England midfielder, Lucia Kendall hailed her first senior international goal in a 2-0 victory over Ghana as “a really special moment” in her career.
Kendall opened the scoring with a sixth-minute rebound finish as England beat Ghana 2-0 at St Mary’s Stadium, where she began her career with Southampton, before Alessia Russo’s 95th-minute penalty wrapped up the victory after a handball from Comfort Yeboah.
“It was a really special moment for me,” reflected the 21 year-old who has scored her first international goal in just her third appearance for the Lionesses, and she was particularly delighted to achieve the feat at the stadium of the club where she graduated through their academy into a professional player.
“To be able to do it here, where I grew up, this place made me what I am so to be able to give that back – it felt like it was written today which was really nice.
“I just saw the ball fall in the box and it was a tap in really. The groundsmen won’t be happy with me though [for my kneeslide celebration]. I get in those positions, I just need to score more.
“It was so special. It took a couple of seconds for it to really hit me, I just felt overwhelmed with emotion.”
“It was special to get that here today, in front of family and friends, and there’s hopefully many more.”
Kendall also reflected on the importance of the pathway which helped her progress through England’s youth ranks and made it easier to fit into the current senior squad.
“That pathway has really helped me make that transition but also the players here, they’re so easy to play with,” acknowledged Kendall on the importance of having teammates who have been welcoming and on similar journeys to the senior squad over the decades.
“You’ve got some incredible players in that midfield and it’s so easy to slot in and play alongside them. I just try to pick up little bits from them here and there.
“But they do make it so easy to play with them.”
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