Report: Sweden 0-5 England Deaf Women

England deaf women ran out 5-0 winners over Sweden in their opening game of the 2025 World Deaf Futsal Championship in Group A at the Palasport Giovanni Paolo II venue in Pescara.

The Para Lionesses were denied an early opener, with Lucindha Lawson, Masie O’Shea and Macie White all testing the opposition goalkeeper who was equal to their efforts to keep the contest goalless.

However, with around 11 minutes of the first half played, England took the lead through Louise Hogan. The Para Lionesses won a corner which was taken short by O’Shea and Hogan let fly, finding the top corner.

White went close again for Steve Daley’s side before Georgia Jones looked to double the Para Lionesses’ lead.

In an impressive passage of play, England went close to extending their advantage with Lawson producing an impressive piece of skill as her backheel pass allowed Hogan to race through on goal but the Para Lioness found Sweden’s stopper behind it once again.

With less than a minute of the first half remaining, England eventually made it 2-0. After winning back possession, Ellie Betteridge crossed for goalscorer Hogan who made it two and doubled her individual tally for the afternoon when she slotted home.

But there was still time for another. With seconds left on the watch, White made it 3-0, blasting the ball into the net with an emphatic finish which put the Para Lionesses in the driving seat at half time.

Following the restart, Sweden went in search of a way back into the game with an early spell of pressure but England remained resolute.

White drew a save from the Swedish stopper and England rode out a handful of openings for the opposition, with Natasha Hamm at her best to produce a double save with around five minutes of the second half played.

It was four with 12 minutes left on the clock, courtesy of O’Shea whose neat footwork saw her twist and turn before taking aim and adding her name to the scoresheet for the Para Lionesses.

And Hamm made it a five-star performance when the keeper reacted quickly following an effort on the England goal. From one end of the pitch to the other, Hamm's drop kick from inside her own circle caught Sweden off guarding, looping over everybody to dip into the opposition net to make it 5-0 which was how it finished.

The Para Lionesses are back in action at the same venue on Tuesday 17 June when they take on host nation Italy.

England: 1 Natasha Hamm, 2 Georgia Jones, 4 Masie O’Shea, 5 Louise Hogan, 6 Lucindha Lawson, 7 Danielle Evans, 8 Faye Williams, 9 Macie White, 10 Lucy Scholes, 11 Ellie Betteridge, 12 Emma Brown