Georgia Stanway’s penalty helped a disjointed England overcome Haiti and make a winning start to their World Cup campaign. The Lionesses' Group D looks set to be a tight affair as Denmark, England's next opponents, needed a last-gasp goal to beat China.
USA and Japan secured far more convincing victories against minnow opposition on the third day of action in Australia and New Zealand. England 1-0 Haiti: Lionesses fail to show teeth Celebrations were subdued in Brisbane after the European champions made an underwhelming start to their question for world domination.
Haiti, ranked 49 places lower than England in the world rankings, forced Mary Earps into two vital saves with Melchie Dumornay’s dynamism key to their counter-attacking strategy.
VAR was kept busy in the first half, denying a strong penalty shout for a foul on Chloe Kelly and then coming to England’s rescue in spotting a Haitian handball deserving of a spot-kick.
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