England boss Sarina Wiegman maintained full religion in her facet to stage the gorgeous second-half comeback that lifted the Lionesses to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands of their penultimate Ladies’s Nations League group-stage conflict at Wembley.
Needing a victory to stay in rivalry to complete high in Group A1 and advance within the match, which serves as a qualifier for subsequent summer season’s Olympics in Paris, England shortly dug themselves a gap after Lineth Beerensteyn netted twice earlier than the break to place the Dutch 2-0 up.
However the Lionesses battled again after the restart on a frigid night time in London, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp stoking the gang again right into a frenzy by the hour mark earlier than substitute Ella Toone sealed a dramatic victory in stoppage time.
Ella Toone loves scoring huge targets at Wembley. pic.twitter.com/FCg8wvdwk7
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
Wiegman stated: “I used to be really fairly calm. I used to be very disenchanted they scored the second objective as a result of I didn’t suppose we performed unhealthy. The second objective we had been a bit of bit unfortunate, it was an pointless objective. We didn’t play unhealthy however we would have liked some extra. We really believed we may flip it round. We by no means misplaced belief.
“At half-time we stated the sport was completely not over and that if we rating a objective they’ll turn out to be a bit shaky.
“They had been fighting the defence with how we performed in assault. We additionally did a tactical factor we would have liked to do higher in defence. We stated everybody wanted to step up and produce one thing further. You possibly can inform the gamers gave all the things as a result of they had been actually drained.”
It leaves England in second place within the group, degree on factors with the Netherlands and one in entrance of Belgium, forward of concluding their group matches by taking part in Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday. Belgium drew 1-1 with Scotland in Friday’s different Group A1 contest.
All to play for in #UWNL Group A1 – with one recreation remaining! pic.twitter.com/mux5FvtjUy
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
England and the Dutch are degree by way of head-to-head report, with the latter – who face Belgium at residence subsequent week – having a objective distinction superior by three, whereas England will end their group stage away at relegated Scotland on Tuesday.
Regardless of the victory, England’s keeper Mary Earps was left in tears as she spoke post-match concerning the two targets the Lionesses conceded, the second of which noticed her get her glove to the ball solely to see it slip previous her and trickle in – one thing that left the Manchester United stopper beating the turf in frustration.
Figuring out England wanted to win by two targets to take over on the high of the group, Earps instructed ITV: “I believed the women had been unbelievable to return again into the sport. I believed they had been unbelievable, the subs that come on impacted the sport.
“I’m simply sorry that my efficiency has price the workforce tonight.
“That [second goal] will hang-out me for a very long time right now, I’m actually gutted as a result of it may have been a very particular night time.
“The workforce had been unbelievable, don’t get me mistaken, the targets are unbelievable, the way in which that they performed and moved it round confirmed nice persistence at occasions, actual tenacity, actual depth to the play.
“I’m a competitor however when it’s not adequate, it’s not adequate and I can solely apologise to my team-mates and to the followers, I take that absolutely with my entire chest.”
The apology was totally pointless for Wiegman, who stated: “I spoke to her very shortly and I don’t need her to speak like that.
“We win as a workforce and lose as a workforce. That’s a part of the sport. In fact she didn’t just like the workforce down, everybody does her finest. You solely let the workforce down whenever you don’t put effort into the sport and we by no means don’t put effort in.
“Everybody stepped up. We wanted to step up as a workforce. I believe everybody did that.”
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