Powell hails comeback-hero Houghton

Great Britain’s women’s coach Hope Powell paid fulsome tribute to Steph Houghton for the goal that turned potential anti-climax into historic achievement here.

The Arsenal Ladies left-back curled in a 20-yard free-kick for the only goal of a game that opened not only Group E of the football tournament but the London 2012 Games themselves.

Powell was delighted it was north-easterner Houghton who made the breakthrough, having suffered serious injuries just before the 2007 World Cup and the European Championship two years later.

“Steph’s been really unlucky and worked really hard to get back in condition,” she said.

“Now she’s one of the fittest players in our squad. We put her on set‑pieces from outside the box and told her to have a go and her execution was superb. I’m really pleased for her, she’s made history.”

The perfectly executed free-kick, curving low away from the goalkeeper, came just as the unexpectedly small crowd of 24,594 were wondering if the lack of similar accuracy from Britain’s attacking players was going to cost them a deserved victory.

Even Houghton was taken aback by her goal. The 24-year-old said: “It is almost impossible to put into words. I knew I had struck it well and when I picked my head up it was in the back of the net.

“I didn’t really know what to do with my celebration. I was trying to head towards the bench but I got tired and tried to slow down because it was so hot. It was a really special moment for me, the best of my career without a doubt.”