Dani Scott 2022/2023 season - A Leah Williamson story

Finalissma

Today we are playing Brazil at Wembley in the 2023 finalissima. It has been a busy couple of days with training and photoshoots for the new world cup kits.

I have noticed that Leah has not spoken to Jordan once, I really do need to talk to her. I feel like she needs a friend. I’m planning on talking to her when we go to bed.

I know that Beth is coming to the game tonight so I can’t wait to see her. I also know that Viv has gone away to the Netherlands to be with the national team for a bit of a break. It’s nice to know that I will be able to smile in the direction of my girlfriend.

I text her just before kick off and said

Dani- I can’t wait to see you later❤️❤️

Beffy💗- I can’t wait to see you either babe❤️❤️

I was ready for this game. I started at my usual position for England which is left back.

The game started.

In the first minute Hemp crosses for Russo but Brazil manages to clear.

2 minutes later Hemp is on another run but they manage to get the ball away with a sliding tackle from one of the defenders

In the 6th minute Russo goes down in the area but she is flagged for offside

In the next minute I take a corner, I pass it short to James she crosses but Russo heads over

In minute 11 Leah fouls one of their players but the free kick comes to nothing

In the 12th minute we have a free kick after Rafa pulled Russo down, Greenwood takes the resulting free kick but Brazil heads the ball clear

 2 minutes later Lucy shoots from just outside the box but the keeper gets down to save it

In the 19th minute Geyse gets in behind our defence, I manage to recover and block the effort. It goes behind for a corner. The corner comes to nothing

3 minutes late after some neat play between Lucy and James, Lucy passes to Tooney who shoots and scores 1-0 to us

In the 29th minute Bronze plays James in she shoots and it’s in the back of the net but it’s disallowed for offside

10 minutes later Rafa gets booked for crunching late slide tackle on Stanway

In the 42nd minute James crosses in for Hemp who heads it towards goal but the keeper catches the ball

Russo shoots a minute later but the keeper saves this too

In the 44th minute James curls a shot but it goes wide.

The whistle goes for half time.

We come out in the second half we are happy with what we have done so far, we just need to continue with that.

Brazil makes a double change at the start of the second half.

They have the first shot of the second half but Earps collects easily.

They have another shot in the 52nd minute but it is hit straight at Earps.

Again, a minute later they are in but this time the shot is wide.

Brazil have started the second half really well and we can’t contain them at the moment.

In the 59th minute Geyse steals the ball from Tooney she turns and shoots, Earps fists it up into the air when it drops back down it clips the bar.

In the 65th minute I run forward with the ball; I cross into the box but it’s headed behind for a corner.

Brazil manages to deal with the corner easily.

In the 67th minute Stanway shoots from the outside of the area but the keeper saves.

In the 72nd minute Greenwood is pushed to the ground and hits her head off the turf. The medics come on to check her. She gets to her feet and looks like she will play on.

We make a double sub-Daly and Kelly are on for James and Russo.

In the 77th minute there is some good work down the left from Hemp she plays Daly through one on one she shoots and it’s just over the bar, but she is flagged for offside.

In the 82nd minute Hemp goes into the book after a crunching challenge. She wins the ball though so I’m unsure how this was a free kick let alone a booking.

3 minutes later Kelly crosses the ball in but it’s flicked away from Hemp but she gets caught with a trailing arm. The blood won’t stop running. Doesn’t look like she will continue.

Brazil makes another double change in the 87th minute.

Then we bring on Robinson for Hemp for the final minutes.

In the 93rd minute Earps spills a cross inside the 6-yard box and the ball is forced over the line by Brazil. 1-1

Leah manages to clear their final attack. Then the whistle goes for full time.

The finalissma will be decided on penalties.

We huddle and work out the order of penatlies then we go and stand in a line on the half way line. Earps goes to the goal area. Leah comes and stands next to me. I smile at her and say “’we got this”

She smiled back and said “of course we do”

We take the first penalty and of course it’s Stanway. She hammers it, the keeper manages to get a hand to it but it doesn’t matter it goes in. 1-0

Adriana takes for Brazil she puts it to Earp’s right and she gets a hand to it but can’t keep it out 1-1

Tooney is up next, she shoots to her right but it’s not the best and the keeper saves still 1-1

Tamires is next up for Brazil it’s towards Earp’s left she guesses right this time she is able to keep it out still 1-1

Daly is next for us she smashes it into the back of the net 2-1 to us

Mine and Leah’s club team mate Rafa is up next, she hits it hard but it smashes against the crossbar still 2-1 to us

Greenwood takes the next one she goes low and hard to the keepers right. It goes into the back of the net 3-1 to us

Kerolin is up next for Brazil it’s a text book penalty giving Earps no chance 3-2 to us

Kelly is up next for us of course she scores and we win 4-2 on penalties.

That’s 30 games unbeaten for us under Sarina. That is some achievement.

The crowd erupts and all the girls except myself and Leah run over to Kelly and Earps to celebrate. Myself and Leah shake hands with the Brazil players then we go to join our team to celebrate.