England completed 2025 on a excessive as they beat Ghana 2-0 within the first ever assembly between the nations.
A primary senior worldwide purpose for Aston Villa – and former Southampton – midfielder Lucia Kendall put the Lionesses in entrance inside six minutes at St Mary’s.
However regardless of their overwhelming dominance – and hitting the woodwork 4 occasions – it was not till the ninety fifth minute Alessia Russo sealed the win from the spot.
England put the stress on from the off, and as soon as Kendall had slammed in her first Lionesses purpose, it appeared the floodgates would burst open.
That had been the case once they beat China 8-0 at Wembley 4 days earlier, and Ghana sat 51 locations decrease within the FIFA rankings than the earlier opposition.
However Chloe Kelly was taken off injured after 23 minutes and a mixture of an absence of ruthlessness and dominant goalkeeping from Cynthia Konlan meant the hosts solely took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Moments earlier than the whistle, although, a Kendall header bounced into the bottom, up onto the crossbar and away.
Lucy Bronze earned her 144th England cap – which strikes her joint-third within the all-time standings, alongside Karen Carney
England struggled to take the sport by the scruff of the neck firstly of the second half, however twice in fast succession they hit the woodwork once more. Lucy Bronze first cushioned a header onto the crossbar, earlier than Aggie Beever-Jones’ looping header got here again shortly after.
They hit the woodwork but once more deep into second half stoppage time, however solely after Russo’s goalbound header hit the hand of Consolation Yeboah. The referee went to the monitor to assessment the incident, earlier than turning and pointing to the spot.
And the ever-reliable Russo struck emphatically from 12 yards to lastly add the second England ought to have scored lengthy earlier than.
Wiegman: We should always have scored extra!
England supervisor Sarina Wiegman chatting with ITV:
“I had hoped we’d score more. If we would have taken the chances better, I think it should have been more than this. I was actually a little bit frustrated.
“We performed loads of different gamers who we all know, as people, are actually good, however it’s a must to discover these connections once more. If we had scored earlier, that will have made it a bit of bit simpler for the crew.
“We had some big opportunities, but they were just the wrong side of the post or on the crossbar, so we weren’t lucky in moments, either.”
Kendall: It felt prefer it was written for me to attain at present
Lucia Kendall’s purpose was her first senior strike for England
England’s Lucia Kendall chatting with ITV:
“It was a really special moment for me to be able to do it here, where I grew up. This place made me into the player I am today. It felt like it was written today.
“It was so particular. It took a few seconds for it to actually hit. I obtained overwhelmed with emotion actually. It was actually particular.
“I pick up little bits from players here and back at club and it’s just how can I continue to be consistent and start to create more? I look at players like Keira [Walsh], how consistent she is, but also how effective and forward-thinking she is.
“I wish to be like that as properly; I wish to get the crew going ahead and be efficient within the ultimate third.”
Russo: Ghana supplied kind of take a look at we wished
Russo’s purpose was her twenty seventh for England
England’s Alessia Russo chatting with ITV:
“Ghana posed a completely different threat [to China]. They were really good and put on a really good show and made it really difficult for us.
“That is what we wish in these video games pre-World Cup and pre-qualifiers; we wish to take a look at ourselves towards a number of totally different taking part in kinds and we positively obtained that tonight.
“We’ve had a good camp, we’ve built on a lot and we’re really looking forward to going into the next few years.
“You’ll be able to inform it is a new England. We are saying it after nearly each cycle, however we have a number of kids, extra making their debuts this camp. It is a actually thrilling time.”
What’s subsequent for England?
Sarina Wiegman has three months to organize for the Lionesses’ subsequent matches, once they open their qualifying marketing campaign for the 2027 World Cup.
First up is a visit to face Ukraine on March 3, then a house recreation towards Iceland on March 7.
