Lucia Kendall scores in the first six minutes for England against Ghana at St Mary’s - Getty Images/Charlotte WilsonKathryn BatteTue, December 2, 2025 at 9:53 PM UTC·29 min readEngland Women 2 Ghana Women 0
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If there is one thing Sarina Wiegman has learnt from the Lionesses’ four friendlies in the last two months, it is that Lucia Kendall is a star in the making.
Kendall, who was making only her second senior start, stole the show in her hometown of Southampton in what was otherwise a forgettable friendly with Ghana.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementShe looked overcome with emotion after opening the scoring in the sixth minute and her goal was undoubtedly the highlight of the night. Alessia Russo converted a stoppage-time penalty to ensure England’s victory was more comfortable than it had at times seemed.
It was hard to see how Wiegman could have taken much from their 8-0 thrashing of China on Saturday; the Lionesses were so dominant and were barely tested in defence. Ghana, who finished third in AFCON, certainly offered more and made it difficult for a heavily rotated England team.
Kendall had impressed when she made her debut in a 3-0 win over Australia in October. Her composure and confidence on the ball had stood out and Wiegman, who rarely singles out individuals for praise, had made a point of highlighting how impressed she was by the midfielder’s performance.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementShe was handed another opportunity here at St Mary’s, a stadium she played in regularly for WSL 2 side Southampton before a summer move to Aston Villa, and grabbed it with both hands.
Her goal may have been put on a plate for her by the Ghana defence, but she showed awareness to be in the right place at the right time to finish from close range.
“It was a really special moment for me,” said Kendall afterwards. “To be able to do it here, where I grew up… This place made me the player I am today. It felt like it was written.”
Kendall is still learning and far from the complete package yet but the early signs are positive and Wiegman must be thrilled to now have more options in midfield.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKendall’s sudden rise at international level is akin to when Grace Clinton burst on to the scene in 2024. Clinton has struggled with injuries this season and appears to have fallen down the pecking order. With Kendall performing as well as this, it may be difficult for Clinton to climb back above her.
Kendall is also believed to have made a huge impression on her team-mates in a short space of time. She is viewed as a perfect character: hard-working, humble and willing to learn. Her tactical awareness has also impressed them.
Her goal was made by Chloe Kelly, who sent an inviting cross into the box which was cleared only as far as Kendall, who swept the ball into the bottom left corner. Kelly could have doubled England’s lead but blasted over from close-range and her night came to an abrupt end shortly after that. Kelly has been struggling with niggling injuries since scoring the winning penalty in the Euro 2025 final and she was forced off with what looked to be a minor knee injury.
Chloe Kelly sparked concern at St Mary’s as she went down clutching her right leg - Getty Images/Andrew RedingtonKelly had sported strapping on her knee until early November and has managed just one start in the Women’s Super League this term. Arsenal manager Renee Slegers had clarified earlier in the campaign that Kelly was “building back” to full fitness and it had seemed she had put those injury worries behind her when she started against Real Madrid last month.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTo be forced off with injury, albeit one that did not look too serious, will no doubt have left the forward frustrated.
Wiegman will no doubt be disappointed that her side did not build on their early goal until a VAR review awarded her side a penalty following a handball from Comfort Yeboah. Russo stepped up to convert into the bottom right corner.
Rather than giving youngster Freya Godfrey her debut, Wiegman threw on her trusted players in Beth Mead, who came on for Kelly, and Lauren Hemp, who replaced Jess Park. We have come to expect that from Wiegman who does not hand out caps for the sake of it. That in itself shows how highly she rates Kendall – and the midfielder is certainly repaying that trust.
