adminENGLAND Women U-19s were set to replay the final few seconds of their opening European Championship qualifier against Norway yesterday evening after a mistake by the referee cost them a chance to draw the match.
And in a bizarre situation resulting from Uefa’s decision, England and Norway were set to play their final group games earlier yesterday, against Switzerland and Northern Ireland respectively.
England subsequently beat Northern Ireland 9-1 on Monday in their second group match of three but Switzerland, having lost 2-0 to Norway, do not know what result they need to qualify for the finals.
Norway were awarded a 2-1 win in the clash played last Friday in Northern Ireland, but only after England had been denied the opportunity to retake a penalty.
England midfielder Leah Williamson stepped up in the sixth minute of injury-time to take the spot-kick, which she successfully netted.
But the German referee Marija Kurtes, under advice from her assistant on the line, ruled player encroachment and, instead of ordering the penalty to be retaken, incorrectly awarded an indirect free-kick to Norway.
The match ended less than one minute later, with Norway remaining 2-1 up, and both officials have since been sent home following their error.
Following an appeal by the Football Association, Uefa’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body ruled that the laws had not been applied correctly and both teams must now return to Seaview in Belfast to replay the final seconds of added time, starting from when Arsenal player Williamson placed the ball on the penalty spot, although a different player can now take the spot-kick.
England will have an opportunity to salvage a draw from the fixture, though it is likely the match replay will last no more than 18 seconds.
Nevertheless, both teams are expected to go through their warm-ups with the same 11 players who were on the pitch at the end of the original game required to take the pitch again. Paramedics, stewards, match delegates and officials will also be required for the replay.
Before the controversial penalty, England had fought back from a 2-0 deficit to score an 88th-minute goal through substitute Rosella Ayane. It was eight minutes later when the penalty decision gave England the chance to equalise. — AFP
Online Reporter