This will be considered a disappointing result for the Three Lionesses after Fara Williams gives them a dream start with a towering header. But the highlight goal has to be Monica Campo’s 30 yard screamer which a flailing Karen Bardsley fails to fend off.
The shot takes her by surprise and she reacts too late. In men’s football shots from distance are far more common and goalies reduce their reaction times by moving more quickly to get to the ball.
Hope Powell, England’s coach felt Bardsley could have done better.
“I’ll have to look at it again but I know Karen is very disappointed that she didn’t get there,” Powell said. “It looked like the ball shifted but I think she should have saved it.”
The equalizer deflated the English and they were never really able to recover. Their big guns Kelly Smith and Eni Aluko turned in disappointing performances with the latter unable to take her chances on a couple of occasions.
The Mexicans on the other hand upped their game with Stephanie Mayor almost snatching victory if it were not for Ellie White’s fortuitous intervention of her goalbound drive. At match end El Tri celebrated their first ever point in World Cup history. The heat certainly enervated both teams and Maribel Dominguez had to be stretchered off with cramps.
England will have to turn in a better performance against New Zealand or they might just face an embarrassing early exit.