Thursday 29 July 2010

Walsall

Walsall's Bescot Stadium, another ground known by a sponsor's name, is the venue for the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier between England and Turkey.

England need three points from their last two games to top the group and qualify for the play-offs that will decide the teams to reach next years finals in Germany.

The teams line up for the national anthems.

A general view of the stadium looking towards the stand that normally houses visiting supporters. The giant advertising hoarding is aimed at passing traffic on the nearby M6 motorway.

England are strong favourites to get the result they need here, and they spend most of the first half on the attack. They make the breakthrough on 23 minutes, Rachel Yankey, captain for the evening on the occasion of her 100th cap, applying the finish after a neat one-two with Alex Scott.

Getting a sideline seat with an unobstructed view here is no mean feat, even if it is in one corner of the ground.


The second half quickly settles into the same pattern as the first, with England now attacking the impressive cantilevered stand that towers over the rest of the ground.


Substitute Ellen White adds the second goal after 62 minutes, running on to Jill Scott's pass and rolling the ball into the far corner. Nevertheless, Turkish goalkeeper Duygu Yılmaz is having an inspired evening, and Katie Chapman is left with her head in her hands after her header is somehow kept out.


England do make it 3-0 through a 76th minute Jess Clarke header, and can now look forward to seeing who they will draw in September's play-offs.