ENGLAND YAIPIGA 1-0 CANADA NA KUTWAA NAFASI YA TATU KOMBE LA DUNIA WANAWAKE

ENGLAND imemaliza katika nafasi ya tatu kwenye Kombe la Dunia wanawake nchini Canada kufuatia ushindi wa bao 1-0 dhidi ya Ujerumani leo.

Dakika 90 zilimalizika timu hizo zikiwa hazijafungana na katika dakika 30 za nyongeza, ndipo England wakajibebea Medali ya Shaba/

Ilikuwa ni dakika ya 108 wakati refa Ri Hyang-ok alipowapa penalti England baada ya beki wa Ujerumani, Tabea Kemme kumuangusha Lianne Sanderson kwenye eneo la hatari.

Fara Williams, ambaye alifanya vizuri katika mikwaju ya penalti kwenye mechi dhidi ya Colombia na Japan, akamchambua vizuri kipa wa Ujerumani, Nadine Angerer na kuamsha bonge la shangwe kwa Waingereza wote waliokuwapo uwanjani.

 

England's hero Williams immediately wheeled away, pointing and running towards England's bench to start the party

England's ecstatic substitutes ran onto the pitch in celebration after WIlliams' penalty found the back of the net

England's Fara Williams (right) and teammates celebrate her winning goal against Germany during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 match

In front of a friendly crowd of 21,483 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, the scene of England’s cruel stoppage time semi-final defeat to Japan, Laura Bassett looked fiercely determined pre-match to right the wrongs on the surface still wet with her tears from Wednesday.

Whatever happened, history was always going to be made with England’s previous best at a World Cup being an appearance in the quarter-finals – and that was even before the tournament was expanded to 24 teams.

But the motivation was not just there to finish as strongly as possible in this tournament, but also to overcome an opponent they have never beaten. There were even a few in Sampson’s line-up who could recall the pain of being thrashed 6-2 by Silvia Neid’s Germany at the Euro 2009 final in Helsinki.

England's No 4 blew kisses in celebration after she scored her third goal of the tournament from the penalty spot

England's Laura Bassett (centre) celebrates with her team after their win in the match for third place between England and Germany in Canada

The England team celebrates their victory over Germany in the third place match of the FIFA 2015 Women's World Cup

Laura Bassett celebrates her team's third place after defeating Germany during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 third place playoff match

German team members react to losing their match against England during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada third place playoff match

Laura Bassett, seen here speaking to manager Mark Sampson, was determined to atone for her own goal against Japan

It looked like it might be a long, painful afternoon for England when Germany almost opened the scoring in the first minute. 

Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley had to be at her athletic best to tip Lara Petermann’s header round the post.

A chance for the tournament’s leading scorer Celia Sasic soon followed as she ran through the middle towards the goal, but her tame shot was collected by the Manchester City stopper. 

There was nearly another own goal embarrassment, this time by Brmingham City’s Jo Potter who headed the ball over Bardsley, but luckily Steph Houghton was on hand to hook the ball off the line.

Those early scares put England into action and they started to gain a foothold in the game. 

Barely 12 minutes in and captain Houghton had the chance to give her side the lead when the ball fell to her in the box, but surrounded by Germany defenders she couldn’t get enough on her shot to trouble veteran goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.

England's Eniola Aluko was a constant threat to the Germany defence in the latter stages of the second half of normal time

Jill Scott missed a good chance for England, choosing to cut back when a shot would have been the better option

A more fluid midfield formation from Sampson meant England saw more of the ball in the first half here than they did against world champions Japan on Wednesday. 

And there was a sign that it was in the middle of the field where the game was going to be won, with tough physical battles occurring across the pitch.

Young striker Sara Daebritz felt the full force of a shoulder barge from Alex Greenwood, Jill Scott showed her intent to track back and tussle with Simone Laudehr, and England’s leading scorer Lucy Bronze made her presence known when going to head the ball but ending up straight in the back of Saskia Bartusiak.

Germany, ranked no 1 in the world, pressed in the build-up to half-time though and Sasic again came close in the 43rd minute with a header that went over the bar. The tie remained scoreless at the break with both teams locked in a fierce battle for pride.

Germany manager Silvia Neid was an animated presence on the touchline at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton

England's Ellen White (23) and Germany's Melanie Behringer battle for possession of the ball in the first half of normal time

The two-time World Champions began the second half as they began the first, and Daebritz’s volley from a Sasic cross was excellently pushed wide of the post by Bardsley who has attracted her fair share of criticism in this tournament but proved why she is England no 1 here.

England had to sustain a good 20 minutes of pressure from the Germans, most notably the younger players showing at least the future of the national side is promising.

But England could have and should have scored in the 76th minute. Substitute Eniola Aluko burst into the box and laid the ball to an open Jill Scott who instead of shooting first time, tried one trick too many with the ball to get a clear shot and Germany eventually cleared.

As the clock ticked down, both sides frenetically pushed for a winner and Bassett showed why Sampson praised her so highly in a brilliant tackle on Laudehr on the edge of the box to deny a goalscoring opportunity.

Germany's goalkeeper captain Nadine Angerer and England's Steph Houghton shake hands before the third place play-off match

Alex Greenwood (14), here sliding in on Germany's Celia Sasic (13), was an indefatigable presence for England