SheBelieves Cup
GermanyGermany2EnglandEngland1

Germany Women 2-1 England Women

By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport

England were denied just their second win over Germany after conceding two late goals to lose in the SheBelieves Cup in the United States.

The Lionesses held a deserved half-time lead after Toni Duggan's flicked header from Alex Greenwood's right-wing cross.

Germany levelled when England defender Gilly Flaherty unluckily diverted a low cross past keeper Karen Bardsley.

The European champions nicked a barely-deserved win when Babett Peter coolly tucked in a controversial penalty.

Toni Duggan celebrates scoring England's opening goal against Germany
Toni Duggan's header gave England an early lead but Germany won thanks to two late goals

Loss ends England hopes

England's second straight defeat at the new international tournament, which features four of the best five ranked teams in the world, ended their hopes of an unlikely triumph.

A narrow 1-0 defeat in their opener against hosts United States, the current world champions, left them with a difficult task to win the round-robin group competition.

But the World Cup bronze medallists looked set to keep their hopes alive as they led Germany until the 76th minute.

With most of the English players still in pre-season mode before the summer Women's Super League season, Germany's superior match fitness began to tell in the final stages.

However, that had little effect on the two slices of misfortune that took the game away from Mark Sampson's team.

Germany v England
England defender Gilly Flaherty shows her disappointment after scoring the own goal which put Germany level

'Officials aren't good enough'

England recorded their first win over Germany - at the 21st attempt - in last summer's World Cup third-place play-off, then followed it up with a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Duisburg in November.

Germany 1-2 England: Mark Sampson says officials not good enough

The Lionesses again showed they could compete for long periods against Germany, but they were undone by the decision to wrongly penalise Fara Williams, who was making her 150th international appearance.

Williams, who scored the winning penalty against Germany in the World Cup, appeared to win the ball from forward Alexandra Popp, who fell after kicking the England midfielder's foot.

"It is incredibly tough to take," Sampson told BBC Sport.

"Two games in a row we have stonewall penalties not given to us and a ridiculous penalty given against us. The officials aren't good enough.

"It is frustrating because there were lots of good things in that game for us but we haven't quite got over the line. The decision cost us."

Fara Williams reaches 150th England cap

What's next?

England play their final game against France, who are also winless after losing 1-0 to the US earlier on Sunday.

The teams battle to avoid finishing bottom of the group when they meet on Wednesday (22:00 GMT) in Boca Raton, Florida.

The match will be live on the BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website, with coverage starting at 21:50 GMT.

The US and Germany meet after the England game has finished to determine who will win the tournament.

Line-ups

Germany

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 12Benkarth
  • 8Hendrich
  • 2HenningSubstituted forPeterat 53'minutes
  • 3Bartusiak
  • 22KemmeSubstituted forMaierat 65'minutesBooked at 72mins
  • 10MarozsánSubstituted forDäbritzat 45'minutesBooked at 67mins
  • 7BehringerSubstituted forGoeßlingat 45'minutes
  • 15Blässe
  • 9IslackerSubstituted forMagullat 78'minutes
  • 17KerschowskiSubstituted forMittagat 78'minutes
  • 18Popp

Substitutes

  • 1Schult
  • 4Maier
  • 5Krahn
  • 6Magull
  • 11Mittag
  • 14Peter
  • 16Huth
  • 19Petermann
  • 20Goeßling
  • 21Weiß
  • 23Däbritz
  • 24Doorsoun

England

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Bardsley
  • 12Scott
  • 5Houghton
  • 6FlahertyBooked at 21minsSubstituted forStoneyat 79'minutes
  • 3GreenwoodSubstituted forCarneyat 69'minutes
  • 4Williams
  • 7NobbsSubstituted forDavisonat 83'minutes
  • 17Chapman
  • 11Stokes
  • 8Scott
  • 19DugganSubstituted forKirbyat 87'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Bronze
  • 9Taylor
  • 10Carney
  • 13Chamberlain
  • 14Rafferty
  • 15Stoney
  • 16Bassett
  • 18Christiansen
  • 20Aluko
  • 21Telford
  • 22Kirby
  • 23Davison
Referee:
Ekaterina Koroleva
Attendance:
25,363

Match Stats

Home TeamGermanyAway TeamEngland
Possession
Home64%
Away36%
Shots
Home13
Away7
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home5
Away1
Fouls
Home11
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Germany 2, England 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Germany 2, England 1.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Germany. Alexandra Popp tries a through ball, but Lina Magull is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Alexandra Popp (Germany) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sara Däbritz.

  5. Post update

    Offside, Germany. Kathrin Hendrich tries a through ball, but Alexandra Popp is caught offside.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, England. Francesca Kirby replaces Toni Duggan.

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Anna Blasse (Germany) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alexandra Popp with a cross.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, England. Gemma Davison replaces Jordan Nobbs.

  9. Post update

    Anja Mittag (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Fara Williams (England).

  11. Goal!

    Goal! Germany 2, England 1. Babett Peter (Germany) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  12. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  13. Post update

    Delay in match Alexandra Popp (Germany) because of an injury.

  14. Post update

    Penalty Germany. Alexandra Popp draws a foul in the penalty area.

  15. Post update

    Penalty conceded by Fara Williams (England) after a foul in the penalty area.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Sara Däbritz (Germany) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, England. Casey Stoney replaces Gilly Flaherty.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Leonie Maier (Germany).

  19. Post update

    Stephanie Houghton (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Attempt saved. Sara Däbritz (Germany) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alexandra Popp.

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