenweng 59'; 2 Marina Georgieva (SC Sand) for Schnaderbeck 77'; 14 Marie Höbinger (FFC Turbine Potsdam) for Feiersinger '86
Substitutes not used: 4 Celina Degen (1899 Hoffenheim); 5 Annabel Schasching (Strum Graz); 6 Katharina Schiechtl (SV Weder Bremen); 13 Virginia Kirchberger (Eintracht Frankfurt); 16 Jasmin Eder (SKN St. Pölten); 20 Lisa Makas (SKN St. Pölten); 21 Isabella Kresche (SKN St. Pölten); 22 Stefanie Enzinger (SKN St. Pölten); 23 Jasmin Pal (SC Sand)
Coach: Irene Fuhrmann
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (ESP)
Attendance: 68,871
