England vs Belgium LIVE: Impressive Lionesses cruise to win as Keira Walsh scores first goal
England 5-0 Belgium: The Lionesses moved to the top of their Nations League group with a commanding display
England backed up their victory over world champions Spain with an impressive win against Belgium at Ashton Gate in the first fixture of their Nations League double-header as Keira Walsh scored her first goal for the Lionesses in her 83rd international appearance.
Lucy Bronze nodded England in front as she met the cross from Lauren James and her header deflected in. After a commanding first half, which saw Alessia Russo twice hit the post, Bronze’s header set up Millie Bright to double England’s lead from close range.
Sarina Wiegman’s substitutes made the difference in the second half to wrap up a deserved victory. Aggie Beever-Jones first came off the bench to score her first England goal, finishing off Beth Mead’s cross, before another substitute in Jess Park raced away to add a fourth.
And there was still time for midfielder Walsh, who had earlier hit the post, to score her first goal for the Lionesses, as her shot from the edge of the box was deflected in to make it a five-star night.
England will head to Belgium for the return fixture of their Nations League double-header on Tuesday, but will do so with fitness concerns over Russo and James after both were replaced at Ashton Gate.
England 4-0 Belgium
84 mins: Alessia Russo has her left ankle wrapped up in ice while sitting on the ENgland bench.
Will be interesting to see if Wiegman has anything to say on what happened to Russo and James tonight...
GOAL! England 4-0 Belgium (PARK 78')
JESS PARK RACES AWAY TO ADD A FOURTH FOR ENGLAND!
There is a horrible, horrible moment at the back for Belgium, with a proper mix-up between Cayman and Iliano in defence.
It leads to Park bearing down on goal with just the keeper to beat. And she does so cooly, opening her body to find the corner.
Two goals in two games for Park, who joins Beever-Jones by scoring off the bench.
England 3-0 Belgium
74 mins: A double change for England and perhaps still a concern for Russo (and Arsenal fans). She is replaced by Nikita Parris, while Esme Morgan comes on for Leah Williamson.
England 3-0 Belgium
71 mins: OFF THE POST! Keira Walsh is so close to her first England goal! A wonderful driven strike from the midfielder smashes against the bottom of the post.
That would have been her first for England in her 83rd game.
England 3-0 Belgium
70 mins: A concern for Russo, briefly, after staying down following a challenge from Iliano. She was limping on her ankle but appears to have run it off.
England 3-0 Belgium
68 mins: Incredible moment for Beever-Jones, who then comes very close to a second goal in as many minutes after again arriving at the front post! Her shot goes just past the post, though.
GOAL! England 3-0 Belgium (BEEVER-JONES 67')
A FIRST ENGLAND GOAL FOR AGGIE BEEVER-JONES!
Again, it comes down the right. Bronze, Walsh and Mead link up and Mead drives the ball across goal. Beever-Jones is on her toes and beats Russo to the front post to steer the finish in first time! What a moment!
England 2-0 Belgium
65 mins: CLOSE! Belgium are inches away from getting back into the game. The long ball catches England out as Eurlings gets down the wing. She flashes the ball across and Delacauw, who had just come on, meets it in the middle. It takes a touch from Charles to lift it over the bar.
Janssens then flashes another super cross right along the face of goal. It only needed a touch.
England 2-0 Belgium
63 mins: So good from Russo to shrug Iliano off the ball again. She looks for Park with the cut-back but Belgium can clear.
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