England Women have recorded an eye-catching 2-1 victory over the world's number-one ranked side USA in their international friendly at Wembley this evening.
Almost 77,000 fans travelled to see the Lionesses' first trip back to Wembley since their historic triumph at the European Championships this summer, and they were treated to an open, entertaining game.
It was the European champions who came out on top against the world champions in the end, with all of the goals coming in the opening 33 minutes.
Georgia Stanway proved to be the match-winner with her first-half penalty, after Lauren Hemp's early opener had been cancelled out by Sophia Smith.
However, USA were left to rue a series of VAR calls which went against them as they saw England awarded a penalty a long time after the incident occurred, a second equaliser disallowed, and a penalty be chalked off by the video technology.
🛑 No goal for Rodman 🛑
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 7, 2022
VAR rules this one out for offside... pic.twitter.com/AmuwvsPfDS
Sarina Wiegman spoke in the buildup to the match of how she wanted her side to "dominate" a team that has traditionally done that to most other nations on the international scene.
It would be easier said than done against the reigning world champions and top-ranked side, who arrived at Wembley on a 13-match winning streak and 22-game unbeaten run.
However, Hemp's 10th-minute opener got the hosts off to a perfect start in front of another big Wembley crowd, as she pounced on a defensive error to turn home from close range.
Mistakes leading to goals proved to be a theme of the first half, with England losing the ball high up the pitch for USA's equaliser, which Smith duly tucked home with aplomb.
Parity lasted just five minutes before Stanway scored what proved to be the winner from the spot, and much of that intervening five minutes came between the incident taking place and the penalty actually being awarded.
GOOOAAALLL for England 🏴
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 7, 2022
Georgia Stanway redeems her earlier mistake by slotting in from the spot 👏 pic.twitter.com/XofJu1zCPC
VAR sent the referee to the pitchside monitor at the next break in play to rule on a high foot in the area, with Lucy Bronze being caught in the face and the referee ultimately pointing to the spot.
USA were once again bemoaning VAR four minutes later, having thought that they had scored a quickfire equaliser through the lively Trinity Rodman, only for the goal to be chalked off for the tightest of offside calls in the buildup.
Technology came to England's rescue again late on too, although this time it was a much less controversial call as replays clearly showed that a penalty initially given for handball had been wrongly awarded.
Both sides created further chances throughout an enthralling contest, but it was England who came out on top as they made it 23 games unbeaten under Wiegman with perhaps the clearest sign yet that they are serious contenders to win the World Cup next year.
Barney Corkhill
