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To everyone who has been taunted at some point in their life…this one’s for you.

Thanks to PTI for the commentary.

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will face Spain in the semi-finals of the Under-17 World Cup having defeated South Korea 3-1 in Calabar…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: soccer statistics. The blog is also related to: the history of soccer.

 Superstar Janet Jackson is set to perfrom at the X-Factor semi-finals on December 6th. A source at ITV UK has said the performance is definatley scheduled and they are even trying to persuade her to mentor the acts awsell.

Also that day Janet is confirmed to be performing at Capital FM’s Jingle Bell Ball in the O2 Arena.

Following all the internet rumours, I’m really glad to hear this it’s great promo for her and help’s to re establish her fanbase in the UK.

I’ve got dibs on her either performing a Medley or her new single for the upcoming greatest hits “Make Me” maybe even both, who knows.

Keep checking back I’ll keep you informed of any developments.

IMG|SOURCE: GettyImages

The boy’s soccer team’s season ended with an emotional and hard fought battle against Jackson. The team played with heart and courage all year and although they are done with this season, they are taking with them many great memories.

The season started off very strong for the bulldogs, beating Kent, Hoover, Cloverleaf, and Avon Lake. They then took on a tough Wadsworth team, tieing them 0-0. This is where the problems began for the boys. Seniors Jud Sprandel and Ryan Bayonnet were injured in the match, which played a significant role in the season. Even with 2 starters injured, Green was able to beat St. VM and tie St. Edwards. Going 5-0-2 in the first 7 games was one of the best starts the boys team has had in years. But then, the injuries really took a toll on the Bulldogs in the middle of a streak of 8 games which were played almost always within 2 days of the other. The fell to Highland, Revere, Glen Oak, and Copley, and tied Stow, but were able to beat Lake, Barberton, Talmadge, and Ravena to end the regular season with a record of 9-4-3. Thats when things started happening for the boys. Ranked 4th in the district, the team received a bye for the first round, and played Howland in the second round, a team that had beaten them 3 years ago in the district finals. In their last ever home game, the boys beat Howland 2-1 in a great showing of dominance which the score did not reflect. This gave them confidence for their second match for district semis against Glen Oak, one of only four teams who had beaten them in the season. In a very exciting match, the boys pulled out a 2-1 win with a goal by Zach Lucas in the last 5 seconds of the game. Then came the district finals against 1st seated Kent. The boys were determined to win their first district title in 7 years, and came out very strong. Goals scored by Tyler Meredith, Juan Amaya, and Jud Sprandel led the bulldogs to an amazing 4-2 win over the Rough Riders.

“As one of the seniors on the team, I will never forget these past 4 years, this season especially. The chemistry and bonds that were formed were incredible, and we will always be a team”, said Jud Sprandel, Senior Captain of the team.

Well, November’s kicking things off with a pretty lazy attitude. Not too much to speak of for this first week. Wednesday night is BULL in Naz Chapel. BULL is the Campus Outreach event held on Northwestern’s campus every other Wednesday night (opposite Oasis). Campus Outreach is a group of NWC and Bethel students who attend Bethlehem Baptist and participate in ministry events together. BULL (I believe) stands for Building Up Laborers and Leaders. It’s a time of “fun, teaching, and worship.” Even if you don’t attend Bethlehem Baptist, feel free to come on out to Naz Chapel Wednesday night at 9. They’d love to have you!

Thursday night kicks off NWC’s first large theatre production of the year, The Crucible. The cast has been rehearsing for the past two months, and they’re ready to finally perform. Set in Salem, Mass., the drama revolves around the people of the town and the cries of “witches.” It’s been guaranteed to be an intense performance. In fact, tickets are free for NWC students with a student ID. Peformances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at 7:00 in Maranatha Hall.

This week proves to be a big one for NWC sports. Tuesday, Men’s and Women’s soccer teams play for the UMAC Semi Finals. The Men’s team plays at the University of St. Scholastica; Women play at Northland College. Also Tuesday, Women’s Volleyball takes on University of Minnesota, Morris at Home for their Semi-Final. Friday, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country run at St. John’s Universtiy for the Fall Finale.

That’s about it for the week. Just easing our way into November. On that note, Halloween was this past weekend. Can’t say I did much myself, but I heard costumes were particularly creative this year. So I wanna know, what did you guys dress up as, or what was the craziest costume you saw?

