England edged Haiti 1-0 in a well-contested tussle at Suncorp Stadium on July 22, 44,369 fans turning out to see the tournament debutants take on the European champions in both teams' first match of the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals. "The Grenadieres" began in bright fashion, forcing a corner inside the first three minutes. But from it, England launched a super counter-attack which featured a lovely interchange between Lucy Bronze and Ella Toone before Batcheba Louis' intervention brought an end to the raid. "The Lionesses" kept pressing, however, Chloe Kelly's twenty-yarder being grabbed by Kerly Theus in the aftermath of two England corners, while in the fifth minute, Kethna Louis' wayward clearance invited Alessia Russo to let fly, a first-time effort she directed straight at Theus. Haiti suffered an early injury scare to their playmaker, Melchie Dumornay, who was able to continue after treatment. She was key to the Caribbean nation's hopes in this tournament, and in the fourteenth minute split the English defence with a terrific pass which played in Nerilia Mondesir, who nipped into the penalty area before firing a shot past both Mary Earps and the far post. England retorted via Kelly, whose deep cross picked out Lauren Hemp. She headed the ball back across goal to Russo, who clipped Tabita Joseph as both players sought to secure possession. The ball broke for Kelly, who was subjected to a decidedly naughty challenge from Dayana Pierre-Louis in the penalty area - studs down the leg, if you please! The Video Assistant Referee reviewed the incident and deemed it unworthy of a penalty, much to England's frustration, but the offender was booked for her misdemeanours. England threatened again in the 21st minute, Keira Walsh and Bronze joining forces for the benefit of Kelly, whose cross saw Russo flying in to meet it a header which she guided past the post, having taken out Theus in her desire to meet the ball. Five minutes later, another England raid saw Batcheba Louis leaping to head clear, but did so with her hand above her head. The ball struck her limb, and once VAR had had a nosepoke, the outcome was inevitable - penalty. Up stepped Georgia Stanway, only for Theus to pull off a fabulous save, turning the ball round the post. But VAR picked up the fact the goalkeeper had moved off her line prior to the kick being taken, so a retake was required. This time, Stanway sent Theus the wrong way from twelve yards - 1-0 England, after 29 minutes. Prior to the penalty, Haiti had been reduced to ten players, Jennyfer Limage having gone down with a knee injury which looked for all the world like a potential ACL. It wasn't until Stanway opened the scoring that the Haitians were restored to their full complement, with Ruthny Mathurin entering the fray before the game kicked off again. Nine minutes before half-time, Dumornay broke up an England move and instantly unleashed the pace of Batcheba Louis down the right. Her cross found Dumornay arriving beyond the far post, and launching into a scissors kick - had she connected with the ball, rather than a defender's head, the "Goal of the Tournament" award would have been settled there and then - it was a brilliant piece of improvisation which deserved better reward. After Theus had required two bites to keep out a Russo effort, Earps was forced to clear her lines in a hurry with Dumornay bearing down on her at a great rate of knots. That sparked a counter-attack in which Bronze and Stanway featured, the latter's well-flighted delivery arcing over Russo but finding Hemp coming in beyond her. The striker directed her header at Theus.

With all the VAR interventions, first half stoppage time was rather lengthy in nature, and during it, Haiti twice came close to levelling the scores. Dumornay engineered an attack which earned a corner, which was played short to the playmaker. She evaded a challenge before firing in a gorgeous cross with which Roselord Borgella just failed to connect - it was a certain goal had she done so. Soon after, the same players combined again, Dumornay's delivery this time inviting Borgella to direct a looping header goalwards. It arced over the bar. Sarina Wiegman's team were on the front foot from the first whistle in the second spell, their cause aided by a poor Kethna Louis clearance within seconds of the kick-off. Kelly was the beneficiary, but saw her cross cannon off Sherly Jeudy, the ball being smothered at the foot of the post by Theus. Haiti responded through Dumornay, who latched onto a loose ball on the left before cutting inside and letting fly. Earps could only parry the attempt, but her defenders tidied up on this occasion. Just before the hour, Stanway and Russo were both denied by Theus following a defensive error. Just after it, Millie Bright was caught out by Dumornay, who played in her captain, Mondesir, with just Earps to beat. The striker lacked the courage of her convictions, however, and a great chance to equalise was spurned. After Mathurin had blocked a Kelly effort, Russo's looping header was tipped onto the bar by Theus, who was relieved to see the ball fly past her post twenty minutes from time after Lauren James had combined with Kelly to present Bronze with the chance to let fly from twenty yards. England continued to press, their desire for a second match-clinching goal apparent for all to see. Stanway and Toone teamed up, the latter's pass just too far in front of Russo to allow her to capitalise. Theus grabbed the ball, and grabbed it again a minute later to deny the striker once more as she looked to cap off the good work of James, Stanway and the overlapping Alex Greenwood in carving out the opportunity. Ten minutes from time, Theus was to the fore again, this time keeping out a Kelly effort. She then grabbed a Rachel Daly header, but not before Earps had produced a superb one-on-one save with her legs to prevent a Haiti equaliser, substitute Roseline Eloissant the frustrated player after Dumornay and Mondesir had combined once again. After Stanway sent a twenty-yarder sizzling over the crossbar, Haiti piled on the pressure in search of a late equaliser, with Dumornay central to everything they tried. In the 89th minute, she rampaged down the left before being thwarted by Bright's timely tackle in the penalty area, while in stoppage time, 'twas Earps who frustrated Haiti's best player, punching out Dumornay's corner from beneath her crossbar. England held on for the win, but know full well they've been in a contest - they may be group underdogs, but Haiti haven't come here just to make up the numbers. With Dumornay in the mood, shaking trees isn't out of the question where they're concerned - as World Cup debuts go, Nicolas Delepine's team can be well pleased with their efforts, result notwithstanding. England:     Earps; Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Carter; Toone, Walsh, Stanway (booked, 45); Kelly, Russo (Daly, 76), Hemp (booked, 51 (James, 61)) Haiti:          Theus; Petit-Frere, Limage (Mathurin, 31), T. Joseph, K. Louis; B. Louis (D. Joseph, 90), Jeudy, Pierre-Louis (booked, 19), Mondesir; Borgella (Eloissaint, 78), Dumornay Referee:     Emikar Calderas (Venezuela)