The Lionesses capped off their October camp with a commanding 3-0 win over Australia in their second homecoming fixture.
Sarina Wiegman handed senior debuts to Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds, both of whom seized their opportunities in a confident team display.
England struck twice in the first half before sealing the result from the spot in stoppage time, while the Matildas’ night unravelled early when Alanna Kennedy was shown a red card for denying Alessia Russo a clear goalscoring chance.
As it happened
Wiegman, dealing with an extensive injury list, named a more experimental starting XI, Maya Le Tissier slotting in at right centre-back, debutant Hinds at left-back, and Southampton graduate Kendall handed a first start in midfield. England set the tone immediately, pressing high and controlling possession as Australia struggled to find their rhythm.
The breakthrough came after just 19 minutes when Kennedy was dismissed for pulling down Russo as she raced through on goal. From the ensuing free-kick, Aggie Beever-Jones’ first effort was blocked by the wall, but she reacted fast when Lucy Bronze provided her with the rebound, burying it into the top corner, a deserved opener for the hosts.
The Lionesses doubled their lead just before the break. Turning 34 on the day, Bronze added a personal milestone to her celebration, finishing coolly into the bottom corner after Ella Toone’s clever assist.
With a two-goal cushion, England managed the second half with maturity. Wiegman introduced Alex Greenwood, Missy Bo Kearns, Georgia Stanway, and Michelle Agyemang just after the hour mark to maintain the tempo and spread out the minutes. Greenwood took the captain’s armband from Keira Walsh, who made way for Stanway.
The night took a concerning turn in the 80th minute when Agyemang went down clutching her knee. After several minutes of treatment, the young forward was stretchered off, replaced by Chloe Kelly. Soon after, Beever-Jones also limped off with a dead leg, forcing England to finish the match with ten players, matching Australia’s depleted side after the earlier red card.
In stoppage time, VAR intervened after Bo Kearns was tripped in the box. Stanway stepped up to confidently convert from the spot, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 victory and closing out a strong window for Wiegman’s side.
The performance showcased England’s depth and adaptability despite ongoing injury challenges. With one win and one loss from two in their Homecoming series, the Lionesses will next face China at Wembley on 29 November, carrying momentum and valuable lessons from a successful international break.
The Lineups
ENG: Hampton; Bronze, Le Tissier, Morgan, Hinds; Toone, Walsh, Kendall; Mead, Russo, Beever-Jones
AUS: Arnold; Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley; Cooney-Cross, Gorry, Heatley; Sayer, Kerr, Foord