Mozambique will play Zambia while South Africa face hosts Zimbabwe in the semi-finals of Southern Africa’s Cosafa Senior Challenge…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: todays soccer. The blog is also related to: english footbal.

No poster yes no poster for Semi-finals. Cuz we know who will win from the beginning and i keep thinking the other way yes. I keep swearing in my heart:

“Oppai Nodoka!!! Plz win plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.”

or

“Yui lose! Yui lose! Yui lose!” X324298578285 times

Well fuck it. Finals is Taiga vs Yui.

Taiga wins Nodoka 1077 V.S 998.

Yui won Mihoko 1019 V.S 988.

Well for Blazing Finals…I vote for TAIGA!!! FUCK ITS KUGI OVER AKI-CHAN!!!

O and Btw, Vivid got subbed for chpt 5 plz read it .

I am so annoyed with myself after England were beaten by the Aussies tonight. I am as annoyed with myself as the crowd were when the locusts decided to invade the pitch and force play to be suspended for 15 minutes in today’s match. How could I be so stupid as to even think that we were in with a chance of beating the Aussies and getting through into the finals? Retrospectively I can’t say I am surprised by the result, but I thought there was some hope, clearly not. I thought that now England had something to play for, unlike when we last played Australia and the series was over before it had begun, maybe we could beat the Aussies, clearly not. I thought that because we had won a couple of supposedly ‘challenging’ ODI’s such as Sri Lanka and South Africa that we could get through this game, clearly not.

The England crushing would have been more damning had there not been Luke Wright and Tim Bresnan who dragged the score up to something half decent, with 48 and 80 respectively after our usual opening collapse.

At the end of the day, we were comprehensively beaten by a phenomenal batting performance from the team from down under. Ricky Ponting’s 111 off 115 was special, Watson’s 136 off 132 was phenomenal, a simply stunning performance from the Aussies.

New Zealand survived a late scare to book their place in another global semi-final with a four-wicket victory after exploiting a lively Wanderers pitch to skittle England for 146. Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill took out more than half the target in little more than 12 overs, but England’s quicks claimed 5 for 27 to ensure New Zealand had to work hard to cross the line. Ultimately, though, the success of New Zealand’s bowlers was the deciding factor with Grant Elliott claiming a career-best 4 for 31 alongside Shane Bond’s return to form with 3 for 21.

New Zealand knew they were better going hard at the target than waiting for the unplayable balls to come along and the value of that approach came to the fore later. Guptill, following from his 66 against Sri Lanka, collected the early boundaries, but McCullum was soon catching up as he launched sixes off England’s three frontline pacemen. The opening partnership barely missed the injured Jesse Ryder as the pair gathered nine fours and three sixes until McCullum carved a catch to cover. Guptill completed a run-a-ball half century, but when he edged James Anderson to slip it sparked some nerves.

Ross Taylor was brilliantly held at second slip as Graeme Swann dived full stretch to his right. Stuart Broad then bounced out Elliott and Gareth Hopkins, while Ryan Sidebottom returned to have Neil Broom caught behind, a third catch to stand-in keep Eoin Morgan. It put in context the effort of the openers – the only time all match that bat dominated – and that England’s bowlers took too long to find their lines. In the end, Daniel Vettori sealed the chase with a thumping pull through midwicket and with so many overs to spare New Zealand finish top of the group, which means a semi-final back at the Wanderers.

However, the talking point of the match came when Vettori reversed an appeal against Paul Collingwood, the second such incident in the tournament. Collingwood reared his head out of the line of a short ball from Kyle Mills and immediately walked out of the crease thinking the over was complete. McCullum threw down the stumps and the appeal was referred to the third umpire who gave it out. By then, New Zealand were in a huddle discussing their options and eventually Vettori and Collingwood shook hands.

If Collingwood had gone onto make a big score – and it didn’t look out of the question as he peppered the leg-side boundary – Vettori would have had second thoughts about his decision, especially with New Zealand’s tournament hopes hanging on this result but, like with Andrew Strauss when he recalled Angelo Mathews against Sri Lanka, Vettori ended with his reputation enhanced and a vital victory.

For once, Strauss hadn’t been lucky with the toss and the day went downhill rapidly for England on a surface that produced some spiteful deliveries. The captain received one that climbed off a length second ball, taking a thin edge through to McCullum, and Bond was soon in on the action when he ripped one through the defences of Joe Denly, uprooting the off stump. The ball didn’t bounce as Denly expected and the batsman was caught on the back foot.