Match details:
England (4-3-3): Moorhouse 6, Bronze 7 (Denton 90+6), Le Tissier 7, Wubben-Moy 7, Hinds 7, Walsh 6, Kendall 8 (Clinton 62,6) , Kearns (Blindkilde Brown 62, 6), Park 6 (Hemp, 6), Beever-Jones 6 (Russo 74), Kelly (Mead 23, 6)Subs: Baggaley, Charles, Godfrey, Roebuck, Stanway, TooneBooked: Walsh, KearnsGoals: Kendall 6, Russo pen 90+ 5Ghana (4-2-3-1): Konlan, Simon (Achiaa 90+1), Boakye, Duah, Yeboah, Cudjoe (Amoah 90+1), Asantewaa, Kusi (Marfo 58), Boye-Hlorkah (Badu 77), Nyameke (Adubea 77), Boaduwaa (Kim 58)Subs: Abamila, Amenyeku, Amponsah, Aniwaa, Marfo, Bonsu, McCarthy, NorshieBooked: YeboahReferee: Lina Lehtovaara
09:27pm
England’s next fixtures
Sarina Wiegman ended her ITV pitchside chat with a “Merry Christmas”. That is it from the Lionesses after a landmark year, signing off with another victory. Up next is the first of their 2027 World Cup qualification matches:March 3: Ukraine v EnglandMarch 7: England v IcelandApril 14: England v SpainApril 18: Iceland v England
09:23pm
Sarina Wiegman: ‘I hoped to score more’
“I had hoped we would score more. If we had taken the chances better, it should have been more than this. I was also a little bit frustrated but it is also hard - we played a lot of new players and of course as individuals, they are really good, but you have to find those connections again.
A lot of opportunities were just the wrong side of the post or on the crossbar. We weren’t that lucky in moments either.
[On Ghana] We knew they were organised and they played how we expected them to play. They looked good and we knew also they wanted to play duels, had a lot of pace and physicality.”
09:14pm
Alessia Russo: ‘It’s a new England’
“We have had a good camp, we’ve built on a lot and we are really looking forward to go into the next few years. It’s a new England, with a lot of players making their debut, I think it is a really exciting time.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGhana posed a completely different threat, they were really good and made it really difficult for us. That is what we want pre-World Cup and pre-qualifiers, we want to test ourselves against different playing styles and we definitely got that tonight.
We are constantly building. When you have friendlies and camps and you can train a bit more, try new things and new relationships. It is a really exciting time to be part of England.”
09:12pm
England’s goalscorer Lucia Kendall’s post-match thoughts
“It was a really special moment for me to be able to do it here, where I grew up. This place made me into the player I am today. I feel like it was written today, which was nice. It was so special, it took me a couple of seconds for it to really kick in. I got overwhelmed with emotion ... it was a tap-in really, wasn’t it? The groundsman won’t be happy with me [with the knee slide celebration].
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe academy here [at Southampton FC] instilled the mindset to keep getting better in me from a young age, my family has always kept me down to earth and grounded.
[On getting better in the future] I pick up little bits from the players here and at my club, it’s just how can I keep consistent and create more? I look at players like Keira [Walsh] and see how creative and also forward-thinking she is, I want to be like her.”
Kendall celebrates after scoring - Offside/Charlotte Wilson08:58pm
Full-time: England 2 Ghana 0
Another England goal was merited, given all their second-half pressure. They could and probably should have scored one or two more, with a couple of headers pinging back off the crossbar. Alessio Russo showed her class with her late cameo.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNevertheless, Ghana deserve a lot of credit. They proved worthy opponents, settling well after giving away a sloppy early goal. They had pace, poise and organisation, proving hard to break down.
08:56pm
90+7 mins: England 2 Ghana 0
Yellow card for Keira Walsh for a wayward challenge in midfield. The referee blows for full-time and Anouk Denton, ready to come on from the touchline, will have to wait to make her debut.
08:54pm
GOAL!
England 2 Ghana 0 (Russo) England’s regular penalty taker Georgia Stanway is not on the pitch, so Alessia Russo steps up and plants it hard, past the diving Konlan.
Just desserts given her headed was stopped by a stray hand. There is England’s cushion, not that Ghana have looked like scoring.
08:52pm
90+4 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
How did that not go in? Hemp hit the after-burners down the left, a blocked shot found its way to Bronze. A smart, hooked ball back in and Russo headed point-blank with the goal at her mercy, but a Ghana body got in the way to stop it on the line.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVAR has a look, was it a hand? The referee goes to the pitchside screen to have a look. Yes! Penalty for England, much to the crowd’s delight.
