Haiti gives England fits before falling in 2023 Women’s World Cup opener

BRISBANE, Australia — The champions of Europe had to struggle for a 1-0 win over Haiti, fending off Melchie Dumornay’s forays through the England defense and Kerly Theus’ athletic saves in its Women’s World Cup debut on Saturday.

The difference between England, the world’s No. 4-ranked team, and the unheralded, under-resourced, 53-ranked team from strife-torn Haiti came down to a handball.

A retaken penalty from Georgia Stanway in the 29th minute was enough for England to earn three points, the primary objective in the Group D opener for manager Sarina Wiegman.

But it did expose some deficiencies in her injury-depleted team.

“Haiti were unpredictable, they’re very transitional. That’s what they showed,” Wiegman said. “We were struggling with that.

“The win is the most important thing but now we need the final thing in finishing our chances.”

England had 19 shots on goal, including 10 on target. Theus made a succession of saves to keep Haiti in the contest, even stopping Stanway’s first penalty attempt before a VAR review ruled encroachment and gave the England midfielder a second chance — which she drilled inside the left post.

Haiti, mainly drawing on players based in France and the United States, wanted to bring some positive news to a country in turmoil.

For them, the narrow loss could be viewed as a win, of sorts.

“We’re very proud of our performance,” coach Nicolas Delépine said. “We’ve worked very hard and it was a huge test for us. We were very close to England, but there are always things we can do better on the pitch.”

Dumornay regularly troubled the England defense and created opportunities, but Haiti couldn’t quite finish.

They went within inches of an equalizer, only for England goalkeeper Mary Earps to make a crucial reflex save in the 81st in a close-range, one-on-one with substitute forward Roseline Éloissaint.

“I can say if we do that against England, we can do anything against anyone,” Dumornay said.

Dumornay was threatening on the counter and missed with her first real opportunity, narrowly failing to connect with a cross from the right in the 35th as she attempted a bicycle kick from inside the area.

And, just after halftime, Dumornay lashed a powerful right-foot shot that forced Earps into a save.

Ultimately, it was an inexplicable lapse from Haiti’s Batcheba Louis, who reached up as she jumped in the area and was penalized for handball, that made the difference.

Otherwise, it was an impressive debut in front of a 44,369 crowd from Haiti, one of the last three teams to qualify for the biggest Women’s World Cup ever staged.

And against a side that surged into World Cup contention with its first major title a year ago.

The Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 in the final of the 2022 Euros in front of 87,192 fans at Wembley, heightening hopes in England of a world title.

But ACL injuries to Beth Mead, the Player of the Tournament at the Euros, and Leah Williamson forced Wiegman into changes.

Millie Bright took over as captain, but also spent months recovering from a serious knee injury before being cleared to play a full part this week.

England hasn’t scored a goal in open play since the win over Brazil in the Finalissma in April, and would have have been expecting a more polished display.

Stanway said the most important thing was the three points.

“It’s so important when you get going in the tournament. It’s been a long build-up to today and I think we’re kind of happy to just get over the line,” she said. “They caused us problems, they were threatening on the counter attack, they were fast and they were physical. And, yeah, they challenged us in areas that we probably didn’t really expect.”

Alessia Russo started up front for England and created opportunities but wasn’t able to convert them.

Approaching the hour, she forced two saves from Theus within a minute, while Haiti was down to 10 players with inspirational skipper Nerilia Mondesir getting treatment on a left ankle injury.

Russo’s header in the 64th was tipped over the crossbar by Theus.

Bright also fired over the crossbar minutes later.

The addition of Lauren James and Rachel Daly off the bench added energy and edge to the England attack over the last half hour but it didn’t result in more goals.

Both teams will be back in action Friday, with England moving to Sydney and likely to make line-up changes to face Denmark, and Haiti meeting China in Adelaide.

Japan 5, Zambia 0.

In Hamilton, New Zealand, Hinata Miyazawa scored a pair of goals, while Mina Tanaka and Jun Endo each added a goal and an assist, as Japan shut out Zambia to open World Cup play for both sides.

Miyazawa found the back of the net with one-time finishes on either side of halftime to secure an easy win over the Copper Queens in what was their World Cup debut.

Tanaka, denied goals twice on offside calls, scored in similar fashion in the 55th minute, assisted by Endo.

Endo then scored in the 71st minute, finding herself alone on the left side of goalkeeper Catherine Musonda’s goal and slotting home a left-footed strike.

Not only did Tanaka see two goals called back by VAR for offside, the Nakeshiko were awarded an early second-half penalty only to see it rescinded for yet another offside call.

The Group C clash was the first time a senior World Cup match was hosted at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium.

Saturday’s attendance of 16,111 nearly filled the stadium that holds just over 18,000.

Tanaka, denied goals twice on offside calls, scored in similar fashion in the 55th minute, assisted by Endo.

Endo then scored in the 71st minute, finding herself alone on the left side of goalkeeper Catherine Musonda’s goal and slotting home a left-footed strike.

Not only did Tanaka see two goals called back by VAR for offside, the Nakeshido were awarded an early second-half penalty only to see it rescinded for yet another offside call.

The Group C clash was the first time a senior World Cup match was hosted at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium.

The attendance of 16,111 nearly filled the stadium, which holds just over 18,000.

Zambia struggled to find its footing in its World Cup debut.

Star striker Barbra Banda found herself isolated at the top of the pitch and marked by three Japanese defenders for much of the night.

Deep into second-half injury time, the Copper Queens’ fortunes went from bad to worse as goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, who started the match in place of an injured Hazel Nali, was sent off with a second yellow card for a foul in the box.

Initially, Riko Ueki’s penalty hit the underside of the crossbar, but VAR ruled the penalty be retaken for goalkeeper encroachment.

Ueki sent her second chance into the lower right corner of the net.

Denmark 1, China 0.

In Perth, Australia, Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard scored in the 90th minute as Denmark beat China at the Women’s World Cup.

With time running out in a game of few chances, she rose to head home Pernille Harder’s late corner.

Vangsgaard had only come on in the 85th and scored the first headed goal of the tournament to spark joyous celebrations from Denmark’s players.

With the win, the Danes tied European champion England at the top of Group D.