Uneven bounce was a regular feature of the innings, but Owais Shah’s dismissal had nothing to do with the pitch. Coming off his breathtaking 89-ball 98 against South Africa, Shah clearly felt in supreme touch but he tried to dominate too early when he heaved across the line. Bond has had a slow start to the tournament, but came good when New Zealand needed him most with plenty of deliveries proving unplayable off a lively surface.

At 13 for 3, it was purely a case of survival for Collingwood and Morgan. Collingwood broke the shackles with a thumping pull over deep square-leg and also punched Mills down the ground before his run-out reprieve. But just as the fourth-wicket pair had begun to set a platform, Ian Butler provided the breakthrough when a top-edged cut from Morgan was parried by McCullum and taken on the rebound by an alert Taylor from first slip.

If England hoped life would get easier with the change bowlers in operation they were given a rude surprise as Elliott proved nearly as difficult as Bond. To begin with, Elliott sprayed the ball too wide, but was soon among the wickets. His first owed a little to luck and a lot to superb catch at midwicket by Taylor, as another short ball that should have gone for four was plucked out of the air.

Elliott then found the edge of Luke Wright’s bat with one that shaped away and clung onto a sharp, low caught-and-bowled to remove Broad. Swann gave Elliott his career-best fourth scalp with a top-edged pull that looped to McCullum. Ravi Bopara, playing due to Matt Prior’s ongoing health issues, gathered what he could without ever looking settled against the moving ball and was eventually undone by a shooter from Bond that would have taken leg stump.

There was enough life in the pitch for England to cause New Zealand a host of problems if they bowled well, but it soon became clear who were the side that were desperate to win. New Zealand have been in knockout phases since their second match, when defeat would have sent them home, and have come through each challenge, while England will hope this defeat hasn’t burst their unexpected bubble of success.

Quite clearly after England’s defeat against New Zealand, we have resumed our usual disappointing ODI performances, or have we? Posting 146 in a ODI is lets be honest, nothing short of shocking, however when you are on a pitch that plays like a stony beach, it is understandable. For the first time ever after this match I heard Andrew ‘Nice Guy’ Strauss have a moan;

“I don’t think it’s a great wicket for ODI cricket. You would want a wicket that plays more consistent…We’re playing our semis in Centurion, where the conditions are different, it’s a good wicket there.”

Although I believe he has a point. ODI cricket and more to the point cricket in general should be played on a fair wicket. Ok you have pitches which sometimes aid the bowlers (hence why we won the ashes) and pitches which are sometimes suited to the batsmen, but no way should pitches be a complete lottery. We shouldn’t play on pitches on which not even the bowler knows what is going to happen.

No matter, we are through and we are off to the Centurion, where the conditions are different, it’s a good wicket there.

I don’t understand it, I simply don’t. How can we have gone on the receiving end of a 6-1 ODI series defeat and then go and beat Sri Lanka, the team just behind us in the ODI rankings and yesterday going on to beat the 3^rd best ODI team in the world, South Africa. I mean come on, what is going on! The Sri Lanka win was great, the South Africa win was downright amazing.

Yesterday we played some absolutely brilliant cricket, superb for that matter. Owais Shah’s 98 off 89 was more worthy of a Twenty20 innings as he hit five 4’s and six 6’s along the way. It was incredible. There was some other great knocks too; Colly hit 82(94) and Eoin Morgan who hit 67 at an amazing strike rate of 197.05.

We didn’t bowl well, far from it with the only good bowler of note being Jimmy Anderson – he bowled ten overs and ended up with figures of 3-42 but the fantastic batting saved our bacon.

Maybe we can do something decent in this Champions Trophy, I know it is unlikely but if we keep getting performances from these batsman at the top and middle, we have cracked it. I have said before we can bowl as well as any team (well, almost) but it is the batting that loses us the games time and time again, and if we keep this up we will go far.

The matches last weekend weren’t lacking in story lines, but they did end up lacking in drama as the two home sides drove their advantage home to book their place in this weekend’s Preliminary Finals. Whilst two sides move on and look like they’re exceeding expectations, the two losers must reflect on opportunities missed as they both bowed out this weekend rather tamely. 

Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans

For a team who managed to sneak their way into the playoffs, Parramatta are looking really, really good right now. Admittedly Gold Coast didn’t look that good at all, looking flat and deflated from the effort put into their aborted near-comeback the previous week, but the Eels exploited it perfectly. They took advantage of some lax defending and also put on some sweet moves to overcome the Titans 27-2, and the fact that they kept the Titans tryless (and scoreless for the final 65 minutes) should tell you something about the defensive effort they put in as well. Daniel Anderson has got his charges peaking at the right time and they have the best chance to win the Grand Final of any lower-placed side that I can remember. 

Fuifui Moimoi was excellent in the forwards for the Eels once again, and if the back three wasn’t quite as electric as the week before they were still good enough to teach a young Titans back three a lesson in attack and support play. The Titans just looked flat and unable to build any momentum. It was as if the loss to Brisbane the week before had destroyed their season. Parramatta are heading to a Preliminary Final against the Bulldogs in front of a huge crowd with real momentum, attacking threat in both the forwards and the backs, and a top player in Jarryd Hayne in the form of his life. At the very least, they’re not going to die wondering. 

Brisbane Broncos vs St George-Illawarra Dragons

Ultimately, Wayne Bennett was defeated by himself. The Brisbane Broncos machine that he created, where they kick into another gear come playoff time, was able to overcome a Dragons outfit which he hasn’t been able to mould that way yet. Darren Lockyer? Karmichael Hunt? Sam Thaiday? All men molded by Bennett into the top players they are today, and all players who helped bring their former boss down. Although Bennett was able to secure a minor premiership for the club, he wasn’t able to do anything about their finals mental block in his first year in charge. Bennett hasn’t been able to bring the culture of victory and success that he helped to instigate in his years at the Broncos down south with him to Sydney.

On a more fundamental level, the Dragons suffered in almost exactly the same way as the week before – their attacking play was mediocre for pretty much the entire evening. They were unable to break the Broncos for the most part, and offered very little threat. Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby moved the team around the field, but they were unable to open up holes for their players to run into. The Broncos by contrast must’ve done their homework because their inside passes by Lockyer and Peter Wallace were threatening all night, and Hunt showed he’ll be missed next year with his ability to exploit those chances. They also opened the game with perhaps the most efficiently brutal display of defence I have ever seen, as every hit Ashton Sims and Dave Taylor put on seemed designed to hospitalize the Dragons within the parameters of the game’s laws (Taylor, incidentally, had his second blinder in a row). The Broncos now have to go down south to Melbourne and try to overcome the Storm, but if they can defend like that again it’ll go a long way to getting them to another Grand Final. As for the Dragons, they have an offseason to endure, in which time they will hope that Bennett can conjure up some of that Brisbane bottle in Sydney.

LAOIS ASTRO LEAGUE

AUTUMN LEAGUE DIV. 2 FIXTURES BELOW

ENTRIES FOR DIV. 1 AND DIV. 3 ( MIXED ) TO JOHN @ 057 8635813 or soccervoice@gmail.com

