ENGLAND continued their sensational unbeaten run under Sarina Wiegman with a gruelling 2-1 win over world champions USA.
Lauren Hemp fired the hosts ahead before Sophia Smith equalised following a lapse in concentration by Georgia Stanway.
But a high boot on Lucy Bronze provided Stanway to make amends for her earlier mistake.
And Stanway’s perfectly dispatched penalty stretched the Lionesses unbeaten streak to a staggering 23 games under Wiegman.
- RESULT: England 2-1 USA
- Live stream: ITV hub
- TV channel: ITV 1
- England XI: Earps, Bronze, Daly, Walsh, Bright, Greenwood, Mead, Stanway, Hemp, Kirby, Kelly
- USA XI: Naeher, Cook, Rodman, Huerta, Horan, Smith, Girma, Rapinoe, Lavelle, Sullivan, Fox
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England conquer toughest test yet
After becoming European champions this summer, having experienced heartbreak at the semi-final stage previously, the next challenge is to do it on the world stage.
Tonight they have laid some of those demons to rest by beating the side who inflicted that pain upon them.
In the process they have shown that they are capable of beating anyone now.
Credit: Reuters England ticking all boxes
The beauty of Sarina Wiegman’s team is that they tick all the boxes for what any football fan wants from their team.
Playing attacking football, exciting to watch and appreciative of their support.
The team are still walking around the pitch applauding the fans, thanking them for coming and spending their hard-earned money.
Wiegman’s team will have a nation behind them for their assault of the world’s biggest prize next year.
Lionesses floor world champions
Sarina Wiegman’s England team have beaten current world champions USA 2-1 at sold-out Wembley this evening.
Taking a 1-0 lead through Lauren Hemp, the hosts gifted USA a way back into the game which Sophia Smith duly took.
A high foot in the American penalty area gave the Lionesses a penalty and Georgia Stanway held her nerve to score.
Credit: Getty
FT: England 2-1 USA
England’s unbeaten run stretches to 23 games.
What a side this is that Sarina Wiegman has put together.
They have beaten the current world champions this evening.
England 2-1 USA
90+2. USA have another corner.
The ball is swung in but the Lionesses head it clear again.
Another cross comes straight back in which isn’t totally cleared, the ball drops to Smith who smashes over the bar.
Chance.
England 2-1 USA
90. We are going to have three additional minutes added.
Bronze plays Toone in.
Her shot is high, wide and not so handsome.
England 2-1 USA
88. England are looking to put this game to bed.
As the ball it played into Toone she goes to ground.
The replay shows she slipped.
Credit: Getty England 2-1 USA
86. This would be a huge win for Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses.
A big statement to make before next year’s World Cup.
Only the closing stages of this game to see out now.
England 2-1 USA
84. Rapinoe, Rodman and Girma come off.
The visitors are looking to get some fresh legs on.
England looking to control the game still.
England 2-1 USA
82. This is where VAR works as it should.
The referee thought it hit the player’s arm.
The replay clearly shows it was her bottom.
No penalty.
Penalty to USA
England 2-1 USA
80. USA are looking to make a triple change.
They have another free kick out wide.
It is a teasing cross which is headed behind for a corner by England.
Credit: Getty England 2-1 USA
78. USA are looking to play a more direct passing style.
Looking to work off the flick ons from goal kicks.
Smith manages to win the USA another corner.
England 2-1 USA
76. Stanway picks the ball up outside of the box and charges towards goal.
Just as she drops her shoulder and cuts inside the other way she lets fly.
Her shot just sailing passed the upright.
England 2-1 USA
74. England try to break but Girma does brilliantly to win the ball with a tackle at full stretch.
Mead was in if she didn’t time that perfectly.
We are moving into the final quarter of an hour of the game.
England 2-1 USA
72. A loose pass in the final third gives USA the chance to break.
Great tackle by Toone to win the ball back immediately.
England probing USA once again.
England 2-1 USA
70. England are trying to play a physical game.
Not letting USA have any time on the ball.
The visitors are looking to play quick, one-touch passing to bypass them.
Credit: Getty England 2-1 USA
68. Kelly is penalised for a foul out wide.
Chance for the USA to put a quality ball into the box.
Rapinoe puts a good ball in that is headed clear but Rodman checks inside and shoots but it is well wide.
England 2-1 USA
66. USA have played a high tempo all game.
England know they can take the sting out their style of play with a slow passing game.
Still trailing by a goal, it frustrates the visitors more and more.
England 2-1 USA
64. England are trying to press more.
Knowing attack is often their best form of defence.
They are knocking on the door at the moment.
England 2-1 USA
62. USA are trying to press high.
Knowing they need to find a way back into this game.
They seem to be trying to disrupt England who are happy to slow the pace of the game with their passing style.
Coffey and Dunn come on for the USA.
England 2-1 USA
60. Both sides look capable of creating more chances.
Neither side seems scared to go on the front foot.
USA are starting to ask more questions of the Lionesses.
Credit: Getty England 2-1 USA
58. USA swing a good cross into the box but England manages to win both first and second ball to clear.
The visitors are showing sign of how dangerous they can be,
A short cross is glanced on by Rapinoe but Earps saves.
England 2-1 USA
56. Daly plays a blind pass back to Mary Earps that catches her out of position.
Earp manages to adjust and gather the ball.
The Lionesses immediately turn defence into attack with Lucy Bronze meeting a cross with a fierce shot at the back post.
Her effort the wrong side of the post in the side netting.
England 2-1 USA
54. Rapinoe with a rare mistake as she cannot control the ball.
Big cheer from the crowd as it goes out for a throw in.
England get the ball to Chloe Kelly on the left, she cuts inside and shoots but ball goes yards wide of the far post.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
