England were held to a goalless draw by Spain in an entertaining encounter at Carrow Road in 2022 Arnold Clark Cup.
A competitive match saw England and Spain both waste chances throughout but it was the visitors who had the best chance of the first half, as Aitana Bonmati fired over after pouncing on a defensive mix-up between Hannah Hampton and Jess Carter.
England’s best chance of the match eventually came in the opening minute of the second half as substitute – Lauren Hemp fired her shot onto the left post, only for it to rebound away from goal and was safely cleared.
Both teams thereafter exchanged chances in an entertaining yet scrappy contest with Spain repeatedly going close, only for Hampton to constantly deny the visitors with great saves on her first senior start for the Lionesses.
The result meant that England sat top of the group from Spain for five hours until Canada claimed top spot with a 1-0 win over Germany in the primetime match.
England manager, Sarina Wiegman made nine changes from Thursday’s starting eleven which drew 1-1 against Canada, with only Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood retaining their places in the line-up at Carrow Road as Ellen White took the captaincy from Leah Williamson.
Those wholesale changes immediately paid off as England quickly began to press Spain with Jill Scott firing wide of the top left corner, just seven minutes into the first half.
Eight minutes later, Beth Mead produced a curled cross from Jordan Nobbs’ pass to the left flank which evaded White and Nikita Parris as Misa Rodriguez comfortably saved Mead’s delivery.
Wiegman’s Lionesses however struggled to quickly recover when they got turned over in possession by Spain, which was evident as Hampton and Carter tangled in the 18th minute trying to clear a long ball which was ultimately fired over the bar by Aitana Bonmati.
Hampton eight minutes later redeemed herself as she punched clear a long shot from outside of the box to keep the score goalless.
England eventually finished the first half on top despite frustratingly finding themselves repeatedly caught offside, whilst also failing to connect with various crosses into the box.
Spain however continued to show a penetrating edge when they broke forward but Hampton comfortably saved Lucia Garcia’s 41st minute curled shot from just inside of the box, as the match remained goalless at half-time.
Both England and Spain opted to make changes at half-time as Parris and Marta Cardona were dropped, in favour of Lauren Hemp and Mariona Caldentey respectively.
It however was Hemp who enjoyed the better start to the second as she pounced on an error after just over 30 seconds on the pitch, yet could only fire her shot onto the left post from which the ball rebounded to safety.
Jordan Nobbs then wasted a 53rd minute chance as she raced forward onto a long ball but dragged her shot wide across goal. with Georgia Stanway’s shot two minutes later saved by Rodriguez.
Spain however swiftly imposed themselves on top of the Lionesses shortly afterwards but Lucia Garcia, Ona Batlle and Athenea del Castillo saw shots denied in rapid succession, with the latter’s effort going closest but she was denied by Hampton.
Both teams thereafter traded chances at both ends with Hemp making a 71st minute interception, which she proceeded to pass through for White but she scuffed her shot which was swiftly cleared.
Jennifer Hermoso went close for Spain just seven minutes later as she fired towards goal from a tight turn but Hampton comfortably saved her effort.
Rodriguez and Hampton however were repeatedly called into action in the closing stages but neither team found a clinical breakthrough, as Del Castillo lashed wide of the top left corner in the 89th minute before another powerful strike was denied two minutes later.
In the end, England and Spain had to settle for a point apiece which saw the Lionesses sit top from La Roja until Vanessa Gilles’ seventh minute header sent Canada top in a 1-0 win over Germany.
Bev Priestman’s Canadians therefore will clinch the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup title with a win over Spain on Wednesday 23 February in the afternoon kick-off, rendering England’s final clash against Germany a dead rubber in the evening game.
Speaking post-match to ITV Sport, Hemp was in awe of Spain’s quality but is confident that the Lionesses can continue to develop, as she said: “Spain were unbelievable, they played us off the park at times but we created chances and just gutted with the end product.
“We have a lot of positives to take. They are a fantastic team, we did great against them and we will take the positives but there are still things to work on.”
Teams
England – Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, Rachel Daly, Jill Scott (Williamson 62), Jordan Nobbs (Walsh 62′), Georgia Stanway (Toone 80′), Nikita Parris (Hemp 45′), Ellen White, Beth Mead (Kirby 72′).
Substitutes: Mary Earps (GK), Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh, Millie Bright, Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Niamh Charles, Ellie Roebuck (GK), Alessia Russo, Katie Zelem
Spain – Misa Rodriguez (GK), Ona Batlle (Carmona 62′), Sheila Garcia, Ivana Andres, Maria Leon, Aitana Bonmati, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas, Marta Cardona (Caldentey 45′), Jennifer Hermoso, Lucia Garcia (Sarriegi 75′),
Substitutes: Dolores Gallardo (GK), Laia Aleixandri, Irene Guerrero, Athenea Del Castillo, Mariona Caldentey, Esther Gonzalez, Amaiur Sarriegi, Sandra Panos (GK), Leila Ouahabi, Olga Carmona, Andrea Pereira, Nerea Eizagirre, Claudia Pina
Attendance: 14,284 (Carrow Road, Norwich)
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