Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson both netted twice as England thrashed Belgium 6-1 at Ashton Gate to clinch 2023 Arnold Clark Cup.
Kelly bundled England ahead from Lauren James’ 12th minute cutback pass before she added her second goal in the 50th minute, as she smashed in Ella Toone’s low cross.
Leah Williamson scored the second goal from Lucy Bronze’s 42nd minute cross, then added a second goal with a 93rd minute rebound strike to score a rare brace.
England’s victory was sealed in the 78th minute as Belgium’s Julie Biesmans deflected Stanway’s cutback pass into her own net, whilst Lucy Bronze smashed in their fifth goal from close range in the 89th minute.
Elena Dhont meanwhile curled in a stunning 91st minute consolatory goal as Belgium finished second in this year’s competition.
Victory meant that England finished this year’s Arnold Clark Cup unbeaten, as they defended their title which they claimed in last year’s inaugural edition of this friendly tournament.
Martina Rosucci’s injury-time winner saw Italy defeat South Korea to finish third in this year’s tournament, after Arianna Caruso’s sixth minute opener was cancelled out by Ji So-yun’s equalising goal.
🅰️ @laurenjamess22
⚽️ @Chloe_Kelly98The #Lionesses lead in this @ArnoldClarkCup decider! pic.twitter.com/I5RhImtDAh
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 22, 2023
After seeing England battle their way past Italy in their second game, manager – Sarina Wiegman has once again rung nine changes with only Alex Greenwood and Keira Walsh replacing their starting positions in the line-up.
England captain, Williamson though endured a sloppy start on her return as she conceded a corner in the opening minute, which luckily was cleared as Lauren James played one-two with Bronze on counter-attack, before Stanway rifled wide of the left corner from James’ pass.
Alessia Russo saw a fifth minute shot and rebound header cleared as did Alex Greenwood whose shot from Russo’s loose header, as England began to quickly seize control of the first half.
That early dominance almost was rewarded in the eighth minute as Walsh played Kelly through up the left, only for Kelly’s low cross into the centre of the box to be rifled over the bar by James.
Three minutes later, Kelly played an one-two move with Ella Toone into the box but her shot was deflected over, as England’s early end product once again looked to be their Achilles heel as it had been in eventual wins against South Korea and Italy.
Any fears of another scrappy first half were however allayed in the 12th minute as James broke forward from the right towards the goal line, where she cut back via Julie Biesmans’ deflection for Kelly to bundle in and put the hosts ahead.
James six minutes later almost added a second goal as Stanway’s shot was deflected and the 21 year-old volleyed her shot towards the right corner, only for Belgian goalkeeper, Nicky Evrard to fumble her initial save but quickly recovered to prevent James pouncing upon the loose ball.
England nevertheless continued to hassle Belgium’s defence with a series of quick attacking moves throughout the first half, as James wasted two opportunities to extend England’s lead before half-time but both of her shots flew over the bar.
Williamson though ensured that England entered half-time with a two-goal lead after a corner led to a quick one-two move involving Bronze and Russo inside the box, which culminated in Bronze’s short cross from the left being headed in by Williamson from close-range.
Wiegman at half-time opted for a change as James was substituted for Lauren Hemp as England proceeded to continue their dominance early in the second-half, during which Toone curled over just two minutes into the restart.
Hemp and Toone then combined in the 50th minute to tee up Kelly, who calmly flicked Toone’s low cross into the net to claim her second goal of the game, and effectively secured their second consecutive Arnold Clark Cup title.
That third goal however only motivated England further as Russo saw a shot saved by Evrard just two minutes later, before Kelly curled over the bar a further two minutes later.
Belgium meanwhile rode their luck in the 56th minute as Biesmans dawdled in the box from Evrard’s pass, which allowed Hemp to intercept the defender but Evrard saved the loose ball before Hemp could attempt a shot upon goal.
Russo one minute later missed a chance to add a fourth goal as she nodded Bronze’s cross wide of the bottom-left corner.
Kelly, Toone and Hemp thereafter wasted chances whilst Evrard crucially punched Stanway’s 70th minute shot away from the left corner.
Biesmans though would again find herself in a defensive blunder eight minutes later as Stanway cut back from Kelly’s forward pass on the right, which found Biesmans who only managed to flick the ball into the far-left corner of her own net via her right foot.
Belgium’s nightmare worsened in the 89th minute as Hemp’s free-kick from the right was flicked onto Rachel Daly’s back via Millie Bright’s header, consequently falling for Bronze to smash in from close-range to add England’s fifth goal.
Dhont however pulled one back for the visitors in the first minute of injury time as she curled a stunning strike from the edge of box, across into the far-left corner to salvage some pride for the Belgians.
England though refused to claim the title quietly as a series of shots eventually fell for Williamson to powerfully race upon and rifle across into the bottom-right corner, which sealed a memorable win and extended England’s unbeaten run to 29 matches.
England eventually ran out 6-1 winners as they retained their title in style, underlining their status as one of the early favourites for the Women’s World Cup title.
What’s Next?
Wiegman’s European champions will next host Brazil at Wembley Stadium, London, on Thursday 6 April in 2023 Finalissima, in a meeting between the Euro and Copa America Femennina.
The Lionesses will then meet Australia at Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford on 11 April, which will represent the final chance for players to secure their spot in the World Cup squad before the preliminary selection is announced.
Belgium will host Slovenia on 11 April in a friendly.
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood (Carter 63′), Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh (Wubben-Moy 82′), Ella Toone (Park 81′), Lauren James (Hemp 45′), Alessia Russo (Daly 72′), Chloe Kelly
Substitutes: Lauren Hemp, Rachel Daly, Ellie Roebuck, Jess Park, Jess Carter, Ebony Salmon, Katie Zelem, Niamh Charles, Katie Robinson, Sandy MaClver, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Maya Le Tissier, Jordan Nobbs, Laura Coombs
Belgium: Nicky Evrard, Janice Cayman, Jody Vangheluwe (Deloose 63′), Kassandra Missipo (Eurlings 85′), Sarah Wijnants, Justine Vanhaevermaet, Jill Janssens (Ampoorter 63′), Marie Detruyer (Dhont 62′), Julie Biesmans (Meersman 85′), Tessa Wullaert (Fon 89′), Tine De Caigny
Substitutes: Davina Philtjens, Ella Van Kerkhoven, Michelle Colson, Hannah Eurlings, Diede Lemey, Elena Dhont, Femke Bastiaen, Laura Deloose, Fran Meersman, Welma Fon, Valesca Ampoorter
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