A dominant display saw the Lionesses secure their first win following their historic Euro 2025 victory – a 3-0 win over Australia, courtesy of goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Lucy Bronze and Georgia Stanway.
The Matildas looked to seek revenge in front of a sold out crowd at Pride Park, after the Lionesses knocked Australia out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage in 2023 to deny them glory on home soil, but the Lionesses quickly stamped their authority on the contest, dictating the tempo from the outset and never allowing the visitors to settle.
A red card for Alanna Kennedy 20 minutes into the game further worsened the situation for Australia following a poor start to the match from the visitors. Beever-Jones smashed in England’s opener just moments after Kennedy’s dismissal, before Bronze doubled the Lionesses’ lead before the break with a powerful drilled finish after a well-worked move.
Stanway sealed the win deep into stoppage time, converting from the penalty spot with the final kick of the match to put a fitting gloss on a dominant performance.
The only downside to an otherwise perfect night came with a worrying injury to Euro 2025 hero Michelle Agyemang, who went down clutching her knee off the ball. She was stretchered off to a standing ovation from the home crowd – a concerning sight amid the homecoming series celebrations.
Sarina Wiegman made five changes to the lineup that suffered defeat to Copa America winners Brazil on Saturday for the clash at Pride Park.
Hannah Hampton returned from injury to start between the sticks, replacing Khiara Keating.
Wiegman handed out two England senior debuts, with Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall and Arsenal full-back Taylor Hinds earning their first cap for the Lionesses.
Birthday girl Bronze also came into the starting XI, replacing Alex Greenwood, while England women’s top goalscorer for 2024-25, Beever-Jones, was given the nod over Chloe Kelly.
Matildas boss Joe Montemurro opted to make five changes to the side that beat Wales 2-1 on Saturday. Three familiar faces for Women’s Super League fans came into the lineup, with Chelsea full-back Ellie Carpenter, Arsenal defender Steph Catley, and London City’s Alanna Kennedy all given a start.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and midfielder Amy Sayer also came into the side, which was captained by Chelsea star Sam Kerr.
England started the game brightly. An early chance saw Beth Mead deliver a dangerous cross towards the back post, towards the onrushing Beever-Jones, but the Chelsea forward was unable to get a toe to it.
Shortly after, Kendall had an opportunity to make an instant impact on her debut as she found herself in space on the edge of the area but blazed her first-time strike over the bar.
Wiegman’s side continued to pile on the pressure early on, with chances coming thick and fast in the opening stages. Alessia Russo’s runs down the channels made her a handful for the Matildas’ backline in the opening stages, and she almost assisted an opener.
The Arsenal striker delivered a pinpoint ball into the box for Beever-Jones; however, the forward, operating on the left flank on the night, failed to angle her header on target.
Moments later, Beever-Jones was involved again as she latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Mead and slotted beyond Arnold with a composed finish from close range. However, a raised flag from the lineswoman quickly halted celebrations as the goal was chalked off for offside.
After a dominant start for the Lionesses, matters only got worse for Montemurro’s side. Sloppy play in possession from the Matildas, a common occurrence throughout the half, allowed Russo to break through one-on-one with Matildas goalkeeper Arnold.
The 26-year-old was dragged down by Kennedy just outside the box, and as a result, the London City Lionesses defender saw red, leaving her side a player down for over 70 minutes of the match.
Wiegman’s side were clinical in taking advantage of the resulting free-kick to take the lead inside 20 minutes. Beever-Jones fired the ball into the Australian wall but picked up the rebound and smashed it into the top left corner, leaving Arnold no chance.
It was a well-deserved goal for the forward, who had started the game strongly, regularly taking up dangerous positions.
There was no letting up from England after the goal – they continued to dominate proceedings. Mead picked out Russo in the box after some superb footwork, but the Arsenal striker’s effort was collected comfortably by Arnold.
A rare sighting of goal for Australia came midway through the first period. Kerr’s front-post curler nearly took the England backline off guard, but Hampton was alert to turn the ball behind with her foot.
Towards the end of the half, Ella Toone fashioned an opening down the right flank before laying the ball back to Bronze. The 34-year-old drilled a low, powerful strike across goal, but it sneaked just wide of the post.
Shortly after, however, Bronze did manage to add a birthday goal before the interval to double the Lionesses’ advantage after marauding into the box.
Captain on the night, Kiera Walsh threaded an accurate through ball to Toone, who picked out Bronze in the middle of the penalty area. The Chelsea defender rifled the ball into the bottom left corner to give the Lionesses a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.
England remained in control early in the second half. Two chances in quick succession saw debutant Taylor Hinds deliver a set piece into the box, but it floated following a deflection off an Australian defender.
Mead then laid the resulting corner back to Hinds to deliver, but the defender’s cross was claimed well by Arnold.
Kendall slotted into the midfield excellently on the night. The 21-year-old, who has stepped up from the U23 to play with the seniors for the first time this camp, had a flurry of chances midway through the second half.
First, the Aston Villa midfielder did brilliantly to find space and rise highest among a sea of defenders at the back post, but her headed effort cannoned off Catley and behind. Soon after, Kendall received a layoff from Toone and unleashed a rocket towards goal, but it was blocked by Katrina Gorry.
Substitute Michelle Agyemang, a crowd favourite after her Euro 2025 heroics, made an instant impact after replacing Russo. There was a chance for the 19-year-old as she received the ball from Mead, but it bobbled on the way to her, preventing her from getting a clean strike away.
Then, there was a dampener on an otherwise faultless evening for the Lionesses. Agyemang went down off the ball, clutching her knee, a concerning sight. After a long period receiving treatment, the forward was stretchered off to applause and replaced by Chloe Kelly.
The Lionesses let their foot off the gas ever so slightly in the closing stages, allowing Australia more of the ball. However, the Matildas did little with that possession.
England ended the game with 10 players after an injury to Beever-Jones, after Wiegman had already made all of the five substitutions at her disposal, saw her forced off the pitch.
In the dying stages, a penalty was awarded to England following a late challenge on substitute Missy Bo Kearns in the box. Substitute Stanway stepped up to take it and fired into the roof the net, netting her second penalty in two England games over this international break to seal the win for the Lionesses.
Operating primarily from the left flank but frequently drifting inside, the Chelsea forward consistently found herself in dangerous positions. Her persistence paid off midway through the first half when she produced a superb finish into the top corner – a goal that capped a vibrant and confident display.
The performance also offered encouraging signs for England’s attacking options. Beever-Jones and Russo combined effectively throughout, proving they are more than capable of starting together for the Lionesses.
In the past, Sarina Wiegman has typically preferred one or the other to lead the line, but the duo’s link-up play and movement caused the Matildas problems all evening and added a new dimension to the England’s frontline.
However, a special mention should also go to Kendall, who slotted into the Lionesses midfield as though she had been there for years with composure on the ball, defensive discipline and attacking threat – a complete midfield performance from the debutant.
