World Cup Gallery: England 2-1 Mexico

England beat Mexico 2-1 through goals from Fran Kirby on 71 minutes and Karen Carney on 82, with Ibarra replying in stoppage time. Carney jokes that her rare headed goal came off the plait Siobhan Chamberlain did for her, adding that a goal is a goal and they needed it, and calling Kirby’s strike exceptional. Mark Sampson notes the added pressure created by Colombia’s shock result earlier, which meant defeat would have sent England home, and describes a patient plan to get enough ball to the special players. Kirby, hearing her manager had called her Mini Messi, says it is incredible to be labelled after such a great footballer and to repay the trust of a first start with a goal, given that a year earlier she was not around the squad. Readers voted Kirby player of the match.