Hope's hopes are dashed by Japanese set-piece expert

Women's Football / Editor / 11 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

Miyama's last minute free-kick denies England and their 1-100 backers

England touched the highs and lows in Shanghai - and on Betfair - as they came from behind against Japan, only to be pegged back by a last-minute goal.

Hope Powell's women were trading at 1.01 (1-100) to win the match on the exchange before conceding from the final kick of the game, when an Aya Miyama free-kick slotted past keeper Rachel Brown from 25 yards.

Earlier, Miyama scored from a set piece to put Japan ahead in the 55th minute, an advantage they held for 26 minutes until Kelly Smith pulled England back into the match. Prior to the goal England had reached odds of 15 to win the game.

But they nearly did just that, with Smith again on target to fire her team into the lead on the 83rd minute.

Betfair customers were clearly convinced they had done enough and backed England into 1.01, but up stepped Miyama to dash the short-price backers' hopes.