LE HAVRE: Jodie Taylor broke a 14-month goal drought to shoot England past Argentina and into the last 16 of the women’s World Cup on Friday after Cristiana Girelli’s hat-trick saw the Italians through with a 5-0 hammering of hapless Jamaica.

Euro 2017 top-scorer Taylor tapped home her first England goal since April 2018 from Beth Mead’s inviting low cross just after the hour mark to send England to the top of Group ‘D’ on six points, two ahead of Japan, and into the next round alogside Italy, France and Germany with a game still to play.pan, who beat Scotland 2-1 earlier on Friday, to ensure they finish in first place and avoid a potential clash with European champions the Netherlands in the next round.

Italy took their place in the knockout stages following Juventus striker Girelli’s treble and a late brace from Aurora Galli, which also gave Milena Bertolini’s side a perfect six points and put them top of Group ‘C’.However the penalty with which Girelli opened her tournament account caused controversy, with referee Anna-Marie Keighley pointing to the spot after a VAR check in the 10th minute for a what looked like a soft foul on Barabara Bonansea.

Girelli then missed the spot-kick, but Keighley allowed her to retake following another VAR check that Jamaica goalkeeper Sydney Schneider had encroached.

The 29-year-old made no mistake the second time round — two minutes after the original penalty was given — before doubling Italy’s lead 13 minutes later when she bundled home Bonansea’s flick-on from a corner.

Girelli became only the second Italian woman to score a World Cup hat-trick just after the break when she beat Schneider to a looping cross.

Mana Iwabuchi set 2011 winners Japan on their way against Scotland and Yuika Sugasawa converted a penalty as Japan closed in on the last 16, just four days after a disappointing display in a goalless draw against Argentina.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2019