England vs Austria LIVE: Result and reaction after Russo and Mead strike twice and Lionesses score seven
Follow all the live action from the Lionesses match in Marbella
England bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on Olympic qualification in their last match with a 7-2 thrashing of a sub-par Austria.
In the first match of their February training camp in Marbella, the Lionesses stormed to victory, with Alessia Russo and Beth Mead both finding the net twice in the emphatic victory.
Russo opened hers and England’s account after just three minutes when she capitalised after the goalkeeper did not deal with the niitial shot and she was ideally placed to tap the ball home.
Grace Clinton then capped off her debut with a goal in the 19th minute. Austria briefly threatened to turn the tide of the game when Virginia Kirchberger headed one back for Austria, but Beth Mead’s first goal of the evening soon restored England’s advantage.
In the second half it was all England, first Russo’s second, then Jess Carter’s improvised backheel established a strong lead.
Kirchberger left England puzzling over how they had allowed the forward to score twice from set pieces, but Mead hit back almost straight away before Rachel Daly’s stoppage-time strike in a one-on-one situation wrapped up the win.
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Match report
England women debutant Grace Clinton made a magical introduction with a goal in the Lionesses’ 7-2 victory over Austria in their opening game of 2024.
Alessia Russo struck twice and added an assist at Spain’s Estadio Nuevo Mirador, taking advantage of a mistake by her Arsenal team-mate Manuela Zinsberger to open the scoring with an early goal before Clinton opened her England account with a header.
Virginia Kirchberger got Austria back into the game, but Beth Mead restored the Lionesses’ two-goal advantage before the break with Russo completing her brace and substitute Jess Carter flicking in a fifth shortly after her introduction.
Alessia Russo and Beth Mead both strike twice in emphatic Lionesses victory
Alessia Russo and Beth Mead both hit braces.
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
Wiegman added that she was happy for Clinton.
When asked about the previous disappointment of missing out on Olympics qualification, she added: “I think also in December we had a very good camp and two good games, two very intense games but the Netherlands scored more goals than we did and we have to move on and we have the opportunity now to play these friendlies and try the different combinations.
“Then the full concentration is on the Euro qualifiers.
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
Sarina Wiegman said to ITV: “I’m just really happy with this game, the way we played, the dominance we wanted to get on the pitch.
“In defence we ran a high press and wanted to win the ball back as quickly. We scored seven goals which is really good and created lots of chances.
“I am happy with the seven goals and the performance, but we conceded two goals from corners.”
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
Grace Clinton said to ITV: “It’s what dreams are made of so I’m very happy. I didn’t know it would be in my head, I’m absolutely buzzing.
“Yeah definitely (it’s the best moment of my career), going into the game it was probably the biggest game of my career so far so it going like that I was very happy.”
Says her mum and dad flew out this morning to go and watch the game.
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
FT: England put seven past Austria in a performance that will please Sarina Wiegman after the long gap since the Lionesses were last in action.
It will be a day to remember for debutant Grace Clinton, who scored on debut, while the experienced Alessia Russo and returning Beth Mead both scored twice.
Austria did not offer much of a threat, nor were they resolute at the back and it was a straightforward affair.
England 7-2 Austria
90+5: England might have a healthy lead and be on course for a memorable win, but the Lionesses will not stop coming, and a ball from Mead is just too far ahead of James who was arriving at the far post.
GOAL! Rachel Daly gets in on the action - England 7-2 Austria
90+3 mins: GOAL! Rachel Daly runs forward and creates a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, just beat the offside trap and she made no mistakes in front of goal with a great finish into the roof of the net.
England 6-2 Austria
90+1 mins: There will be five minutes of added time at the end of this international friendly match near Marbella.
GOAL! Mead adds a sixth for the Lionesses - England 6-2 Austria
90 mins: GOAL! Lauren James had run forward and curled the ball goalwards, but it rebounded back off the post and into the path of Mead, who fired home.
Just as Austria pulled one back, England have extended their lead again.
GOAL! Kirchberger pulls another back - England 5-2 Austria
88 mins: GOAL! Austria pull one back and it’s similar to the first. Another ball into the box and Kirchberger proves too much for the Lionesses defence from distance, and heads the ball into the back of the net.
This time it was not a corner but a ball from further up the pitch.
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