08:50pm
90+1 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Bronze and Blindkilde Brown with a delightful series of passes and nutmegs through Ghanaian legs on the right, but Duah heads away the youngster’s cross in. Six minutes of stoppage time.
Corner number ten for England. Mead whips in and Ghana clear.
Achiaa → Simon
Amoh → Cudjoe
08:47pm
88 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Blindkilde Brown thought she had slipped Marfo, but she shows her strength, getting level with her and using her body to move her off the ball.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe substitute Badu is down after a clash, but returns to her feet.
Jennifer Cudjoe (right) and Grace Clinton (England, left) fight for the ball - Getty Images/Warren Little08:44pm
85 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Still only one goal in this. Asantewaa, who has looked positive all night, draws a foul from Blinkilde Brown on the centre circuit. Ghana recover the ball for a rare attack. Russo does well, looking to break at pace and Yeboah receives a yellow card for hacking her down.
Some tired challenges are flying in now. Badu takes down Walsh 40 yards out, arriving late. Hinds’ delivery is straight into the arms of Konlan. Far too much on that.
08:40pm
81 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Clinton turns brightly in midfield and hares forward, but she dithers and her pass is too strong for Beth Mead.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTwo lunging challenges from Ghana. Simon hacks down Mead near the right touchline and receives a talking-to from the referee. Hinds clips the ball in, but Ghana head clear. More resolute defending.
08:37pm
78 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Alessia Russo was voted FSA Player of the Year yesterday. Can the Arsenal star add more gloss to this so-so England showing?
Duah fires a hard clearance straight into the arm of Cudjoe. She goes down holding her face and play stops. Smart football, that.
08:35pm
76 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Asantewaa trips Mead as she darts towards the 18-yard box and England have a free-kick which is just in shooting range.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMead plays it short to Russo, who hits it first time, but Konlan reacts sharply, diving to her right to parry for a corner. The goalkeeper is a surefire player of the match candidate. Another good save.
Adubea → Nyamekye
Badu → Boye-Hlorkah
08:32pm
73 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Ghana try to pin England into their own box as they play out from the back with Wubben-Moy and Hinds. A long ball seeks to turn defence into attack and Yeboah gets there a mite before Hemp, diverting for a corner. It does not amount to much, as England try to bring the ball down and try to build up with more slow, methodical play and Yeboah gets her body in the way.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRusso → Beever-Jones
08:28pm
70 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Hemp crosses into the box, but Boakye deflects it with her shoulder and takes the sting off it. Clinton catches goalkeeper Konlan as she falls on the ball in her bid to hurdle her. Purely accidental: a sore one, but she is ok.
There were a fair few unknowns about Ghana coming into this match, but they have done themselves proud so far. Was this going to be another drubbing? Fat chance. They have fought and frustrated the European champions.
08:25pm
66 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
A little threat from Ghana there, as Marfo pulls a ball back but no fellow Ghanaian can get a touch in the middle. England were stretched there.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWubben-Moy sees space on the left and works it that way; Blindkilde Brown marauds into space and finds Beever-Jones in the box. The shot goes out for a corner, off a Ghanaian hand. No penalty for that. Mead cannot beat the first woman with her delivery, but it goes straight back to her.
08:23pm
64 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Three pairs of fresh legs for Wiegman. Clinton fouls Asantewaa 35 yards out and Ghana can whip a free-kick into the mixer. Nyameyke’s ball has too much pace, eluding every attacker. Benedicte Simon gathers and weaves past a couple of England players, but slices her shot into a defender’s leg.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementClinton → Kendall
Blindkilde Brown → Kearns
Hemp → Park
08:18pm
60 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Marfo’s first act is to test Anna Moorhouse with a right-footed shot. However, she controlled the pass in with her hand so the referee blows up for handball. That was a stonewall one. England are preparing some substitutes.
08:17pm
58 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Now it is Aggie Beever-Jones’ turn to rattle the crossbar with a header after Hinds finds her in the middle of the box. Two in the space of two minutes, what are the chances?
