White fires GB Women into knock out stage
GB Women have zoomed into Olympic football knock-out stages as Ellen White grabbed a third goal in two games to give them a 1-0 win over hosts Japan.
White’s goal settled an otherwise cagey game in Sapporo, with the hosts knowing defeat would severely dent their qualification hopes, while GB Women were equally satisfied to leave with a point after their opening-day win over Chile.
Japan had shaded the opening hour before the introduction of Caroline Weir settled GB Women’s midfield, and from then on they never looked back.
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Hege Riise’s side then had the goal to match their improvement with 16 minutes to go, as White struck again from Lucy Bronze’s cross, glancing past Ayaka Yamashita after the goalkeeper’s poor decision to leave her line.
The victory takes GB Women through to the quarter-finals and means a point against Canada in their final game would be enough to win Group E.