MX23RW : Tuesday, April 30 08:00:27| >> :600:2029764:2029764:
[monks data]
England national football team
Arnold Clark Cup | Group Stage
Feb 22, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
 

6-1

Kelly (12', 50'), Williamson (42', 93'), Biesmans (78' og.), Bronze (89')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Dhont (91')

England cruise past Belgium to retain Arnold Clark Cup

England cruise past Belgium to retain Arnold Clark Cup
© Reuters
England Women retain the Arnold Clark Cup courtesy of a 6-1 win over Belgium Women at Bristol City's Ashton Gate.

England Women retained the Arnold Clark Cup with ease courtesy of a 6-1 win over Belgium Women at Ashton Gate.

Chloe Kelly and captain Leah Williamson put the Lionesses in cruise control in the first half, and the former made it a brace for herself in the second period, where Elena Dhont's late consolation was rendered inconsequential by Lucy Bronze, Julie Biesmans's own goal and Williamson's second of the night.

Reverting to her strongest XI after ringing the chances against Italy, Sarina Wiegman witnessed her side break the deadlock with just 12 minutes gone, largely thanks to the ever-dangerous Lauren James.

The 21-year-old picked up the ball on the right before cutting inside and embarking on a sensational solo run into the box, eventually crossing for Kelly to tap home from close range.

Belgium kept a rampant England at bay for the next half-hour, but the Lionesses would deservedly go into half time with a two-goal lead, as Williamson met Bronze's cross to head home.

It would take just five minutes of the second half for England to make the net ripple again, and it was a gift for Kelly, who pounced on the rebound after Nicky Evrard spilled Ella Toone's shot into her path.

If there were any doubts about England's status as Arnold Clark Cup winners, they were extinguished in the 77th minute, as Kelly released Georgia Stanway down the right-hand side, and her low cross was inadvertently poked into her own net by Biesmans.

With only two minutes left to go in normal time, England would seemingly cap off a five-star performance with a fifth goal through Bronze, who breezed past the stagnant Belgium defence to tap home from Rachel Daly's knockdown.

However, there would be time for some late chaos in added time, as Dhont's 30-yard thunderbolt flew past Mary Earps to wipe out England's clean sheet, but Williamson found the far corner one minute later for the seventh and final goal of a mesmerising contest.

England retain the Arnold Clark Cup with a perfect record of nine points from their three games, while Belgium (six) finish second, and Italy pipped a pointless South Korea to third place thanks to a 2-1 victory over their Asian counterparts earlier on Wednesday.

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How you voted: England Women vs Belgium Women

England Women
81.8%
Draw
9.1%
Belgium Women
9.1%
44
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Leah Williamson in action for Arsenal on September 24, 2022
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