England 2-1 USWNT: summary: score, goals, highlights, International friendly
England 2-1 USWNT
England-USWNT: match report
An early goal by Lauren Hemp and a penalty from Georgia Stanway helped European champions England beat World champions United States 2-1 in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Friday in a test for both sides ahead of next year's World Cup.
Hemp tapped the ball home in the 10th minute to open the scoring for England after Beth Mead's cross found her on the edge of the six-yard box. U.S. forward Sophia Smith smashed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area in the 28th minute to level the scores, but parity lasted just five minutes.
England retook the lead when midfielder Georgia Stanway scored from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute after Hailie Mace was adjudged to have fouled Lucy Bronze after the VAR spotted a high boot to the face.
Both sides spurned a host of chances early in the second half but England managed to hold on. England host Czech Republic in their next friendly on Oct. 11 when the U.S. travel to Spain. (Reuters)
A solid second half performance and are we witnessing a shift in the new world order in women's football ?
Hemp and Stanway with the first half goals for the Lionesses with Smith bagging the sole USWNT goal.
The whistle sounds and the European champions beat the world champions....
Into the final minute of the contest as England press now and the team in blue pressed deep inside their own half.
Bronze finds Toone and the Man United striker fires over.
Three minutes to be added.
Every positive play from England getting wildy applauded here by the partisan Wembley crowd who have made plenty of noise all night. Once again Stanway shoots but as before, the ball is screwed well wide. Not got her shooting boots on tonight the Bayern Munich strker.
US debut for Thompson with the 17-year-old getting her first cap for the women's team. Just over six minutes for the subs to influence the game. The clock is ticking down and England looking solid in hanging on to their advantage.
Lavelle shoots and the ball is drilled into the rear of an England player. The ref goes to consult the VAR monitor and the spot kick will be overruled. VAR doing exaclty what it was supposed to do.
Free for the US and it's Rapinoe over the ball as always, the OL Reign player delivers a fine ball and England are forced to head clear with the USWNT poised to make a triple substitute.
Just over ten minutes to go as the attendance is confirmed and it falls short of the record with 76,893 fans present here at Wembley tonight.
Stanway with a great chance to make it 3-1, creates space but fires well wide with her left foot.
Better from England now as they combine nicely with the move starting with Walsh deep inside her own half. A half-hearted appeal for a spot kick from the Wembley crowd as Toone is clipped but the referee was not impressed and waves play on.
Great run from Rodman and a fine intervention from Daly as she slides in with a perfectly timed tackle.
Less than 20' left at Wembley.
Toone on for Kirby, first change of the night for England
Decent free from Rapinoe as Rodman shape and strikes over the bar.
England hanging on now with the Lionesses sitting really deep and inviting pressure from the side in blue.
Double switch for the USWNT
Celebrated American football quarterback Aaron Rodgers also in attendance tonight in Wembley with the Green Bay Packers playing their NFL game in the English capital this weekend.
Rapinoe strikes and the ball is well defended by England. The US knocking on the door now...
An hour gone here in Wembley and England still hang on as the camera pans to Jason Sudeikis (aka Ted Lasso) who is watching the action tonight at Wembley.
Rapinoe almost steals in as the US increase their intensity looking for this vital equaliser if they are to maintain their fine unbeaten stretch.
Decent strike from Bronze but the England forward just fails to get the ball on target
Both the US and England will be in action next Tuesday with England set to face Czech Republic (in Brighton) and the US heading to Pamplona where they face Spain.
Trinity Rodman (USA) carded
The teams are back on the Wembley pitch with the second half about to start.
In just over a months time, we'll see the same game but with the men in action as the US face England in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
US staring defeat in the face
The USWNT have gone unbeaten in each of their last 21 matches in all competitions (W18 D3), winning each of the last 13 in a row. Indeed, USA’s last defeat in any competition came back in August 2021 versus Canada at the Olympic games (1-0).
A highly entertaining half of football with the European champions currently beating the world champions with Hemp and Stanway on target for England with Smth replying for the US.
