England boss Sarina Wiegman maintained full religion in her facet to stage the beautiful second-half comeback that lifted the Lionesses to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands of their penultimate Women’s Nations League group-stage conflict at Wembley.
Needing a victory to stay in competition to complete high in Group A1 and advance within the match, which serves as a qualifier for subsequent summer time’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.
But the Lionesses battled back after the restart on a frigid evening in London, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp stoking the gang back right into a frenzy by the hour mark earlier than substitute Ella Toone sealed a dramatic victory in stoppage time.
Ella Toone loves scoring massive 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 upset they scored the second aim as a result of I didn’t assume we performed dangerous. The second aim we had been somewhat bit unfortunate, it was an pointless aim. We didn’t play dangerous however we wanted some extra. We really believed we may flip it round. We never lost trust.
“At half-time we stated the sport was completely not over and that if we rating a aim they’ll turn out to be a bit shaky.
“They were struggling with the defence with how we played in attack. We also did a tactical thing we needed to do better in defence. We said everyone needed to step up and bring something extra. You could tell the players gave everything because they were really tired.”
It leaves England in second place within the group, stage on factors with the Netherlands and one in entrance of Belgium, forward of concluding their group matches by enjoying 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 sport remaining! pic.twitter.com/mux5FvtjUy
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
England and the Dutch are stage when it comes to head-to-head document, with the latter – who face Belgium at dwelling subsequent week – having a aim distinction superior by three, whereas England will end their group stage away at relegated Scotland on Tuesday.
Despite the victory, England’s keeper Mary Earps was left in tears as she spoke post-match in regards to 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.
Knowing England wanted to win by two targets to take over on the high of the group, Earps advised ITV: “I believed the ladies had been unbelievable to return back 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 value the workforce tonight.
“That [second goal] will hang-out me for a very long time at present, I’m actually gutted as a result of it may have been a very particular evening.
“The workforce had been unbelievable, don’t get me flawed, the targets are unbelievable, the best way that they performed and moved it round confirmed nice endurance at instances, actual tenacity, actual depth to the play.
“I am a competitor but when it is not good enough, it is not good enough and I can only apologise to my team-mates and to the fans, I take that fully with my whole 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 is a part of the sport. Of course she didn’t just like the workforce down, everybody does her greatest. You solely let the workforce down once you don’t put effort into the sport and we never don’t put effort in.
“Everyone stepped up. We needed to step up as a team. I think everyone did that.”
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