After the disappointing defeat to Brazil on Saturday, a rejuvenated Lionesses side responded in style – cruising past Australia with a commanding 3–0 win in front of over 33,000 fans at Pride Park.
It wasn’t just the scoreline that would have pleased Sarina Wiegman, but the control, intensity, and composure. From the first whistle, England looked sharper. More purposeful. More like themselves. While Alanna Kennedy’s red card midway through the first half certainly tilted the balance, the Lionesses had already seized the initiative.
England flew out of the blocks. Aggie Beever‑Jones, starting with real confidence, was inches away from converting Beth Mead’s driven cross within three minutes. The Chelsea youngster looked lively early on, heading just wide minutes later, as England’s right flank – led by Mead and Russo – set the tone with direct, attacking football.
n the 12th minute, Beever‑Jones had the ball in the net with a neat finish, only to see the flag raised. But the warning signs for Australia were already mounting.
Then came the turning point. In the 18th minute, Kennedy – bizarrely attempting a Cruyff turn deep in her own half – lost control of the ball, allowing Russo to pounce. With the striker bearing down on goal, Kennedy pulled her down. Clear goalscoring opportunity. Red card. Not her finest moment.
Beever‑Jones’s resulting free-kick struck the wall, but Lucy Bronze reacted quickest, teeing it back up for the young forward to thunder a strike into the top corner. A ruthless finish. Even with eleven players, you don’t save those.
From there, it was one-way traffic. Russo and Mead continued to torment the Australian defence down the right. The visitors’ only shot on target came in the 37th minute – Sam Kerr denied at the near post by Hampton, who stayed sharp despite being largely untested.
England’s second arrived just before the break. On her 34th birthday, Lucy Bronze made it a night to remember, finishing smartly after good work from Ella Toone down the right. A composed finish, and a well-earned celebration.
The second half lacked some of the first-half tempo, but England remained firmly in control. That said, the mood turned sombre late on as teenage forward Michelle Agyemang went down in agony following what appeared to be an innocuous challenge. After a lengthy stoppage, she was stretchered off and later seen leaving the stadium on crutches.
Still, England finished with authority. In the 98th minute, substitute Missy Bo Kearns was brought down in the box – a decision initially waved away before VAR intervened. Georgia Stanway stepped up and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to seal the win.
It was a performance that reminded everyone of the Lionesses’ depth, hunger, and high standards. Debutants Hinds and Kendall slotted in seamlessly. Mead and Russo were electric. And Beever‑Jones continues to look like the real deal.
Match Highlights
Match Stats
Lineups & Player Ratings
What’s next
It’s back to club football for the Lionesses. England return to international duty on 29 November when they face China at Wembley, followed by Ghana at St Mary’s on 2 December.
Sarina Wiegman will be delighted with the performance – particularly the attacking intent and the response to recent criticism. This looked much more like the England we’ve come to expect.
Stay up to date with the England Lionesses by subscribing to our newsletter and visiting our Lionesses Hub here