ALL TO BE PLAYED @ PORTLAOISE LEISURE CENTRE

WK       ROUND          DAY            DATE       KO         HOME                  AWAY

1               1                  THURS.      SEPT. 24  7pm      PJV          V.       ARVIDIS

2               1                 THURS.      OCT. 1`   7PM   KILMINCHY    V.  ARVIDIS

2               1                    FRI.             OCT. 2   8PM    COLOURS         V.     PJV

3                1                THURS.        OCT. 8    7PM    ARVIDIS          V.   COLOURS

3                1                   FRI.             OCT. 9  8PM       PJV         V.      KILMINCHY

4               2                 THURS.         OCT. 15  7pm    ARVIDIS      V.     PJV

4               1                    FRI.            OCT. 16    8PM      COLOURS    V.   KILMINCHY

5               2                 THURS.        OCT. 22   7PM    PJV              v.     COLOURS

5               2                   FRI.              OCT. 23  8PM  ARVIDIS        V. KILMINCHY

6               2                  THURS.       OCT. 29  7PM  KILMINCHY     V.      PJV

6               2                    FRI.             OCT. 30  8PM  COLOURS     V.   ARVIDIS

7               3                  THURS.         NOV. 5  7PM   PJV    V.   ARVIDIS

7               2                    FRI.              NOV. 6  8PM  KILMINCHY  V.  COLOURS

8               3                  THURS.         NOV. 12 7PM    COLOURS   V.   PJV

8              3                     FRI.              NOV. 13   8PM   KILMINCHY  V.  ARVIDIS

9              3                 THURS.           NOV. 19  7PM  PJV   V.  KILMINCHY

9              3                   FRI.               NOV. 20 8PM   ARVIDIS  V.  COLOURS

10            3                 THURS.          NOV. 26  7PM   COLOURS   V.  KILMINCHY

10            3                 FRI.                 NOV. 27   END OF LEAGUE SOCIAL NIGHT

11    CUP S/F  #1       THURS.        DEC. 3                    7PM                     1^ST V.            4^TH

11     CUP S/F  #2          FRI.           DEC. 4                    8PM                      2^ND V.            3^RD

12     SHIELD FINAL   TBA   LOSERS CUP S/F #1  V.    LOSERS CUP S/F #2

12   CUP  FINAL    TBA    WINNERS CUP S/F #1   V.   WINNERS CUP S/F#1

The NHL Network has an entertaining show titled “Vintage Hockey”. Many times the games are not what I would really consider vintage. Sometimes, though, there are some GREAT ones. Like yesterday…

The match-up involved two Original Six teams: Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. This traditional rivalry was a total delight to watch and listen to…It brought back so many nostalgic memories. And…I’m smiling as I write this. What a game..

Where do I start? (Yes, I know…the beginning is always a good idea). Well, the game was played at the Olympia (Olympia Stadium) in Detroit. It was Game 5 of the Stanley Cup semi-finals. The game was played on April 11, 1965. That’s right…1965. Get down!

Even though the Red Wings won the game, 4-2, the Blackhawks went on to win the semi-final series in seven games. The Hawks then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and faced the Montreal Canadiens. The Hawks and Canadiens went seven games, with the Canadiens finally clinching the Stanley Cup Championship.

Bruce Martin was the play-by-play announcer. There was no color announcer. All we heard about was the game. Play-by-play. Absolutely perfect.

Here are some other facts I jotted down:

The indoor temperature was 80 degrees. There was steamy ice. The announcer stated, “Do not adjust your sets. The fog comes to you from our sponsors.” Too cool. By the end of the game, there was steam rising from the ice. The camera shot to the crowd throughout the game. The men had removed their jackets and were down to their shirts and ties. As the game progressed, men removed their ties and opened up their top one or two shirt buttons. It was just great to see due to its nostalgic value. Fans wearing shirts and ties at a hockey game. Get down.

Center ice consisted of two Detroit Red Wings logos. That was all. No wordage or clutter.

Norm Ullman was chosen as the player of the game. He was interviewed after the game. He broke the all-time scoring record for two goals in five seconds during a post-season game. As he was interviewed at game’s end, he stated ..”the ice was real slow”.

The other two honorable mentioned players of the game were Bobby Hull and Roger Crozier. Wow…

Players of the game included, are you ready for this?!….Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull, Warren Moon, Bill Hay, Bill Gadsby, Ted Lindsey, Gordie Howe, Marcel Provonost, Warren Godrey, Larry Jeffrey, Peter Mavelich and Pat LaFontaine…among others. It was pure nirvana watching that line-up.

A Hawks player pushed Ted Lindsay. Lindsay whipped around and the two got into a fight (sorry, I didn’t get the Hawks player..I was too wrapped up in watching Lindsey. I do know that wasn’t Hull or Esposito). Lindsay received a two-minute penalty for roughing.

A few minutes later, a Hawks player tested Gordie Howe. Howe got even by hooking the guy. It was GREAT seeing Howe catch up with the guy who tested him. After hooking the guy, Howe stood there with a glare in his eyes and his hockey stick in the ready position. He was in the cross check mode. Gordie then joined his buddy Ted in the penalty box for two minutes. Just great to see those two in the box next to each other. …

Way to go NHL Network. Thanks…:)

Find interesting? Kindly share…

something to do with that ball and a throat..didn't sound pleasant

What full moon passed over the sky this weekend?  Everyone is talking about the Kanye West mess—and I will too—but before that, Serena Williams blew up at the U.S. Open.

 Even people who aren’t huge tennis fans know Serena Williams.  She was the one who made tennis outfits fun again.  I’m thinking catsuit…meow.

 Well she was definitely feeling feisty towards a line judge in a semi-final match against Kim Clijsters.   On what turned out to be the final game of the match, a line judge erroneously called a foot fault on Serena.  

 Well all hell broke loose after that.

 I was able to decipher some of what Serena mouthed to the line judge and included shoving a ball down her f**king throat.  Harsh words, but in an important game worse has been spouted.

