Women’s Super League

ELLEN WHITE feels ‘super lucky’ to become an England centurion as the Lionesses thwarted stubborn Austria in a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light. The forward’s match-winning strike on her 100th game saw her move a goal short of Kelly Smith’s all-time record with the hosts unbeaten in five World Cup qualifiers. 
Ellen White moved one goal shy of equalling Kelly Smith’s all-time record of 46 international goalsCredit: Zuma Press
White netted England’s winner in the Lionesses World Cup qualifier clash with AustriaCredit: Getty
Before the game White – who has netted 45 times for the team –  was presented with a special jersey to mark her milestone landmark appearance. 
And it was fitting the Manchester City star bagged the winner against the team she scored against during her first senior performance in 2010. 
White, 32, said: “It’s come full circle for me in terms of making my debut against Austria and then my 100th cap. 
“I’m incredibly proud to have represented the country 100 times. 
“I feel super lucky to be part of this team and be surrounded by such talented players and for us to get the win, that was the main goal. 
“It was a really tough game in tough conditions and I’m really proud to have helped the team win.”
England’s victory saw them strengthen their grip on pole position in the Group D battle for a 2023 World Cup spot. 
And White’s strike saw the Lionesses consign the visitors to their first defeat in the qualifiers with her side yet to concede against any of their rivals. 

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Sarina Wiegman, 52, added: “I’ve gotten to know Ellen as a real professional player, a terrific team player with the consistency she brings and still she wants to become better every day. 
“If you have 100 caps, it means you’ve been so consistent. “You also see that everyone is so happy that she scored. 
“But as long as we keep scoring goals then we’re happy and if she will break that record we will be very happy for her.
Wiegman predicted a tougher test for England following their 4-0 defeat of Northern Ireland and 8-0 and 10-0 hammerings of North Macedonia, Latvia and Luxembourg. 
And Austria were keen to give them one at various moments although the hosts had the strongest chances. 
Fran Kirby was a persistent threat in attack along with Beth MeadCredit: ©MI News & Sport Ltd
Fran Kirby came close to teeing up Lauren Hemp in the 14th minute with the winger narrowly missing the chance to bury a cross at the back post.
England were denied moments later with a corner finding its way to Beth Mead with a high boot from Laura Weinrother thwarting her chance to score.
The hosts turned up the pressure around the half-hour mark with Hemp forcing a quality save from Manuela Zinsberger.
And they looked set to bag a goal when Mead’s pass glanced narrowly over the head of White before the England hotshot bundled the ball home following a Kirby cross. 
The second half saw Austria up the ante forcing two stunning stops from Mary Earps. 
I do think now we also need to be exposed to top, top countries and top opponents which will occur in February. Then we can really see where we areSarina Wiegman
First from a Barbara Dunst shot a leaping one-handed save from the keeper in the 49th minute. 
And then from Maria Plattner’s strike with Earps pushing the ball over the bar moments later with England caught short in defence. 
Wiegman added: “Those two saves were difference makers because we’re 1-0 (up). She needed to have a very explosive action two times in a row. She made the difference.”
The hosts had a penalty shout waved away after Austria skipper Carina Wenninger appeared to bring Mead down in the box around the 60th minute. 
Skipper Millie Bright looked set to double England’s lead following a 67th-minute corner before the ball was headed out of danger. 
And a last-ditch tackle denied White a chance to equal Kelly Smith’s record tally of 46 international goals before the win was sealed ahead of a clash with Latvia. 
The result means England have won all five games played under Wiegman since her September arrival. 
The England boss said: “I’m really proud of the performances. This was one of the hardest games I think. 
“But I do think now we also need to be exposed to top, top countries and top opponents which will occur in February. Then we can really see where we are.”
Mary Earps pulled off two quality saves to protect England’s slim leadCredit: Focus Images
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SARINA WIEGMAN hopes Ellen White will ‘have fun’ when she makes her landmark 100th senior England appearance.  But the Lionesses boss warned helping the striker break Kelly Smith’s all-time scoring record will not be the team’s priority against Austria. 
Ellen White is in line to make her 100th senior appearance for England when they play Austria – and is close to breaking Kelly Smith;s all-time goal record for the LionessesCredit: Reuters
England face their sternest World Cup qualifier test against their rivals at the Stadium of Light with both sides unbeaten in Group D after four games.
And their upcoming clashes in Sunderland and Doncaster could see White surpass Smith’s tally of 46 goals with the Manchester City ace, 32, just three short of equalling this figure.
On whether the Lionesses will be looking to help White break the record, Wiegman, 52, said: “It doesn’t matter who scores, we just have to score goals as a team. 
“We’ll be really happy when she breaks the record, but it’s not our main point to have Ellen score. We have to score the goals.
“Ellen is focusing on the game and it is going to be a special one. Hopefully, she will have a great performance for herself and for the team. 
“She has had an amazing journey (in the game) and to reach 100 caps is so impressive.” 

