England’s Lauren James, right, celebrates a first half goal with teammate Ella Toone during a Women’s World Cup Group D football match against Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Sophie Ralph).
SYDNEY (AP) — Lauren James scored after six minutes of her first start at the Women’s World Cup on Friday as European champion England beat Denmark 1-0.
Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard went close to scoring a dramatic late equaliser when heading against the post in the final moments of regulation time, but England held on for back-to-back wins.
The forward, who came off the bench to score Denmark’s 90th-minute winner against China in their opening Group D game, beat England goalkeeper Mary Earps, only to see her effort come back off the woodwork.
James, who was benched for the Lionesses’ opening game against Haiti, provided the decisive moment when making a quick impression after being called up from the start by coach Sarina Wiegman.
Collecting the ball outside the area, she curled a right-foot shot beyond the reach of Denmark goalkeeper Lene Christensen to put England in front.
It was back-to-back semifinalist England’s first goal from open play in more than seven hours of international football and set the team on course for back-to-back wins at the start of the World Cup.
The goal also saw the Lionesses tie Norway’s record of 15-successive games at the tournament in which they’ve scored.
While the win puts England on the verge of advancing from Group D, they had a setback when midfielder Keira Walsh injured her knee in the first half and had to leave the field on a stretcher.
WHAT’S NEXT
England take on China in Adelaide in their last game in Group D on Tuesday, while Denmark face Haiti in Perth.