Kofi Kim → Boaduwaa
Marfo → Kusi
08:14pm
56 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Lucy Bronze gets an important foot and takes a foot in the shin from Bouduwaa, who was late, looking to clip the ball past Wubben-Moy and get in behind the England defence.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe home side will want a second to kill off Ghana hopes. In midfield, Mead is bundled over by Simon for a free-kick. Hinds sends it to the back post to the head of Lucy Bronze, but it comes off the goalie’s hands, onto the crossbar and Park cannot sort out her feet for the rebound. So close...
08:12pm
53 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Hinds plays short to Mead, who goes square to Park. However, she cannot find Hinds, as Comfort Yeboah gets her body in the way and shepherds out for a goal-kick.
England are in control, but the lead is still just a goal and there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful for Ghana. Based on this game, they look good value for achieving their first World Cup qualification in 20 years.
08:10pm
51 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Kendall finds Bronze on the right and she plays a lethal early ball. As Konlan runs out to meet it, with Beever-Jones hoping to add to her England tally, experienced captain Boakye gets there first and takes the sting off the ball with an open goal in front of her. That could easily have gone off her foot and into the back of the net.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBenedicte Simon, Ghana’s debutant right-back, pulls up as she chases Beth Mead, and heads for treatment on the touchline. Mead’s cross was deflected out for a corner.
08:06pm
47 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Kearns kicks off, straight back to Walsh who plays a long ball forward.
However, Ghana are the ones restarting with more intent, as Kusi and Nyamekye combine, playing a deep cross to the back post. Boye-Hlorkah is there but fluffs the volley and totally misses it. She can smile about it afterwards, a rare, flowing attacking movement from the visitors.
08:01pm
Laura Woods “doing ok” after falling ill
It was worrying when Laura Woods collapsed, “falling ill” in the first minutes of the ITV broadcast live on air.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHer replacement Katie Shanahan - doing a fine, impromptu job - has given a little update on ITV: “We want to reassure you that she’s doing ok and we all send her our love.”
07:59pm
Lucia Kendall’s joy
Off the mark on only her third cap. What’s more, it could not be much closer to home for the ex-Southampton, Winchester-born midfielder. Her and Aston Villa teammate Kearns have stood out in the first-half, though the latter’s final touch has been missing in front of goal.
That feeling of scoring your first international goal - The FA/Naomi Baker07:57pm
England lacking cutting edge
ITV pundits Ian Wright and Anita Asante both believe England have not been ruthless enough. Chloe Kelly had a gilt-edged chance in front of goal which she missed early on before going off with injury.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGhanaian goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan has impressed though, making several good saves.
07:52pm
Half-time: England 1 Ghana 0
Twelve shots for England and 74 per cent possession, but just the one goal. In front of goal, they have lacked a little edge and Ghana have defended stoutly, showing fight and strength. Lucia Kendall took her first international goal well and has been dynamic in midfield.
They may tire later and Sarina Wiegman could be tempted to bring on Stanway, Russo or Toone.
07:47pm
45+1 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Bronze and Beever-Jones play a neat 1-2, allowing the defensive veteran a shot on goal, closed down by Yeboah for a corner. Ghana clear their lines, but England recycle. Wubben-Moy heads over from Mead’s cross as the rain falls more heavily.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTwo minutes of added time to play for that Kelly injury.
Just seconds after a Beever-Jones chance is snuffed out by their centre-backs, Ghana give the ball away passing it out and Mead shoots low and just wide.
07:44pm
43 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Eleven Ghana players behind the ball. Park and Hinds have a sniff of space on the left, but the visitors recover well.
Mead finds Kearns in the middle of the box and she leathers it straight at Konlan, who saves well nevertheless for a corner. Ghana fail to deal with Hinds’ ball in. Not sure if it touched a player, but it bounced off the crossbar and back to a grateful defender.
07:41pm
40 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Beever-Jones looked to have a yard of space, but was tugged back by Boakye. The referee doesn’t blow for a foul, looked a pretty clear-cut free kick to me.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBoye-Hlorkah picks Kendall’s pocket in midfield, getting her arm across and challenging strongly, then drawing a petty foul. Ghana have played well, despite conceding a cheap opening goal, belying the 63 spots in the FIFA rankings between thse teams.