Free for the US as we pass the added time... last action of the half surely....Headed over from Horan and that must be it... and it is...the whistle sounds and England lead at the break.
We'll have three minutes of added time after a dramatic first 45' of football
Bright carded as she clips Smith
Protect the players
Banner supported by both sides pre-game in light of the report issued on Monday which revealed numerous accounts of abuse in the NWSL.
Less than five minutes of the half remain and it's been a wild and wonderful game with goals, open play and a little controversy with that VAR intervention ruling out what looked like an equaliser from Trinity Rodman.
so...as we were ...England lead 2-1
VAR overrules the goal as there was an offside (Smith) in the build-up
...and another goal the US draw level... 2-2 ... great play as Rapinoe dummys and Trinity Rodman slots home to tie the game
England 2-1 USA
Stanway to take... and slots home... England ahead again
and indeed it's a spot kick for the home side as Mace is carded for a high foot which connects with Lucy Bronze's face.
VAR to be checked by the ref....Possible penalty kick for England ?
The US draw level and Smith drills the ball into the corner to the delight of the pocket of US fans here at Wembley. An error from Stanway instrumental as she gives the ball away cheaply but a fine finish from the Thorns striker.
England really are good value for their one goal lead with the US really yet to find their rhythm and pen the home side back.
Possession after 25'
England 67-33 USA (%)
England ahead and dominating the world champions in terms of possession.
Sub for US: Fox off and Mace on
Play held up again as the US medics are on the pitch as Fox seems to be in trouble ... not looking good for the Racing Louisville defender.
We're back underway at Wembley as Hemp seems okay to carry on.
A melee in the England goal as Lavelle almost sneaks the ball past Earps after the keeper spills the ball.
Hemp is getting treatment as it was her face that met the full impact of that Megan Rapinoe freekick. Play temporarily held up.
Free for the USMNT but it's not great from Rapinoe as the wall stands firm to avert the danger.
We've seen little from Megan Rapinoe in the opening stage of this game. The veteran striker yet to really get decent service as England threaten yet again. The Lionesses are buoyed clearly with that tenth minute goal
Hemp fires England ahead
Good build-up from the home side leading to the goal with Hemp composed as she slotted the ball into the corner
England take the lead in the 10th minute as Hemp slots the ball into the corner of the net.
It's been a bright and open start to the game with both teams enjoying sustained passages of possession. Neither keeper however, has really been tested.
First shot on target from Beth Mead but she strikes straight at Naeher in the US goal.
Solid start from the visitors as the press the England goal .... Beth Mead breaks for England and then the home side almost slip up at the back as Earps is caught out.
A really open start to the action.
The US in blue start the game as both sets of players take a knee pre game. Horan dummies the kick off and then the ball is rolling and we are up and running at Wembley.
We'll have a minutes silence pre game in memory of the victims of the Indonesia stadium disaster.
Biggest test for England in some time as England face the World chanpions
Followed by God Save the King....
It's national anthem time... first up the Stars and Stripes
A rainy evening in North London
A damp evening for game with rain expected for most of the game. The temperature, however is mild and it's currently 18C/64F in the English capital.
Vlatko Andonovski paces Wembley turf
Fans continues to pack into Wembley Stadium as USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski paces the turf at the iconic ground with less than 30 minutes to go ahead of kick-off.
England show their support to US Women’s Soccer
Ahead of the friendly against England, the players and coaches on their side have extended their support to the women of the US league after the report highlighting abuse in the domestic game was issued last Monday. Rapinoe said “it means everything” to have their words of encouragement.
“I don’t think this is just a problem in the USA. I think it’s a worldwide problem still,” said England coach Sarina Wiegman. “And it’s just really the time now that we all step up, and we just can stop these things.”
England player Beth Mead said she was “sickened” to hear about the situation. Rapinoe, Wiegman, and Mead all agree that more needs to be done, and that it happened at all is unacceptable, and that it should never happen again.
