Lauren James fires England to a 1-0 win over Denmark on the Women’s World Cup

SYDNEY (AP) — Lauren James scored after six minutes of her first begin on the Women’s World Cup on Friday as European champion England beat Denmark 1-0.

Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard went near scoring a dramatic late equalizer when heading towards the publish within the remaining moments of regulation time, however England held on for back-to-back wins in Australia.

Vangsgaard, who got here off the bench to attain Denmark‘s Ninetieth-minute winner towards China in its opening Group D sport, beat England goalkeeper Mary Earps, solely to see her effort come again off the woodwork.

James, who was benched to begin the Lionesses’ opening sport towards Haiti, offered the decisive second when making a fast impression after being referred to as up from the beginning by coach Sarina Wiegman.

Collecting the ball outdoors the realm, she curled a right-foot shot past the attain of Denmark goalkeeper Lene Christensen to place England in entrance.

It was back-to-back semifinalist England’s first aim from open play in additional than seven hours of worldwide soccer and set the staff on track for back-to-back wins at the beginning of the World Cup.

The aim additionally noticed the Lionesses tie Norway’s file of 15-successive video games on the event during which they’ve scored.

James is the sister of Chelsea and England males’s participant Reece James, and she or he’s thought-about one of many brightest prospects in ladies’s soccer.

She went on within the second half of England’s opening win over Haiti, and there have been no indicators that she was overawed by the event as she was named participant of the match towards Denmark.

She introduced new vitality to England’s assault together with her direct runs and compelled Christensen into two extra saves early on because the Lionesses threatened to increase their lead.

Denmark held out and thru Rikke Marie Madsen and Pernille Harder got here near equalizing earlier than halftime.

After the break it was the Danes who had one of the best probabilities. Earps needed to push away Katrine Veje’s cross that was heading into the highest nook earlier than Vangsgaard so almost offered a late winner for her nation once more.

While the win places England on the verge of advancing from Group D, it had a setback when midfielder Keira Walsh injured her proper knee within the first half and needed to go away the sphere on a stretcher.

WHAT’S NEXT

England takes on China in Adelaide in its final sport in Group D on Tuesday, whereas Denmark faces Haiti in Perth.