07:37pm
37 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
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England have struggled to capitalise on that early Lucia Kendall goal. Ghana are doing a good job of sitting in and defending, though the Lionesses still look dangerous when they go forward. Chloe Kelly’s withdrawal is a real shame as she has struggled to build up much rhythm this season due to a series of little niggles. Hopefully she is OK.
07:36pm
35 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Beever-Jones was put through down the middle by a lucky deflection. Her shot pings off Simon’s boot and Konlan gets a foot to the deflected shot. The crowd oohs and aahs. That could easily have gone in.
It is one-way traffic now, but England cannot find a second yet. On the right, a misplaced Kendall pass finds Jess Park and she has only thing on her mind. She jinks inside and tries to bend it goalbound on her right, missing by several metres.
07:31pm
30 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Walsh slips in Beever-Jones behind, but it is an almighty recovery from left-back Boakye, sprinting back to tap out for a corner. She wants a free-kick, but nothing doing from the referee. That is fighting spirit personified, and Ghana have the speed to correct some of their mistakes.
Konlan leaps well to claim Hinds’ ball in.
07:29pm
28 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Half-chance for England. Bronze found the run of Park, who crossed it sharply. Konlan got down well to her right to stop Missy Bo Kearns’s shot from near the penalty spot.
The home side will need a little patience to find the next goal.
07:27pm
26 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Ghana are certainly offering sterner resistance than China, who were already four goals down by this juncture. Anna Moorhouse shanks a clearance out. Yeboah and Boye-Hlorkah look to combine from a throw-in on the right touchline, but the ball rolls out of play.
Kusi shows a lot of skill, wriggling away from the attentions of Park, and stroking the ball back to a defender.
07:23pm
23 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Ghana put the ball out of play as Chloe Kelly has gone down near the touchline, holding her knee. She grimaced after making her latest cross, which was blocked by Duah.
That is it for the Euro 2025 hero, receiving sympathetic applause from the crowd. Better safe than sorry.
Mead → Kelly
07:19pm
19 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Ghana are wide open on the right place and Hinds can play Kearns into space down the left flank easily. However, it is a poor ball for Beever-Jones and Conlan can easily get there first. That was an opportunity squandered.
07:16pm
15 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Kelly feeds Beever-Jones, but Boakye slides well from centre-back to cut out the opportunity. Then it’s a yellow card for Missy Bo Kearns, flagrantly pulling the shirt of the protesting Asantewaa as she bursts into midfield. There is some decent pace on show from Ghana, England are not going to have it all their own way tonight.
07:13pm
12 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Not enough physical pressure from Ghana and Chloe Kelly nearly makes it two. Park is able to turn unhindered, hardly marked, and pass to Kendall. Kelly blazes over her low cross from eight yards out.
Down the other end, as Wubben-Moy slips at a bad moment, Boaduwaa gives a reminder of her threat, running goalwards and lashing the ball straight at Moorhouse from the edge of the 18-yard box.
07:10pm
9 mins: England 1 Ghana 0
Hinds and Kelly combine on the left. Another curving ball in from the Arsenal stalwart eludes everyone. Hint of offside from Beever-Jones in the middle. But there was space to be had there, which is ominous for Ghana. England are starting to move through the gears.
07:07pm
GOAL!
England 1 Ghana 0 (Kendall) Lucia Kendall opens the scoring! What a dream for the ex-Southampton player. Chloe Kelly sent in a fierce cross from the left and debutant Simon was caught flat-footed, making a poor touch. She could only block the ball straight into the 21-year-old’s path and it was an easy finish in front of goal.
Sarina Wiegman applauds from the touchline. A poor one to give away for the visitors.
07:06pm
4 mins: England 0 Ghana 0
Boaduwaa looks to break the offside line down the left wing, but Wubben-Moy steps up to play her offside. As the home side pours forward, Taylor Hinds fouls Nyameke in midfield, giving Ghana a breather.
07:04pm
2 mins: England 0 Ghana 0
Chloe Kelly sends a ball through, possibly intended for Beever-Jones, which Ghana goalie Cynthia Konran easily takes. That might be her easiest work of a busy night.
