HARRISON, N.J. (March 4, 2018) – Germany and England tied 2-2 in the second game of the second matchday at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup. Both of Germany’s goals came off goal mouth scrambles, while forward Ellen White bagged a brace for the Three Lionesses.
The result leaves England atop the tournament standings with four points from two games, same as the USA, but with a superior goal difference (plus-3 to plus-1). Germany has one point, as does France, which tied the USA 1-1 earlier today in front of more than 25,000 at Red Bull Arena.
The combination of the day’s results means that the England needs a win or a tie against the USA in the tournament finale on March 7 at Orlando City Stadium (7 p.m. ET on ESPNews, ESPN3) to win the SheBelieves Cup. The USA will need to defeat England to take the tournament title.
The game’s first goal came after a sustained period of German pressure got them on the board in the 17th minute. Germany had several cracks at the net deep inside the England penalty box that were blocked, but Hasret Kayikci was first to a free ball inside the six-yard box and smashed it in off the foot of an England defender to take the early lead. It was Kayikci’s sixth international goal in just nine caps and first of the tournament.
England answered right back a minute later as Ellen White took a pass from Fara Williams near the top of the penalty area and struck a shot that was deflected and skipped past wrong-footed Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult.
Germany took the lead on a wacky sequence in the 51st minute. A mix-up between England goalkeeper Sibohan Chamberlain and one of her defenders allowed a Germany attacker to poke the ball free near the left corner of the goal box. The first German shot was blocked but it bounced out to substitute Lina Magull, who fired low on frame from just inside the penalty area. Chamberlain was retreating into her net and the ball hit her on the foot, bounced forward, then hit the foot of Millie Bright and rolled back over the goal line.
White tied the game in the 73rd minute after getting behind the Germany defense on a long pass from Demi Stokes. White had plenty of time to pick a corner on her uncontested breakaway and slotted the ball into the lower right corner to tie the game. It was White’s 26th international goal in 71 caps.
The SheBelieves Cup concludes on Wednesday, March 7 in Orlando, Fla., when Germany plays France at (4 p.m. ET ESPN3) followed by the USA vs. England (7 p.m. ET on ESPNews).
