The positive momentum England were building was abruptly halted by Belgium as they defeated the Lionesses 3-2 in Leuven on Tuesday.
After losing 5-0 to England at Ashton Gate on Friday night, Belgium were bolstered by the return of captain Tessa Wullaert from injury, with the forward bagging two goals and an assist as her side emerged victorious at Den Dreef.
As it happened
Belgium came out hungry for revenge after their 5-0 defeat at Ashton Gate on Friday night, with the returning Tessa Wullaert opening the scoring just 4 minutes into the game. She proved too fast for both Niamh Charles and Millie Bright, finding the bottom far corner to hand the hosts the lead in Leuven.
Just twelve minutes later, the Red Flames doubled their lead when Lucy Bronze fouled Hannah Earlings and conceded a free-kick, which Belgium capitalised on. Wullaert’s effort was nodded home by Justine Vanhaevermaet, with England now trailing by two.
England’s midfield and left flank were pulled apart by Belgium throughout the entirety of the first half, and just before the half hour mark, the Lionesses conceded a third goal. Wullaert looked to be offside as she tapped home from Davina Philtjens’ close-range cross, but the goal was allowed to stand and England were left with a mountain to climb.
Beth Mead was taken down in the box by Philtjens not long later and was awarded a penalty, which she slotted into the bottom left corner as England looked to mount a comeback.
Two changes at half time strengthened Wiegman’s side as they looked to be stronger on the ball, applying more pressure as they continued their search for another goal. England skipper Leah Williamson saw her long range effort tipped over the bar and Ella Toone saw an effort fly past the far post not long after being subbed on.
But it was 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang – called into the squad on Sunday following Alessia Russo’s injury-enforced withdrawal – who would find England’s second of the evening. Just 41 seconds into her senior debut, she volleyed Leah Williamson’s cross past the goalkeeper to give England belief as they headed into the final ten minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe dying stages of the game were tense as England gave everything they had to try and equalise in front of a crowd that was becoming more boisterous by the minute.
Despite an improved performance in the second half, the Lionesses head home empty-handed but with plenty of talking points as they prepare to face Portugal and Spain in the next international break. Improvements are drastically needed ahead of the Euros, which get underway in Switzerland in July.
The lineups
BEL: Lichtfus; Deloose, Tysiak, Cayman; Janssens, Vanhaevermaet, Teulings, Philtjens; Wullaert, Detruyer, Eurlings
ENG: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles; Clinton, Walsh, Park; Mead, Parris, Beever-Jones