A minute later, she passes to Jess Park, but she sends it straight back to a Ghanaian defender. A few loose passes here and there.
07:01pm
Kick-off
Here we go: England wearing navy blue shirts and shorts. Ghana kick off, shooting left to right. They pass straight to Chloe Kelly and England move the ball around the back.
06:59pm
A brief update on Laura Woods
Woods was “taken ill”, collapsing on air a few minutes into live coverage on ITV. Before switching to match coverage, her replacement Katie Shanahan said: “She is in really good hands and we’re wishing her a speedy recovery.”
06:58pm
Those line-ups again...
Plenty of pyrotechnics and fireworks lighting up the Southampton sky as the teams take to the pitch and sing the national anthems, Ghana standing in their yellow shirts and yellow shorts.
England Moorhouse; Bronze, Hinds, Le Tissier, Wubben-Moy; Walsh, Kendall, Kearns; Beever-Jones, Park, Kelly.Substitutes Baggaley, Roebuck, Charles, Denton, Stanway, Toone, Blindkilde, Clinton, Mead, Russo, Hemp, Godfrey.
Ghana Konlan; Simon, Yeboah, Boakye, Duah; Asantewaa, Kusi; Cudjoe, Boye-Hlorkah, Nyamekye; Boaduwaa.Substitutes McCarthy; Amenyeku, Norshie, Aniwaa, Achiaa; Abambila, Badu, Amoh, Marfo, Bonsu, Kim, Amponsah, Adubea.
06:55pm
Chloe Kelly’s pre-match thoughts
England’s super sub and Euro 2025 winner is on from the start.
“It would be amazing to finish on a high tonight here in Southampton where we’ve created special memories in the past. This squad is amazing, it’s very competitive, you never take for granted playing for your country. I take any opportunity when it comes, from the bench or from the start.”
06:50pm
Kick-off in 10 minutes
The earlier rain is holding off for now. Ghana will hope to show their quality, keep it goalless for as long as possible and match England’s intensity and physicality. They do not want to offer them any encouragement to the home side by giving away cheap, early goals.
06:45pm
Ex-Southampton player Lucia Kendall starting in midfield
The 21-year-old, born in nearby Winchester, has had a whirlwind six months: she joined WSL side Aston Villa in July and only made her international debut against Australia in October. She has been speaking to ITV:
“I signed for Southampton on extended trial, to be honest I only got in because I could run and was a bit of an athlete. Playing senior football and the number of games I played has just been invaluable. You don’t expect to be shown that much trust as a 16-year-old.
People that went before me like Aggie [Beever-Jones] and Grace [Clinton] have really solidified themselves, for me it’s now how can I solidify myself in the squad? I want to be a complete midfielder … it’s about having that fearlessness. You make a mistake, you learn, I really have lived by that. Every training session, I want to go and get better. I’m not satisfied with where I’m at. I want to keep pushing.”
06:38pm
Pre-match vibes at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton
Ella Toone and Alessia Russo warm up ahead of the match - The FA/Naomi Baker
Getting in the mood for England’s last match of the year - Getty Images/Andrew Redington06:34pm
Ghana manager Lars Kim Bjorkegren’s pre-match thoughts
“We play against one of the best teams in the world right now, it is going to be tough. We need to try to be ourselves and do our best. They have so many good players, we saw against China how brutal they can be. We need to match their energy from the start and stay in the game.
I hope it can give the players some big game experience, with us hopefully going to play the World Cup in a year and a half.”
06:33pm
Those teams in black and white
England Moorhouse; Bronze, Hinds, Le Tissier, Wubben-Moy; Walsh, Kendall, Kearns; Beever-Jones, Park, KellySubstitutes Baggaley, Roebuck, Charles, Denton, Stanway, Toone, Blindkilde, Clinton, Mead, Russo, Hemp, Godfrey.
Ghana Konlan; Simon, Yeboah, Boakye, Duah; Asantewaa, Kusi; Cudjoe, Boye-Hlorkah, Nyamekye; Boaduwaa.Substitutes McCarthy; Amenyeku, Norshie, Aniwaa, Achiaa; Abambila, Badu, Amoh, Marfo, Bonsu, Kim, Amponsah, Adubea.
