Lucy Bronze produced a goal and assist as England beat Iceland 2-0 to stay top of their 2027 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group.
Bronze headed in England’s 25th-minute opener from Lauren James’ cross, before she set up the match clincher with a 80th-minute cross of her own which was volleyed in by Georgia Stanway.
England now sit top of League A3 ahead of Spain whilst Iceland slipped to rock bottom despite having played a game more than Ukraine, who are set to face Spain tonight in their second qualifier.
Currently sat top of the group, England initially made a slow start until Lauren James played Alessia Russo forward in the 12th minute to tee up Lauren Hemp, but Hemp was bundled over before she could eye up the goal.
Hemp then hit the woodwork five minutes later as the Lionesses upped their intensity.
The breakthrough goal eventually came from a piece of free-flowing play between Georgia Stanway and James on the left, with James left to whip in a cross which Bronze duly headed in to put the hosts ahead in the 25th minute.
England almost doubled their lead in the 32nd minute as Russo headed wide across goal via deflection, before Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir saved Bronze’s header on her goal line from the subsequent corner.
Hemp then saw a cross saved off the line by Runarsdottir before she then saved James’ low shot to keep Iceland’s deficit to a single goal at half time.
England’s lack of clinical finishing touches continued to trouble them as Bronze found the bar with a 51st-minute finish from James’ cross.
James, Stanway and Hemp saw chances denied in swift succession, whilst Hannah Hampton was forced into a rare save to deny Sandra Maria Jessen’s header on the hour mark.
England eventually found their second goal to settle the tie as Bronze burst forward in the 80th minute and found Stanway to volley in past Runarsdottir.
England now sit top of their group with Spain set to play Ukraine this evening, but the Spanish must win by five goals or more to dislodge Lionesses from top spot.
What’s Next?
England host Spain in a crucial home qualifier at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 14 April at 7pm BST, before they visit Iceland in the first of their three return fixtures on Saturday 18 April (time tbc).
Iceland meanwhile will meet Ukraine in the first of a double-header at home in Reykjavik on Tuesday 14 April, before they host the Lionesses four days later.
Teams
England: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Esme Morgan, Taylor Hinds, Jess Park (Blindkilde Brown 85′), Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway (Kendall 93′), Lauren James (Kelly 75′), Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp
Substitutes: Aggie Beever-Jones, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Jess Carter, Grace Clinton, Freya Godfrey, Chloe Kelly, Lucia Kendall, Maya Le Tissier, Anna Moorhouse, Poppy Pattinson, Ellie Roebuck, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Iceland: Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir, Gudrun Arnardottir, Glodis Perla Viggosdottir, Ingibjorg Sigurdardóttir, Sædis Run Heidarsdottir, Ida Marin Hermannsdottir (Asgeirsdottir 63′), Hildur Antonsdottir (Agustsdottir 88′), Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir (Johannsdottir 63′), Hlin Eiriksdottir (Gros 46′), Sandra Maria Jessen, Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir (Zomers 76′)
Substitutes: Fanney Inga Birisdottir, Birta Georgsdottir, Hafrun Halldorsdottir, Alexandra Johannsdottir, Elin Helena Karlsdottir, Emilia Kjaer Asgeirsdottir, Thelma Palmadottir, Karitas Tomasdottir, Dilja Zomers, Berglind Ros Agustsdottir, Telma Ivarsdottir, Maria Catharina Olafsd Gros
Referee – Silvia Gasperotti (Italy)
Leave a Reply