England thrashed Italy 4-0 in front of a passionate crowd at thePoint4 to sail to the top of their group at the Blind Football European Championships.
The unbeaten hosts lacked composure in front of goal in the first half and had to rely on an Italian own goal to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
England 4-0 Italyw
IBSA Blind European Championships
Group A
thePoint4, Hereford
Thursday 23 August 2015
But the tournament’s top goal scorer, Robin Williams, set the game alight in the second half with two goals in two minutes, before Roy Turnham added a fourth.
A flurry of attacks from England, including two free kicks in two minutes, put the pressure on Italy and they cracked in the seventh minute with an own goal through Fabrizio D’Alessandro.
Dan English, who scored two goals in England’s opening 7-0 victory over Poland, was a constant threat on goal, testing a disorganised Italian defence at will.
Keryn Seal gets ready to take a penalty
An increasingly desperate Italy side were starved of possession and territory and conceded their fourth team foul to give captain Keryn Seal a penalty.
His powerful shot was blocked by La Macchia, as was a second penalty minutes later.
England began to show more purpose in attack and Seal’s thundering shot ricocheted off the woodwork in the opening minute of the second half.
Williams, who scored his first hat-trick for England against Poland, put the hosts 2-0 up in the 34th minute before quickly adding a second.
Dan English shoots from close range
A buoyant England side snatched a fourth through Turnham, who smashed the ball in to the back of the net, but were unable to add another despite a penalty attempt in the last minute.
England take two fine performances into their group game against Germany on Tuesday, as they aim to finish in the top two in Group A to progress to the semi-finals. A place in the top two will secure England a place in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
England: Dan James; Will Norman, Owen Bainbridge, Keryn Seal (captain), Dan English
Subs: Lewis Skyers; Robin Williams, Jono Heenan, Roy Turnham, Darren Harris.
Italy: M La Macchia; M Zungri, L Bortone, M Cervelli, F D’Alessandro
Subs: D Dongiovanni, N Mauro, G Catarinella., M D’Attolico, M Dottaviantonio