06:27pm
Woods “taken ill” on air
Back from ads, there is a new presenter. “We don’t have the wonderful Laura Woods, she has just been taken ill. I’m stepping in at late notice,” says her replacement Katie Shanahan.
Wishing her all the best and hope she is all right.
06:20pm
Laura Woods appears to faint on ITV coverage
A really unfortunate incident a minute or two into ITV’s coverage of the match, as Woods falls to the floor live on air. Pundits Ian Wright and Anita Asante go immediately to her aid. Hope the presenter is okay. They have understandably cut to an advert break.
06:17pm
Aggie Beever-Jones gets the call
The 22-year-old had a late cameo against China, coming on for the last five minutes for Alessia Russo. The in-form Chelsea striker has shone this season, scoring the opener against Australia five weeks ago, and she has a chance to add to her tally and push for a permanent starting place tonight.
Aggie Beever-Jones emerges from the tunnel to inspect the pitch - The FA/Naomi Baker06:08pm
Ghana’s starting XI
Nottingham Forest winger Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah will be at the centre of midfield for Ghana, trying to supply Bouduwaa. Right-back Benedicte Simon is making her debut tonight. The former France under-23 international, who has played for PSG and Juventus, will need to call on all her experience tonight.
06:03pm
England and Ghana’s last five results
Ghana won their two qualification legs against Egypt to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Doris Boaduwaa scored a hat-trick in the home leg to add to her goal away. The striker, who plies her trade for Hapoel Katamon in Israel, will likely pose their biggest threat tonight.
July 22: England 2 Italy 1 (aet)July 27: England 1 Spain 1 (aet) (3-1 penalties)October 25: England 1 Brazil 2October 28: England 3 Australia 0November 29: England 8 China 0
July 19: Algeria 0 Ghana 0 (aet) (2-4 penalties)July 22: Morocco 1 Ghana 1 (aet) (4-2 penalties)July 25: Ghana 1 South Africa 1 (aet) (4-3 penalties)October 23: Egypt 0 Ghana 3October 28: Ghana 4 Egypt 0
05:54pm
A couple of England absentees
Esme Morgan is out of today’s match due to illness and Grace Fisk was already withdrawn from the squad before the match with a calf injury.
05:49pm
Seven changes for England
The England team news is in, and it is a much-amended line-up to the team which took on China. Anna Moorhouse receives her second cap in goal, but it is all change in midfield and attack.
Aggie Beever-Jones comes in for Alessia Russo, with Kearns, Kendall and Hinds getting rare starts ahead of more experienced names.
05:41pm
Goals galore against Ghana
How do you possibly top Saturday’s 8-0 shellacking of China? Sarina Wiegman’s England team could score even more in tonight’s mismatch.
The last in the Homecoming Series of friendlies is a potential opportunity for the manager to give more game time to fringe players and less experienced squad members; familiar faces Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Georgia Stanway took the Lioness’s share of the goals at the weekend. Wiegman was happy with their “ruthless” showing, even if they might not have learned a great deal from such a one-sided affair.
Expect goals galore again this evening against Ghana. This ought to be a comfortable, emphatic win for the European champions, who are a cut above them. Ranked 67th in the world by FIFA, their west African opponents will be up against it, though they will hope to offer stiffer opposition than China did.
“Ghana have a clear structure [of] how they want to play, they have some pace and we have to be aware of rotation,” Wiegman said in her press conference yesterday. “I don’t think it will be that easy. I hope we make it easy by playing well.”
The two sides have never met before, but in their five past internationals against European nations, Ghana have lost by an aggregate score of 31-2. They finished third in the Women’s African Cup of Nations in July, going out in semi-final penalty shoot-out heartbreak.
This is a rare foray outside of Africa for Kim Lars Bjorkegen’s side, their first match outside their home continent since a 4-0 defeat against Japan last summer. A 3-1 win over Aston Villa last week in a closed doors friendly will have boosted their confidence, at least.
Kick-off at a wet St Mary’s in Southampton is at 19:00 GMT. Line-ups are coming up shortly.
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