England Deaf Women's Spain double-header

Written by:

Frank Smith

Para Lions score eight goals in two games out in Seville

England Deaf Women stepped up their preparations for next month’s World Deaf Futsal Championships with a double-header against Spain.

Chris Day’s side faced the hosts twice in Seville over the weekend, winning Saturday’s encounter 6-2 and then losing 3-2 on Sunday.

It was also confirmed on Friday that Zara Musker, whose journey to becoming an England international you can read about here, is the team’s new captain.

what an honour, can’t put into words what it felt like to captain my country. 6-2 win V Spain. couldn’t do it without all the girls, staff, my family & friends. the hard work continues .. ⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/EiS8e2CCRC
— Zara Musker 🤟🏼 (@ZMusker) October 14, 2023

It was Musker’s thumping free-kick which gave England the lead in Saturday’s game at the IDM Margaritas in Córdoba.

Emma Brown then made it 2-0 from close range after a neat one-two with Faye Williams before Rose Kent drilled a low shot into the bottom corner from a set-piece just before the break.

It was then 4-0 within a minute of the restart after Musker drove towards the goal and played an impressive one-two with Brown for the captain to grab her second of the game.

Maisie O’Shea then made it five with an excellent low shot from distance before Williams grabbed a fine long-range effort of her own to make it 6-0.

Spain scored a couple of consolation goals in the final ten minutes but England recorded an impressive 6-2 win in match one.

14 Oct 2023 2:00:00

England Deaf Women 6-2 Spain

Watch Saturday's match in full as Para Lions impress at the IDM Margaritas in Córdoba

The second game at Bujalance the following morning saw England go ahead once again, this time from O’Shea as she bundled home Kent’s excellent lobbed free-kick over the goalkeeper.

Spain had gone 2-1 ahead by half-time and then increased their lead in the second half before Kent scored from a tight angle following some patient build-up play to set up a tense finish.

The matches were part of England’s preparations for the World Deaf Futsal Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, between November 10 and November 19 2023.

The eight teams have been split into two groups, with England placed in Group B alongside Kenya (November 10), the Republic of Ireland (November 11) and Japan (November 13).

The England squad for the World Deaf Futsal Championships will be named in the coming weeks.