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England fight back to beat Dutch

England 3 (Stanway 59, Hemp 60, Toone 90)

Netherlands 2 (Beerensteyn 12,35)

Ella Toone’s late winner kept England's UEFA Women’s Nations League hopes alive as the Lionesses beat the Netherlands 3-2 at Wembley in a thrilling encounter.

Lineth Beerensteyn’s first half brace had moved the Group A leaders into a commanding position before England fought back after the break. Two goals in two minutes brought the Lionesses level as Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp netted before Toone stabbed home to seal a vital win.

It was all England in the opening exchanges as Hemp dinked a ball over the Dutch defence which found Lauren James, whose header went just wide. Chloe Kelly then headed just past the post having met a fizzing ball from Niamh Charles before the two Laurens combined for the game’s first shot on target. James drove down the middle and found Hemp whose shot was tipped behind by Daphne van Domselaar but a goal kick was awarded instead.

The Netherlands took full advantage seconds later, breaking into England’s half as Beerensteyn met a looping ball over the top and got herself between Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze to fire the visitors ahead against the run of play in the 12th minute.

England had more defending to do as Mary Earps cleared the ball away from the onrushing Beerensteyn before Danielle van de Donk fired wide. Sherida Spitse’s corner then found its way to Jill Roord whose effort dipped onto the crossbar and out for another corner kick.

England used slick passing to move themselves into advantageous positions but were further behind in the 35th minute as Beerensteyn doubled the Dutch’s lead. The Lionesses struggled to clear away the ball which bounced to Beerensteyn who slotted past a scrambling Earps.

Stanway gave England the chance at an immediate response as she found Kelly on the edge of the box with the winger firing just wide of the post. James followed up with an attempt shortly after but could only send the ball straight to van Domselaar before Wembley found its voice again as Alex Greenwood sent a free kick into the box.

The Lionesses were much brighter in the second half and were rewarded as Stanway headed home a perfectly-weighted James pass in the 58th minute. Wembley erupted seconds later as England drew level as Hemp fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the box on her 50th appearance.

The game turned into an end-to-end battle as Esmee Brugts’ shot drifted wide before Beth Mead, on her first England appearance since her return from an ACL injury, headed just past the goal.

Seconds into injury time England found their winner as Ella Toone lashed home from close range to send the 71,632 fans inside Wembley into raptures.

England: Mary Earps, Lucy Beonze, Niamh Charles (sub Rachel Daly 86mins), Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter (sub Esme Carter 63mins), Chloe Kelly (sub Beth Mead 45mins), Georgia Stanway (sub Ella Toone 68mins), Fran Kirby (sub Alessia Russo 68mins), Lauren James, Lauren Hemp. Subs not used: Hannah Hampton, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Katie Zelem, Grace Clinton, Maya Le Tissier, Khiara Keating, Millie Turner.  

Netherlands: Daphne van Domselaar, Caitlin Dijkstra, Jill Roord, Lineth Beerensteyn, Sherida Spitse (sub Merel van Dongen 70mins), Danielle van de Donk (sub Shanice van de Sanden 85mins), Lieke Martens, Jackie Groenen (sub Damaris Egurrola 45mins), Victoria Pelova (sub Renate Jansen 64mins), Dominique Janssen (sub Kerstin Casparij 63mins), Esmee Brugts. Subs not used: Lynn Wilms, Romée Leuchter, Vivianne Miedema, Katja Snoejis, Jacintha Weimar, Wieke Kaptein, Barbara Lorsheyd.  

(englandfootball.com)   

 

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