England 2-1 Italy: Rachel Daly double helps England avoid Italy scare

Rachel Daly has scored 10 goals successful 13 appearances for Aston Villa successful the Women's Super League this season

Rachel Daly scored doubly arsenic England survived a scare from Italy successful Coventry to triumph their 2nd lucifer of the Arnold Clark Cup.

Daly nodded successful Katie Robinson's transverse to marque it 1-0, but Italy rocked the hosts with a astonishment equaliser successful arguable manner arsenic Sofia Cantore bundled successful a transverse which appeared to spell retired of play.

Despite protests from the Lionesses, including defender Maya Le Tissier who had slid successful attempting to artifact the cross, determination was nary goalline exertion astatine the CBS Arena to corroborate the decision.

England regrouped, however, with Daly erstwhile again providing a important impact, heading successful substitute Lauren James' transverse to reconstruct their lead.

She went disconnected to a lasting ovation soon afterwards successful beforehand of 32,128 - a grounds attendance for a sporting lawsuit astatine the arena - and England comfortably held connected to marque it 2 wins from 2 successful the tourney they won past year.

Sarina Wiegman's broadside question to Bristol connected Wednesday for their last lucifer against Belgium and occurrence would seal the defence of their rubric conscionable 5 months retired from the Women's World Cup.

Italy, who narrowly mislaid 2-1 to Belgium successful their opening match, look South Korea next.

England tested arsenic Daly proves herself again

Daly, utilized arsenic a left-back passim Euro 2022, has been a regular starter nether Wiegman, but seldom utilized successful the earthy attacking relation she plays for her club.

However, her outstanding signifier for Villa this season, wherever she has scored 10 goals successful 13 Women's Super League matches, has made it hard for the England brag to ignore.

Daly came connected arsenic a substitute for guardant Russo successful the opening triumph implicit South Korea and started astatine Coventry, fixed different accidental to marque her people successful her preferred position.

She yet made the quality with her 2 strikes, but should person had more, missing respective headers successful some halves, having caused problems for the Italian defence with her precocious pressing.

England connected the full were wholly dominant, but were tested much than they had been successful their 4-0 triumph implicit South Korea arsenic goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck was forced into an aboriginal prevention from Valentina Giacinti.

Defender Alex Greenwood, named skipper with Leah Williamson an unused substitute, besides had to usage her gait to marque a betterment tackle erstwhile Giacinti astir escaped with a shot implicit the top.

Italy's quality to modulation with gait caused immoderate problems and their extremity was a trial of England's nerve.

But Wiegman volition beryllium pleased with however her broadside responded, and extended their unbeaten tally to 28 matches, to guarantee they are successful a beardown presumption to triumph a 3rd successive tourney nether the Dutchwoman.