England 2-1 Scotland
by Ruby Perry (24/9/23)
Above: Rachel Daly (left) and Lucy Bronze celebrate on Friday night. Photo: Lionesses.
England overcame a typically energetic and stubborn Scotland side at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
The game took place amidst the backdrop of the tragic news of Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack’s passing. It united the women’s game in grief and marked by a poignant minute’s silence before the game.
England, buoyed by a raucous atmosphere from a sell-out crowd in a stadium which can hold just under 48,000, started strongly and emphasised that with two goals that came courtesy of Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp.
However, the longer the half went on, the more Scotland grew into the action. They have always been tough, stubborn opponents, and demonstrated just that when Kirsty Hanson got a goal back before the interval.
The visitors continued to cause problems after the break with Hanson coming close with a header which needed Mary Earps to be at her best to deny the Aston Villa forward.
Scotland provided England with a real challenge and relentless puzzles to solve throughout the game. This was a tough game that Sarina Wiegman’s side will feel pleased to have got over the line on to take three points from their first-ever UEFA Nations League encounter. They ended matchday one second in the group behind Belgium and now face yet another tough task on Tuesday when they travel to the Netherlands.
Teams: ENGLAND (3-4-3): Earps, Carter, Bright, Greenwood, Bronze, Stanway, Zelem, Kelly, Daly, Hemp, James. Substitute used: Toone.
Scorers: Bronze 39′, Hemp 45′.
SCOTLAND (4-2-3-1): Alexander, Docherty, Corsie, Howard, McLauchlan, Kerr, Grimshaw, Hanson, Weir, Thomas, Emslie. Substitutes used: Evans, Gallagher,
Thomas, Brown, Davidson
Scorer: Hanson 45+2′.
Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi.
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