FROM WEMBLEY STADIUM – England got here from two objectives all the way down to safe a 3-2 win over the Netherlands to maintain their hopes of reaching the Nations League finals and 2024 Olympics alive.
As Mary Earps slammed her fist on the bottom after Lineth Beerensteyn netted her second objective within the first half, the Lionesses’ hopes of reaching Paris 2024 have been wanting grim. However some brilliance orchestrated by Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp introduced England again to stage phrases simply after the break.
England had by no means conceded twice with out reply beneath Sarina Wiegman and had by no means overturned a two objective deficit to win since she took over.
However there’s a first time for the whole lot and substitute Ella Toone nutmegged goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to internet a stoppage time winner and hold England’s hopes of reaching the Nations League finals in tact.
The England supervisor uncharacteristically opted for a brand new striker in Lauren Hemp, who final featured as a lone quantity 9 for England towards the USA in October 2022.
Wiegman’s squad decisions paid off in entrance of 71,632 followers at Wembley, however the Netherlands nonetheless high the group primarily based on head-to-head report. All of it comes all the way down to Tuesday’s video games the place, if Belgium and the Netherlands drop factors, England will high the group with a win towards Scotland.
It was all England for the primary 10 minutes because the hosts squandered items introduced by the shaky visiting defence. Lauren James’ by way of ball to Hemp pressured Van Domselaar into an acrobatic save to disclaim the Manchester Metropolis ahead, earlier than the Netherlands responded by taking the lead towards the run of play.
Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze clattered into each other in a bout of poor defending that allowed Beerensteyn to fit house. After gifting objectives towards the Netherlands beforehand, England have been making the identical errors as soon as once more.
By the thirty fifth minute, the night was wanting grim for England. Beerensteyn had doubled the Dutch’s lead after extra shambolic defending from the hosts. Earps, regardless of having a formidable World Cup run, spilled a simple save into her personal internet.
Beth Mead, who was recalled to the England setup after a 12 months absent following an ACL harm, injected some impetus into the hosts, who have been now dealing with a mammoth job of overturning a two-goal deficit. And in some way, they managed it.
Within the 58th minute, a deafening Wembley crowd lifted England, who fired two objectives in two minutes to see the perimeters stage.
Stanway was in a position to get a head to James’ pinpoint cross to drag one again for England, earlier than the Bayern Munich midfielder pulled Mead’s threaded move again for Hemp – celebrating her fiftieth worldwide cap – who slotted house with aplomb.
A final minute composed save from Earps stored England within the recreation earlier than, out of nowhere, substitute Toone capitalised on one other James cross in stoppage time to nip it house on the far put up to ship Wembley wild and declare all three factors.
GK: Mary Earps – 5/10 – A tough one for the primary. Earps ought to have completed higher to forestall each objectives, however was additionally let down by poor defending.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 6/10 – Persistently inverted which left area open, however did properly to drive ahead to assist Kelly.
CB: Jess Carter – 5/10 – Ought to have completed higher towards Beerensteyn and was subbed off early consequently. Too hesitant towards Martens, too.
CB: Alex Greenwood – 6/10 – Stable from the Man Metropolis defender, however was caught out of place just a few occasions.
LB: Niamh Charles – 7/10 – Snug efficiency from Charles who managed to compete with the Dutch wingers properly, although was too lax at occasions towards Pelova.
CM: Keira Walsh – 6/10 – A optimistic recreation from the Barcelona midfielder, whose technical expert proved helpful in retaining England’s management.
CM: Georgia Stanway – 7/10 – Overturned a poor begin to raise England, scoring the primary and helping the second.
RM: Chloe Kelly – 6/10 – Subbed at half-time after failing to make a lot of an impression.
AM: Fran Kirby – 7/10 – Proactive, although it was clear her physicality was missing after getting back from harm.
LW: Lauren James – 7/10 – Medical and clear from James. She as soon as once more proved pivotal in profitable the ball again and driving ahead to maintain England in a preventing likelihood of topping the group.
CF: Lauren Hemp – 7/10 – On her fiftieth cap for England, Hemp’s tempo and aggression was the host’s greatest attacking risk and dominated upfront. She was let down at occasions by a scarcity of possibilities created for her.
Substitutes
SUB: Beth Mead (46′ for Kelly) – 6/10
SUB: Esme Morgan (63 ‘for Carter) – 7/10
SUB: Alessia Russo (68′ for Kirby) – 6/10
SUB: Ella Toone (68′ for Stanway) – 7/10
SUB: Rachel Daly (84′ for Charles) – N/A
Unused subs: Hampton (GK), Keating (GK), Wubben-Moy, Zelem, Clinton, Le Tissier, Turner
Supervisor
Sarina Wiegman: 7/10 – Wiegman would have been protecting her eyes within the first half however her good techniques and alter in XI proved fruitful. Returning Russo and Toone to tremendous subs and enjoying James from the beginning the place she is greatest was the important thing to retaining England inside touching distance of Paris 2024.
GK: Daphne van Domselaar – 7/10 – A dominant first half however some poor anticipation allowed England again into the sport
CB: Caitlin Dijkstra – 5/10 – Poor defensively and gave England an excessive amount of area within the second half.
CB: Sherida Spitse – 6/10- Good from the skipper to maintain management on the again however had just a few moments the place she let skewed passes by way of.
CB: Dominique Janssen – 6/10 – Sprightly however wanted interference from Spitse to cowl when she was caught out.
RWB: Victoria Pelova – 8/10 – Marked her fiftieth cap for the Netherlands with a dominant show on the flank, retaining Charles quiet and inflicting issues for James breaking into the field.
CM: Danielle van de Donk – 7/10 – Optimistic from the previous Arsenal participant, whose traditional tips dominated the center.
CM: Jill Roord – 7/10 – Had actual pleasure in midfield and compelled England to play wider the place they wrestle.
CM: Jackie Groenen – 6/10 – Subbed on the break after a mismatch first half.
LWB: Esmee Brugts – 8/10 – Dominant on the flank and compelled England into tight areas, forcing them to make use of the other flank greater than they’d’ve appreciated to.
CF: Lineth Beerensteyn – 8/10 – Scored a brace within the first half to provide the Netherlands a cushion however did not make a lot impression within the second half.
CF: Lieke Martens – 6/10 – Sluggish from the normally pace-fuelled striker who did not have a lot say upfront.
Substitutes
SUB: Damaris Egurrola (46′ for Groenen) – 5/10
SUB: Renate Jansen (64′ for Pelova) – 5/10
SUB: Kerstin Casparij (63′ for Janssen) – 5/10
SUB: Merel van Dongen (70′ for Spitse) – 5/10
SUB: Shanice van de Sanden (84′ for van de Donk) – N/A
Unused subs: Weimar (GK), Lorsheyd (GK), Wilms, Leuchter, Miedema, Snoeijs, Kaptein
Supervisor
Andries Jonker: 7/10 – Most likely made all the fitting calls however was caught out by England’s impetus off the bench, and a few poor defending allowed the hosts again into the sport regardless of a two-goal cushion.
