England held by Mexico in opener

By Sam Lyon
BBC Sport

Women's World Cup 2011

• Venue: Germany


• Date: 26 June - 17 July


• Coverage: Watch all England matches live on the Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only); listen on BBC Radio 5 live; highlights on BBC Two; final live on BBC Three

England celebrate Fara Williams', third right, opener but it was not enough

England's World Cup campaign got off to an inauspicious start as they were held to a draw by Mexico in their opening game of Group B in the Wolfsburg Arena.

Hope Powell's side settled after a nervy start and Fara Williams's looping header on 21 minutes was just reward for their early dominance.

Mexico drew level against the run of play 10 minutes later, though, when Monica Ocampo's 30-yarder crept in.

And England failed to fire thereafter, Eniola Aluko missing two fine chances.

It is a draw that will feel a little like a defeat for England after they bossed long periods of the game despite never hitting their straps in the heat.

The last time England played Mexico, back in 2005, they ran out 5-0 winners - but the south American outfit is a much different opposition these days.

Still, coming into the game as favourites, alongside Japan, to qualify from Group B following a relatively favourable draw, England settled nice and early.

Maribel Dominguez prompted an early scare when she threatened to break in behind the England defence only to be halted by a fine Faye White tackle inside the area, but Mexico were on the back foot for long periods in the opening half hour.

The influential Kelly Smith fired inches wide with a left-footer from 20 yards, while Karen Carney saw a curled effort deflected behind.

England's Group B opponents

• Mexico, 27 Jun 1700 BST


• New Zealand, 1 Jul, 1715 BST


• Japan, 5 Jul, 1715 BST

And it was from that effort that Hope Powell's side broke the deadlock, Carney's pin-point corner met by the head of Williams, who looped a fine header into the top corner.

Rachel Yankey and then Fara Williams were denied by Cecilia Santiago, at 16 the youngest ever keeper at either a men's or women's international tournament, as England controlled proceedings - and then, against the run of play, Mexico drew level on 33 minutes.

Keeper Karen Bardsley will feel she should have done better but it was still a terrific strike by Ocampo, her well-hit, though speculative, 30-yard effort dipping in the top corner with the England number one flapping.

It was just the tonic Mexico needed and the match became a far more even contest for the remainder of the game.

England still edged possession and territory, with Aluko wasting two golden opportunties to restore her side's lead - first when she failed to sweep home six yards out, instead missing the ball entirely, and then when she slapped wide from Smith's intelligent cut-back.

Smith, too, was inches away from bundling in a winner in the last 10 minutes as she just failed to get on the end of Ellen White's cross.

As it was, though, Mexico got the draw they set out for and, with tournament favourites Germany waiting the runners-up of this group in the quarter-finals, that means England have plenty of work to do in their two remaining group matches.

In the day's earlier game, England's Group B opponents Japan beat New Zealand 2-1, Yuki Nagasato and Aya Miyama firing home either side of Amber Hearne's reply for the Kiwis.

England coach Hope Powell:

"No excuses, we have played better and we will have to play better if we want to stay in this tournament.

"The goal flew in, didn't it, but to concede the way we did was bitterly disappointing. We would have expected Karen (Bardsley, England's goalkeeper) to have saved that.

"We dominated up until that point and she was devastated to have let that goal in. It let them back into the game but at least we did not lose."