It got heated

She was fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, and another $500 for racquet abuse.

 I wonder if that line judge was fired for making such a bonehead call.

 I can’t justify what Serena said, it was inappropriate and yes, unsportsmanlike.  But, I may be one of the few people satisfied with her apology.

Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job.  Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don’t agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.

No, she didn’t say “I’m sorry,” but why should she.  I will not debate whether or not what she said was appropriate.  What I do disagree with, however, is how her tirade is treated like something new in tennis or any sport for that matter.

John McEnroe anyone???

If the USTA thinks about adding more fines, I will not be pleased

She realized that her actions were inappropriate and that is enough for me.  Next time a line judge will think twice about being overzealous on a call. 

I am looking forward to Serena and Venus destroying their opponents in the doubles finals today.  And of course, congratulations to Kim Clijsters, she deserves it.

The Final Four matchups for the first ever Wheelhouse Radio! Fantasy Baseball League are the following:

(1) Wad’s Moneyshot (Wad) vs. (4) Rodman’s Liver (Bower & Cause)

Well friends just finished watching the Semifinals of the US open 2009 Men’s singles between Rafael Nadal (World No. 3) and  Juan Martin Del Potro (WorldNo. 6 )    ……where  Juan Martin Del Potro defeated R. Nadal in straight sets 6-2,6-2,6-2. The match was held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium…..

Well, at first, R.Nadal was in control but with time …basically after the first few sets, Nadal seemed totally shadowed by Del Potro…

Now lets see, who Del Potro faces in the finals……R. Federer or Djokovic

]]> http://shitshowblog.com/2009/09/13/serena-williams-will-kill-you/ Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:32:16 +0000 jb1011 http://shitshowblog.com/2009/09/13/serena-williams-will-kill-you/

Is this bitch on steroids or what?

Chill out Serena.  It’s just tennis. Nobody cares, anyway.

OK, I am really pissed I didn’t watch the Semi Finals of the US Open last night because you know loons how I hate to miss a historical news breaking event. It just eats at me. So imagine my disappointment when I discovered Serena had chucked a hissy fit at an Asian (not that there is anything wrong with that) line judge during the match decider. Geez! A friggin foot fault people! Ouch, does anyone ever get one of those? Evidently not, the way Serena went for her. Hmm, I can kind of understand why the lines judge would look petrified considering the larger and sweatier Serena had allegedly threatened to shove the ball down her throat and kill her. And there is no doubt in my mind she ain’t no homie, judging by the way she quickly shuffled to the umpire, like Serena had a knife on her or something! Jerry, Jerry, Jerry! After much ado, Serena was given the unsportsmanlike conduct nod and the match was given to a confused Kim Clijsters. Who will no doubt find it hard to celebrate! Of course you all missed it like me, so here it is in all it’s unsportsmanlike glory!

England through to the European Championship final

For the first time since 1984 England’s women have reached the Final of the European Championship. Hope Powell’s side dominated the game and fully deserved their victory but were made to work hard for it by their Dutch opponents.

England started like a team on a mission and unsurprisingly it was Kelly Smith who came to the fore, tormenting the Dutch defense with a series of dribbles that demonstrated just why she is considered to be one of the best players in the women’s game.

With no goals in the first half it was relief when England started the scoring. The breakthrough arrived just after the hour when Eniola Aluko stole the ball on the edge of the area and drove towards goal before laying the ball back perfectly for Kelly Smith. The former Arsenal striker never looked likely to miss and duly drove the ball into the far corner.
Yet England then allowed their concentration to slip, conceding a soft equaliser just three minutes later. Manon Melis was given far too much time to measure a cross into the box and Pieete swept the ball home, giving Rachel Brown no chance.

As soon as they equalised the Netherlands were content to sit back and allow England to attack, but Hope Powell’s side were unable to make their pressure count as the game went to extra-time.

England should undoubtedly have been ahead four minutes into the first extra period when Karen Carney raced to the byline and pulled the ball back for Lianne Sanderson, who could only hit the bar from just six yards out.

It was all England by this point, and the decisive goal they fully merited came with just five minutes to go thanks to Jill Scott. The Everton midfielder had looked dangerous from set pieces throughout the game and rose highest to meet Carney’s corner and plant her header into the corner to spark scenes of delirious celebrations, both on the pitch and the touchline.

England will play either Germany or Norway in Thursday’s Final.

www.guardian.co.uk