First-half goals from Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway ensured England stunned USA 2-1 in an international friendly at Wembley Stadium, London.
Lauren Hemp gave Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses an early lead with her 10th minute strike but Sophia Smith struck back for USA just 18 minutes later, following a poor forward pass from Mille Bright.
Hailie Mace then conceded a 33rd minute penalty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review of her high-foot foul on Lucy Bronze, from which Georgia Stanway restored England’s lead from the penalty spot.
Trinity Rodman then scored USA’s supposed second goal until VAR ruled Smith was offside in the move leading up to Rodman’s goal.
A stubborn defensive display in the second-half ultimately saw England end USA’s unbeaten 22-match run, whilst extending their own unbeaten record under Wiegman to 23 matches in all competitions.
Speaking to ITV Sport post-match, Wiegman described the match as “really intense,” but exactly what she wanted in terms of “hard” competitiveness for her Lionesses to prepare them for next summer’s Women’s World Cup.
Wiegman also spoke in a relaxed manner about England’s chances at the World Cup as she commented: “The target is there all the time! Whatever happens we know this is just a starting point for the World Cup, but it shows you are at a very high level”
Following an electric pre-match light show to mark the 50th anniversary of England Lionesses’ first-ever official international fixture, USA made the better start as Sophia Smith saw a second minute strike saved by Mary Earps.
England soon responded three minutes later as Beth Mead latched onto Stanway’s backheel pass, only for her curled shot to be saved by Alyssa Naeher.
Mead eventually was involved in the opening goal as she latched onto a fast-paced pass up the right, which allowed her to curl in a low cross, which Alana Cook could only block to Hemp who rifled in from close-range to put the hosts ahead.
Both teams thereafter wasted chances until a collision between Stanway and Emily Fox brought proceedings to a halt, with Fox eventually substituted for Mace.
USA responded by upping their high-tempo which paid off as Lindsey Horan intercepted Stanway and teed up Smith to fire into her near bottom-left corner beyond a diving Earps in the 28th minute.
Wiegman’s Lionesses however weren’t fazed by a rare conceded goal as Mead broke forward and forced a block from Naomi Girma, which led to a corner from which Mace high-footed Bronze and ultimately conceded a penalty following the intervention of VAR.
Stanway stepped up and fired the penalty into the bottom-right corner to restore England’s lead in the 33rd minute, much to the delight of a sell-out crowd at Wembley.
USA seemed to equalise three minutes later as Smith provided a low cross from the right for Rodman to rifle in unmarked via a backheel flick of Megan Rapinoe, only for VAR to again intervene and this time ruled Smith was offside in the buildup.
England however proceeded to finish the half on the front foot as Hemp saw a first-half injury-time shot denied by Naeher.
After the break, Smith instantly went on the attack for the USA but dragged a 47th minute shot wide across goal.
Chloe Kelly at the opposite end saw two chances wasted as her initial cross was saved by Naeher before she curled her second attempt over the bar.
England continued to attack as Hemp delivered a 55th minute pullback cross from the left but Bronze rifled wide of the right corner of goal.
USA soon afterwards upped their intensity but struggled to create clear-cut chances amidst their mid second-half dominance until Trinity Rodman curled over in the 68th minute.
Rapinoe then curled wide two minutes later after intercepting Rachel Daly’s block of Rodman’s attempt upon goal, as the reigning world champions continued to struggle to break down a stubborn Lionesses defence.
USA even won a 81st minute penalty after Hemp was adjudged to had handballed Rose Lavelle’s shot from a corner, only for VAR to intervene and rule that Lavelle’s shot had rebounded off Hemp’s bum rather than left arm.
Up the other end, England eventually got themselves back into the game as Stanway wasted various chances and substitute, Ella Toone volleyed over the bar in injury time.
In the end, this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro champions weathered the American storm of various attacks to snatch a memorable victory in their toughest test yet under Wiegman’s reign and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions since her arrival.
England will next face Czech Republic on Tuesday 11 October in Brighton at AMEX Stadium in a 8pm kick-off, whilst USA visit Spain that same evening in Pamplona.
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Rachel Daly, Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Chloe Kelly (James 90+1′), Fran Kirby (Toone 68′), Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp
Substitutes: Esme Morgan, Ellie Roebuck, Katie Zelem, Lottie Wubben-Moy, Jess Carter, Nikita Parris, Ella Toone, Jess Park, Demi Stokes, Sandy Maclver, Lauren James, Ebony Salmon
USA: Alyssa Naeher, Sofia Huerta (Dunn 63′), Alana Cook, Naomi Girma (Sauerbrunn 83′), Emily Fox (Mace 22′), Rose Lavelle, Andi Sullivan (Coffey 63′), Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith, Megan Rapinoe (Thompson 83′), Trinity Rodman (Sanchez 83′)
Substitutes: Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury, Ashley Sanchez. Becky Sauerbrunn, Hailie Mace, Ashley Hatch, Alyssa Thompson, Sam Coffey, Crystal Dunn, Jaelin Howell, Kristie Mewis, Savannah Demelo
Attendance: 76,893
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