Taylor’s Game-Winner Advances England to Knockout Rounds

Reign FC forward Jodie Taylor scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win for England over Argentina at the Women’s World Cup on Friday. The win guarantees the Lionesses a spot in the round of 16 with one group stage match left to play.

Taylor, who did not play in England’s 2-1 win over Scotland on June 9, started and played the full 90 minutes. In the 62nd minute, Taylor found space between Argentina’s back line to get on the end of a cross from Beth Mead to score her second World Cup goal.

The start was Taylor’s third in a World Cup and fifth appearance overall. The 33-year-old also started against Canada in the 2015 Women’s World Cup, scoring a goal in the 11th minute that eventually helped knock out the host nation in the quarterfinals.

England now controls its destiny in Group D with six points through two matches. A win or draw against Japan, which defeated England 2-1 in the 2015 World Cup semifinals, on June 19 at 12 p.m. PT will guarantee a first-place finish in the group.