“Women need to be taken seriously a lot more,” said Mead. “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.”
USWNT XI announced
Vlatko Andonovski confirms the starting line up for the world champions with Lindsey Horan captaining the side which features Megan Rapinoe making a start with the veteran player a habitual starter on the bench and prone to making late appearances.
England XI
Sarina Wiegman announces the England XI to face the USWNT at Wembley tonight with Millie Bright getting the captain's armband in the absence of injured Leah Williamson. Chloe Kelly who scored the winning goal against Germany in the Euro 2022 final gets a start up front for the Lionesses.
USA in unstoppable form
The USWNT have gone unbeaten in each of their last 21 matches in all competitions (W18 D3), winning each of the last 13 in a row. Indeed, USA’s last defeat in any competition came back in August 2021 versus Canada at the Olympic games (1-0).
England-USWNT: Past five meetings
March 2020: USWNT 2-0 England
July 2019: England 1-2 USWNT
March 2019: USWNT 2-2 England
March 2018: USWNT 1-0 England
March 2017: USWNT 0-1 England
Most of the recent meetings between the teams have taken place in the SheBelieves Cup, in which the USA have just about come out on top. The big one, however, was the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Lyon, which the USWNT also edged by the odd goal in three, on the way to winning the trophy.
Leah Williamson of England / Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
England v USWNT – team news
England captain Leah Williamson has withdrawn from the squad because of an injury suffered while training with Arsenal. Her club teammate Lotte Wubben-Moy has come in to replace her and could get some game time in defence. Striker Alessia Russo, one of the stars of Euro 2022, has also been ruled out of the game because of a fitness issue.
The main headline from Andonovski’s roster announcement is that San Diego Wave striker Alex Morgan, the fifth highest goalscorer in USWNT history, won’t feature in either of the two matches as she recovers from a minor knee injury. There is a first call-up for 17-year old high school student Alyssa Thompson, who plays for the U-17 Total Futbol Academy boys’ team in MLS Next and impressed at the U-20 World Cup.
US face England and Spain
The USA have won the last two World Cups and four of the eight editions played, which means that anything other than a third consecutive victory will be deemed as a failure.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski is sure their European tour – the USWNT also face Spain next week in Pamplona – will help them to achieve that objective.
Sold out Wembley awaits
90,000 fans are expected to pack into Wembley Stadium for tonight's friendly game with tickets for the match selling out in record time. It's possibly one of highest profile contests currently in women's football.
Soccer Football - International Women's Friendly - United States Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 6, 2022 Megan Rapinoe of the U.S. during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs / PAUL CHILDS / Action Images via Reuters
Megan Rapinoe on “horrifying” NWSL abuse report
US star Megan Rapinoe spoke about the reports of abuse within the National Women’s Soccer League and how it can be seen as an opportunity to make a change.
“From the entire landscape of women’s sports, nobody ever wants to see anything like this,” said Rapinoe. “But hopefully this can be a moment in time when you say, ‘none of this ever happens again’.”
Tonight's game is set to be played under the cloud cast by Monday's publication of an independent investigation revealed that for years players from the NWSL were subjected to pervasive, systematic and sexual abuse and harassment.
The winners of the Women’s Euros host the Women’s World Cup holders on Friday, as England take on the United States in a keenly-anticipated friendly at a sell-out Wembley.
In the Lionesses’ first game at the stadium since beating Germany there to lift the European title in July, the visit of the USWNT represents a chance for England to measure their progress against the globe’s top-ranked national team, as they step up their preparations for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer.
Sarina Wiegman’s side, who have risen to fourth in the FIFA world rankings, have not lost in the Dutchwoman’s 22 games in charge; however, that run will be put to the test against a team that itself is undefeated in 21 matches - and has made a habit of beating the English in the past.
The action in North London gets underway at 2100 CEST (which is 8:00 pm local time or 3:00 pm ET)
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the hugh profile friendly game as Euro 2022 winners (England) face the World Cup holders, USA at a sold out Wembley Stadium.