Arnold Clark Cup - Game Day 1 at Stadium MK
It's the Arnold Clark cup so four teams battle it out over three days for the trophy 🏆of which England are the current holders. Today it's Italy and Belgium first up. They are followed by England and the Korean Republic.
The Blues were rated as one of the biggest disappointments at the Euros and they have an opportunity to set that straight before heading off to the World Cup in the summer. They were runners up in the Algarve cup last year so be no pushover. The Belgian Red Flames 🔥 one last years Pinatar cup and got to the quarter finals of the Euro's but have failed to qualify for the World Cup so they will be looking to him bounce back here. The korean "taegeuk" ladies are another formidable group. They were runners up in the Asian cup and have qualified for the World Cup. There are a couple of Brighton players in the squad with our “favourite” Lee in the starting 11 and Park on the bench. There are lots of familiar faces for the lionesses. Brighton's Katie Robinson is on the bench and Laura Coombs is in the squad. Keira Walsh, ill🤢, and Fran Kirby, injured🤕, are both unavailable. Leah is playing in midfield and Carter is in defence.
Italy and Belgium kicked off first. Italy threatened first but couldn't convert. Marie Detruver put Belgium ahead on 16 ⚽ and took the lead into the break.
It got a bit more lively and there were plenty of fouls some spicy tackles and a dive or two. Both sides had chances and substitute Manuela Giugliano levelled on 64⚽. it looked like the points would be shared when Tessa Wullaert broke clear about 40 yards out. She had a lot to do but made in count on 90 minutes ⚽ to take the points for Belgium.
The ref and her team did well to manage the game and she became less tolerant of the Italian theatrics as the game went on dishing out 4 yellows .
Next up the Lionesses and South Korea. England were lively from the start with Lauren James and Chloe Kelly causing problems out wide and swapping sides to mix it up. Korea offered little threat and struggled to keep the ball. Russo's shot is tipped on to the post on 37 but England couldn't get the ball across the line until Lauren was tripped in the box and Georgia netted from the spot on 40 ⚽. Was funny watching the ref try to make Kim in goal move back to the goalline.
Serena must have had words at half time as they came out flying and Chloe put the ball in the back of the net with 30 seconds on the clock ⚽. It was all over a couple of minutes later when Alesia flicked Greenwood's low cross between the keeper and the post ⚽. Korea had few chances and started rolling around a bit. Lee got kicked in the shoulder by Lucy, ref stopped play for treatment and then gave the whites a throw-in. Serena rang the changes as usual and we got to see RD, who came on for Alesia, , Lauren Hemp and Laura Coombs. Lauren James got her first England goal on 78 ⚽ when she blasted a low shot from inside the box. She then made way for Katie Robinson who did really well getting in some great crosses. 4-0 to the Lionesses.
Ref had a good game and kept it flowing better than the earlier game.
Thanks again to MK for the hospitality and the novel Park and Stride 🚗🚶♀️🚶♂️🏟.
The scranometer registered a 7.5 for the Vegan sausage roll.
See you at Coventry
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
 |
| Big crowd for the Lionesses |
 |
| Quiet here at the moment |
 |
| Italy v Belgium |
 |
| Lionesses warming up |
 |
| Watching Korea warm up |
