Lauren Hemp on track as England beat Belgium (Nick Potts/PA)
Lauren Hemp on track as England beat Belgium (Nick Potts/PA)
Belgium had come into the festival as Group A1 leaders, but at the final whistle they were knocked out of first place by the Netherlands, while the Lionesses moved up to second.
The first of two October games with the Red Flames also saw the return to England of midfielder Fran Kirby, who came on in the 65th minute after being out for more than a year due to a series of problems, in addition to a knee injury and upcoming surgery that kept her out of contention for the World Cup.
– UEFA Women’s Nations League (@WEURO) 27 October 2023
England want to put an end to the organization’s greater wisdom to advance in the tournament, which also serves as a qualifier for next summer’s Paris Olympics.
Both wore black armbands in honour of England’s World Cup winner, Sir Bobby Charlton, who died on Saturday morning.
Niamh Charles, one of Sarina Wiegman’s three substitutions, was concerned early on and joined Alex Greenwood before storming into the penalty area, where a flurry of chances for the home side ended with Chelsea defender Charles sending a shot over the crossbar.
It wasn’t long before the Lionesses were back on their toes, with Hemp forcing a reaction with a handball from Belgian goalkeeper Nicky Evrard, the ball bouncing menacingly off the one-handed stop but, to the visitors’ relief, went wide. all white shirts.
The Red Flames eventually broke free and won a corner, first dealt through England, but the ball remained in the Lionesses’ area, where it was temporarily recovered by Tessa Wullaert, who sent a cross to Justine Vanhaevermaet.
The Everton midfielder hooked and forced a save from Mary Earps, who reversed the save and the ball hit the post before she could get the rebound.
England took an early lead after a narrow miss by Millie Bright, who connected with a Chloe Kelly corner and sent a header to the right post, but the ball bounced favorably off Hemp, who sent it past Evrard. with his left foot.
Both had more chances in the first half, with Earps forced to dive as a precaution when Wullaert’s shot deflected off Bright’s lower leg before Kassandra Missipo shot over the top.
England missed the chance to make it two when Alessia Russo failed to connect with Charles’ delivery before goal and some other late chance for Arsenal’s summer signing landed squarely in Evrard’s arms for an undeniable save.
The Lionesses at that point broke away aggressively when Kelly’s cross deflected past Tine De Caigny in the box and followed the trail of Russo, who sent a shot high.
Earps elicited a roar when she leapt to her left to deny replacement Sarah Wijnants, however, although the hosts took credit for twice as many of their opponents’ three attempts on goal as the game entered the 70th minute, they still had Hemp’s first game to prove it.
– Lionesses (@Lionnes) October 27, 2023
Wiegman made two substitutions, swapping Russo for Rachel Daly and replacing Ella Toone with Kirvia as England looked for more, then through Greenwood, who aimed his free-kick into the most sensitive right corner where it brought down through Evrard.
The Lionesses survived a scrum against Earps and Wiegman made a substitution, bringing on Jess Park for Kelly as the 85th minute approached.
England made another delayed effort and perhaps scored more, but, in the end, it was only Hemp who made the goal worthwhile.
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