Women's World Cup: Parris and White on target as Lionesses start brightly

Lyon's new signing Nikita Parris and Ellen White were England's star players in a 2-1 Women's World Cup win over Scotland.

England started their Women's World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Scotland in Nice on Sunday.

Ellen White scored her third goal in as many games against Scotland, and Nikita Parris was also on target in a 2-1 victory as England's World Cup campaign got off to a winning start in Nice.

PhilNeville's side dominated much of an entertaining encounter at theAllianz Riviera and Parris scored her 13th international goal witha 14th-minute penalty – her first successful spot-kick in anEngland shirt.

The combination of Parris and her Lyon team-mateLucy Bronze on the England right was at the heart of the Lionesses'best play and Scotland could not match their quality despitebattling tirelessly throughout.

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White spearheaded England's attack,providing it with a constant outlet, and got her reward for aperformance full of poise and determination with England's second,which put the game out of Scotland's reach despite Claire Emslie's79th-minute consolation strike.

 

Today's @Lionesses scorers #ENGSCO 2-0 | #FIFAWWCpic.twitter.com/Ns3rUQmBg7

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 9, 2019

England wasawarded a penalty after 12 minutes when Nicola Docherty's raisedarm connected with Francesca Kirby's cross, and Parris lashed thespot-kick into the top-left corner of the net to give Lee Alexanderno chance.

White drew a good save from Alexander with a close-rangevolley eight minutes later and had the ball in the net only for herlooping header to be ruled out for offside.

Manchester City-boundWhite made no mistake five minutes before half-time when Kirbyforced the ball through to her on the edge of the box and shehooked it into the corner of the net with an accurate left-footfinish to double England's advantage.

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Beth Mead thought she hadmade it 3-0 within seconds of the restart but again an offside flagdenied England.

Scotland improved, and Emslie made inroads down theright flank, but England countered and White struck anotherclose-range volley that Alexander did well to catch.

Lisa Evansremained full of running in the closing stages and she started asweeping Scotland move that Emslie finished with a neat finish highinto the net from close range, but England held firm in the closingstages to clinch the victory.