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 A late, late goal by captain Faye White gave England a winning end to their Cyprus Cup campaign, a 3-2 success against Italy.The central defender struck two minutes into stoppage time after Hope Powell's team had twice been pegged back following goals by Alex Scott. Victory meant that England, who won the Cup last year, ended the annual tournament in fifth place. For Powell and her players it has been a largely disappointing tournament in terms of results, but ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Germany a victory over Italy - the team that last September beat them in the opening group game of the European Championship finals - will serve as a timely morale booster. Scott put England ahead after just eight minutes, the right winger chasing a lofted pass from striker Kelly Smith to flick the ball past goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli and shoot into the empty net from 12 yards. England had the edge for the remainder of the first half but came no closer to a second goal than Alex Scott's 35th minute shot into the side netting after good play by Smith. Calamity struck two minutes before the break, however, when goalkeeper Rachel Brown - with a heavily gusting wind blowing towards the England goal - misjudged the flight of Elisa Camporese's cross and palmed the ball into the net for an own goal. England went back in front 13 minutes into the second half, Scott heading in the eleventh goal of her England career from a Jess Clarke cross after the Italian defence had failed to clear a Rachel Yankey corner. But six minutes later it was the England defence that was found wanting as left winger Camporese was allowed to turn on the edge of the penalty area before firing a low shot just inside Brown's left hand post for Italy's second equaliser. Only a fine diving save by Karen Bardsley, on as substitute for Brown, prevented Camporese from hitting an 82nd minute goal for the Italians. Left winger Yankey should have clinched victory two minutes from time, but after jinking her way beyond the defence she dragged a ten yard shot wide of the far post. But White did the trick when she swept home a well struck 18-yard shot from substitute Lianne Sanderson's neat pass. England: Rachel Brown (sub Karen Bardsley 68mins), Dunia Susi, Faye White, Casey Stoney, Rachel Unitt, Laura Bassett, Jess Clarke, Jill Scott, Alex Scott, Kelly Smith (sub Lianne Sanderson 45mins), Rachel Yankey. Subs not used: Sue Smith, Lindsay Johnson, Jody Handley, Emily Westwood, Dani Buet. (Report by Tony Leighton/TheFA.com)
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