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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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England end year on winning note

England 2 Ghana 0

Lucia Kendall marked her first England goal in dream fashion as her team laboured to a 2-0 friendly victory over a stubborn Ghana side

in front of 20,252 fans at St Mary’s Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Southampton-raised midfielder needed just six minutes to open her international account, pouncing on a defensive lapse to fire Sarina Wiegman’s much changed side ahead and send the home crowd into raptures.

After an 8-0 demolition of China at Wembley last week, England appeared set for another goal fest when Chloe Kelly’s early cross caused panic in the Ghana box. Debutant Bénédicte Simon’s attempted clearance fell kindly for Kendall, who swept home what had been a perfectly cushioned lay off from close range in front of the Chapel Stand where she once watched Saints matches as a youngster.

Yet the Black Queens, under Swiss coach Nora Häuptle, proved far more resilient than their Asian counterparts. Despite England’s dominance of possession, clear cut chances were at a premium for much of the contest.

Chloe Kelly volleyed over from Keira Walsh’s delivery before she limped off injured after 23 minutes, with Beth Mead introduced in her place. Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Conlan then produced fine saves to deny Missy Bo Kearns and Aggie Beever-Jones, while Kendall almost doubled her tally when she headed a corner against the bar in first half stoppage time.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with England peppering the Ghana goal yet struggling to find the killer touch. Lauren Hemp, introduced as a substitute, headed wastefully over from a corner, while several dangerous crosses from Hemp and Taylor Hinds flew tantalisingly close to Conlan.

The breakthrough finally arrived deep into stoppage time. Alessia Russo met a scrambled corner with a firm header that appeared to be blocked on the line by Comfort Yeboah. After a VAR review, referee Cheryl Foster pointed to the spot for handball, and Russo calmly sent Conlan the wrong way from twelve yards to make it 2-0.

The result extends England’s unbeaten run under Wiegman and provided valuable minutes for fringe players but for Kendall, the night will live long in the memory – a first senior goal in her hometown, in an England shirt, in front of an adoring St Mary’s crowd.

England: Anna Moorhouse, Lucy Bronze (sub Anouk Denton 90mins), Taylor Hinds, Keira Walsh, Maya Le Tissier, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jess Park (sub Lauren Hamp 61mins), Lucia Kendall (sub Grace Clinton 62mins), Aggie Beever-Jones (sub Alessia Russo 74mins), Missy Bo Kearns (sub Laura Blindkilde Brown 74mins), Chloe Kelly (sub Beth Mead 23mins). Subs not used: Sophie Baggaley, Ellie Roebuck, Niamh Charles, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Freya Godfrey.

Ghana: Cynthia Konlan, Bénédicte Simon (sub Anasthesia Achiaa 90mins), Portia Boakye, Susan Duah, Comfort Yeboah, Jennifer Cudjoe (sub Nancy Amoh 90mins), Grace Asantewaa, Alice Kusi (sub Princess Marfo 58mins), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (sub Evelyn Badu 77mins), Stella Nyamekye (sub Princella Adubea 77mins), Doris Boaduwaa (sub Abi Kim 58mins). Subs not used: Afi Amenyeku, Kerrie McCarthy, Nina Norshie, Jospehine Bonsu, Mary Amponsah, Ernestina Abambila, Louisa Aniwaa.