England vs USA LIVE: Result and final score as Lionesses seal Wembley win
The European champions mry the world champions as England’s Lionesses returned to Wembley for the first time since glory over Germany in July
England claimed victory in the clash of European and world champions as Sarina Wiegman’s side beat the United States 2-1 in a friendly at Wembley.
The Lionesses went ahead through Lauren Hemp’s 10th-minute finish before Sophia Smith equalised in the 28th minute after Georgia Stanway lost possession near her own box.
England then benefited from two VAR checks - one resulting in the penalty from which Stanway restored their lead after 33 minutes, and another soon after that saw Trinity Rodman’s strike for the visitors disallowed, with Smith ruled to have been offside.
VAR also ensured a late penalty award against England for handball, with the ball having struck Hemp’s legs, was overturned as they saw out only a third victory in their last 17 meetings with the US.
It is the first time they have beaten the world number ones since 2017 and represents yet another big plus for the team under Wiegman - whose undefeated tenure now shows 21 wins from 23 games - as they work towards next summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
A crowd of 76,893 was in attendance for England’s return to the scene of July’s historic Euros triumph, and those present included a host of former Lionesses as the team’s 50th anniversary was marked.
England vs USA
Sarina Wiegman speaks to ITV, on why she chose Lauren Hemp as No 9: “All three forward players have played centre forward before, but Lauren Hemp has speed, she can make runs in behind... we did it in training, it went well, so we’re really excited to see what it’s going to look like.”
England vs USA
Beth Mead says England are hungry to avenge their World Cup heartbreak suffered at the hands of the United States during tonight’s sold-out Wembley showdown.
The Lionesses’ dreams of glory at the 2019 tournament in France were extinguished by an agonising 2-1 semi-final loss to the eventual winners. England responded to that setback to become European champions in the summer and will now seek to lay down a marker against the world’s top-ranked team with the start of the 2023 World Cup just nine months away.
Euro 2022 golden boot winner Mead, who on Thursday was named England Women’s Player of the Year, believes the hosts will be spurred on by past disappointment.
“It was obviously a tough game, a tough result to take,” she said of the narrow loss in Lyon. “We took it hard but looking at it now, it’s made us more hungry and motivated to prove ourselves against a world-class American team. We’re looking forward to the challenge to see where we are and hopefully we can put on a good performance.”
England ‘hungry and motivated’ to show USA how far they’ve come
England vs USA: Lionesses ‘hungry and motivated’ to show how far they’ve come
USA line-up
The USA XI: Naeher, Huerta, Rodman, Cook, Fox, Lavelle, Horan (c), Sullivan, Smith, Girma, Rapinoe.
England line-up
The England team is in: Earps, Bronze, Bright (c), Greenwood, Daly, Stanway, Walsh, Stanway, Kirby, Kelly, Hemp, Mead.
England vs USA
It has been hammering down with rain for the past half hour or so at Wembley, which shouldn’t cause too many problems for the players by the time kick-off comes around and should offer up a slick surface.
Latest news
Megan Rapinoe said on Thursday she and her fellow US women’s national team members are angry and exhausted in the wake of a scathing report into allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The independent investigation released on Monday revealed player abuse within women’s professional soccer in the United States was systemic and that the NWSL and governing US Soccer body failed to adequately protect players.
“It’s really sad to say, but in a way I think we are used to having to deal with one thing or another,” Rapinoe said ahead of tonight’s friendly against England at Wembley Stadium. “It seems to bring us closer and definitely unify the team and it’s just one of those sort of intimate environments that we are in that we’re used to taking on a lot and playing in these kind of conditions.”
The twice World Cup winner also felt it was imperative to see accountability and singled out Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler, who were both named in the report. In the aftermath of the report, Paulson removed himself from the team’s decision making while Whisler was ousted as chairman but neither indicated plans to sell the team.
“I don’t think that Merritt Paulson is fit to be the owner of that team. I don’t think Arnim is fit to be the owner of Chicago,” said Rapinoe. “We need to see those people gone. So people who are fit and who will take care of the game and respect the game and help the game grow and the best way possible can replace them.”
England vs USA
England are back at Wembley for the first time since this iconic Chloe Kelly moment:
How to watch match tonight
England vs USA will be broadcast live on UK TV on channel ITV 1, and viewers can also stream the contest online via the ITV Hub. Fans in the US can watch via Fox Sports and the Fox Sports website and app.
England vs USA
England players will join forces with the United States to show solidarity for victims of the abuse scandal ahead of Friday evening’s sold-out international at Wembley.
Football in America has been rocked by an independent investigation which found abusive behaviour and sexual misconduct “had become systemic” in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Lionesses forward Beth Mead said she was “sickened” by the situation, while head coach Sarina Wiegman called it “horrible” and “unacceptable”.
“We’re in contact with the American team and some of the players,” said Mead. “We’re working on something to show our support for them.
“When I found out, I was sickened by the situation. It’s a worldwide problem but women need to be taken seriously. (I’m) very proud of the victims that actually stood up and said it.
“People need to start doing better, the US governing body needs to be doing better, worldwide we need to be doing better.”
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