Scoring England’s winner has helped the striker regain her confidence following a dry spell
Sometimes all it takes is persistence for a striker to regain form and nobody has ever had cause to fault Alessia Russo for her effort or her determination. On this occasion, though, it took a toe poke and a fortunate ricochet for the England forward to rediscover the confidence that every high-profile sports star needs.
Russo’s part in England’s first goal should not be underplayed or ignored. It was England’s number 23 who got on the end of Lucy Bronze’s header back across goal. It was Russo who caused the panic in the defence that led to the Colombia goalkeeper rushing off her line and spilling the ball and it was Russo’s instincts that stuck out a leg and toe-poked it away from the stricken Catalina Perez into the path of Lauren Hemp to equalise.
Russo was a different player after that. Twice in the second half she made brilliant runs in behind the defence, whipping in one dangerous cross that could easily have led to a goal and another, combined with some clever skill in a tight space, that led to a corner.
Minutes later, Russo scored England’s winner. A striker who had hesitated too long or snatched at a shot too quickly in this tournament was now deadly and clinical. Pouncing on a fortunate deflection from Georgia Stanway’s pass, she drilled a wonderfully controlled, but well-struck, shot into the bottom corner.