Skipper Millie Bright added: “Ellen is fully focused on the game and is a true professional. Everything she does is for the team.
“Obviously, it’s something that will be in the back of her mind, but her focus is 100 per cent on the team and going out and putting on a good performance for the fans.”
Austria, who are second and two points behind England in Group D, have won three and drawn one of their four qualifiers this year netting 21 goals.
Current players in the side that reached the 2017 Euros semi-finals include Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger and Hoffenheim striker Nicole Billa. 
But the visitores will be without skipper Viktoria Schnaderbeck with the Gunners centre-back currently out of action with an injury. 
Sarina Wiegman expects Austria to be a tougher challenge for England followingCredit: Getty
Meanwhile, the Lionesses will be without stand-in skipper Leah Williamson due to hamstring problems with Bright set to captain the side in their next two games. 
A win for Austria would see them leapfrog England to the top of Group D with Wiegman’s aces facing Latvia at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday. 
The team, currently ranked the 21st best side in the world, will be a stiffer test for England with the visitors yet to lose a qualifier clash.
Wiegman added: “They have a style of play that’s very organised. I expect a tougher game than any other we’ve played so far.”
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KENNY SHIELS dedicated Northern Ireland’s record-breaking drubbing of North Macedonia to football legend George Best.Shiels’ side crushed their rivals 11-0 – with their win coinciding with the 16th anniversary of the death of the Manchester United icon.
Northern Ireland thrashed North Macedonia 11-0 to go level on points with Austria in their World Cup qualifying groupCredit: Press Eye
Kenny Shiels says Northern Ireland’s triumph was a win for George Best, on the 16th anniversary of his deathCredit: Empics
The legendary winger, one of the best players ever, made 37 appearances and scored nine goals for Northern Ireland.
And the match, which was the fifth of their World Cup qualifying campaign, saw Rachel Furness join David Healy as Northern Ireland’s all-time top scorer on 36 goals.
An ecstatic Shiels said: “I thought [the match] was controlled really well by the girls. Before it started, we said, ‘Let’s do it for George’.
“He was our hero, and he wore the No 11 shirt when he played for us.
“We’ve done it in the 11th month, we’ve scored 11 goals and so all of that is resonating with me.
“It’s fantastic and I hope he is watching us up there to see that we’re doing it for Northern Ireland because he was one of our heroes, if not the hero.
“That’s been in my inner thoughts. Try and get 11 and get a message up to George.”

Before the game, Northern Ireland midfielder Sarah McFadden said players intended to approach the match with ‘no ego’
By half-time, the Durham star and her team-mates were 6-0 up before notching up another five.
And the team had six different goal scorers with Rebecca McKenna, Lauren Wade, Kirsty McGuiness and Birmingham’s Rebecca Holloway all on target.
And Everton’s Simone Magill bagged four goals while Liverpool ace Furness netted a hat-trick.
The scoreline could have been far bigger for the visitors, who crashed the woodwork three times and saw Furness miss a first-half spot-kick.
Rachel Furness netted a hat-trick for Northern IrelandCredit: Press Eye
Shiels’ aces brushed their opponents aside in the Macedonian capital Skopje in the third win of their campaign for a 2023 World Cup spot.
Northern Ireland are set to host their rivals at home in the second game of their qualifier double-header this month.
The match will be played in front of a full house at their Seaview ground on November 29.   
Shiels added: “We play them again Monday and it will be a total totally different ballgame.
“Let’s bring it on The Green and White army will be there as well.”
Simone Magill and Kirsty McGuiness were both on target for their teamCredit: Press Eye
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