Stanway, Bronze score as England win World Cup qualifier
The hosts relied on a stunning second-half save from Hannah Hampton to protect their narrow lead before Georgia Stanway eased nerves with a late volley 12 minutes from time. As a result, Sarina Wiegman's side stay in first place in Group A3 ahead of world champions Spain's clash with Ukraine later on Saturday, with only one team qualifying automatically for the competition in Brazil. Wiegman picked an attacking line-up for the second match of the qualifying campaign in the knowledge that goal difference could be crucial, although Iceland proved far sterner opponents than Ukraine had in England's first game on Tuesday when the visitors scored six second-half goals.
It took the hosts until the 22nd minute to make the breakthrough as James got free down the left and picked out Bronze's run to the back post, although the Chelsea full back still had a lot to do to beat Cecilia Runarsdottir with a header that floated into the far corner. England, going in search of a second goal to give them breathing space, hit the post twice before half-time as the elusive James proved impossible to stop down the left - but the visitors defended stubbornly to frustrate the European champions. And were it not for a world-class save from Hampton, who somehow dived full length to claw away Sandra Jessen's header that seemed destined for the far corner, Iceland would have drawn level on the hour mark.
Hildur Antonsdottir in action with England's Georgia Stanway and Jess Park That scare woke up a listless England, with Stanway soon doubling their lead with a well-struck volley into the bottom corner having been found by Bronze's cross from the right-hand byline for her 32nd international goal. However, England know that it will be their double header with Spain that will ultimately decide whether they progress automatically to Brazil next year, or have to face the uncertainty of the play-offs. "An important win. I think we played well, we know they're very disciplined, very powerful and really dangerous on the counter.
"For the most part, we took that out so they didn't become dangerous. They had that one chance where Hannah Hampton did really well. "Overall, we showed some good football. Of course, we want to score more goals but it starts with winning the game, and we created so many chances. If we're so dominant, we'd like to score more goals. "What you saw on Tuesday against Ukraine, and now Iceland they're just so disciplined in defence, it's really hard to break through. If I look at the development of the team, how do we do better in the final third? Even from Tuesday to today, I saw some things we added."
