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.
Follow all the live updates in the blog below and get the latest odds and tips here.
England 3-1 Austria
59 mins: England have continued to have most of the ball in this half and even when Austria do win it back they are struggling to convert it into chances and opportunities.
Their one goal came from a set piece, and it is when they have looked their most dangerous.
England 3-1 Austria
56 mins: Chance! Another chance, this time Stanway tries her luck from distance, and the ball was only just over the bar!
England 3-1 Austria
Chance! 53 mins: Le Tissier this time with a header and Zinsberger had to be alert in the Austria net to palm the ball away for another corner.
The second header from the subsequent corner is also goalwards, but a more straightforward hold from the goalkeeper from Wubben-Moy.
England 3-1 Austria
50 mins: Chance! Toone almost adds a fourth for England, it was a great run from Stanway and the ball came back to Toone who just tried to poke the ball goalwards, but it was just outside the far post.
England 3-1 Austria
48 mins: Can Austria find a way back into this match, and can they stop England just playing how they have been and scoring more goals as the match continues.
There is nothing riding on this match in particular, it is a friendly, but there are European qualifiers coming up soon.
England 3-1 Austria
46 mins: The second half is underway and there will be a few changes for England at half time, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Lauren James have come on for Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp.
Half time: England 3-1 Austria
Half time: Well it has been an entertaining half of football, most of which has gone England’s way.
Alessia Russo has caused problems all evening, and what a way for Clinton to celebrate her debut with a goal, while it is good to see Beth Mead back on form following her recent injury issues.
England 3-1 Austria
45+3 mins: England have to be alert at the back to cut out a good cross from the left hand side, there has not been too much of that so far in this match.
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