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Dominant England put five past Belgium

England 5 (Bronze 20, Bright 45, Beever-Jones 67, Park 77, Walsh 88)  

Belgium 0

att: 23,202; at Bristol City F.C.  

England powered to a five-goal victory to keep themselves on top of their UEFA Women’s Nations League group at the midway point.  

Sarina Wiegman opted for a starting line up from just three teams, with no less than six Chelsea players as well as three and two from Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.

England started on the front foot without really threatening the Belgian defence in the early stages, until a Beth Mead run and cross from the right was half cleared as far as Niamh Charles whose shot was charged down.

Lauren James curled a free kick inches over the bar and, as England continued to get closer and closer, they spurned a great chance as Mead fed an unmarked Alessia Russo in the area with only Nicky Evrard to beat but her shot came back off the post and Mead’s shot from the rebound was blocked by Janice Cayman.

The pressure eventually told though and on 20 minutes, following another corner, James’ curling left foot cross picked out Lucy Bronze whose glancing header took a deflection off a defender and beat a wrongfooted Evrard for the opener.

Belgium did show some neat touches going forward but were making little impression against the home defence and Hannah Hampton was rarely called into action.

England on the other hand were enjoying the superb playing surface at Ashton Gate and, after a slide rule pass from Keira Walsh had released Mead down the right, the luckless Russo hit the post once again from her low cross. Mead herself was next to go close, after Russo returned the compliment with a through ball, after initially hesitating slightly, she jinked her way past Davina Philtjens before her shot brought out a fine diving save from Evrard.

Another corner was to lead to the second goal on the stroke of half time. This time, Bronze headed the ball on to the far post, where Millie Bright was on hand to bundle over the line and double her side’s lead.  

England were forced into a half time change with the injured James being replaced by Aggie Beever-Jones. Grace Clinton went close, early in the second half, with a shot from the edge of the area which sailed narrowly over the bar.

Belgium were to produce the next opportunity as Hannah Eurlings broke down the left and cut the ball back for Feli Delacauw whose shot was deflected just over but any hopes of a fightback by the visitors were extinguished at the midpoint of the second half.

Mead and Walsh combined once again on the right, exchanging passes to release Mead whose low cross was seized on by Beever-Jones, who slotted the ball past Evrard for her first senior international goal.

Barely a minute later, Beever-Jones could have had a second after being set up by Mead again, but this time the young striker missed the target. England were then to hit the post for a third time, as Walsh drilled a shot against the woodwork from 25 yards.

Jame Teulings headed wide from a cross by the lively Eurlings at the other end but a moment of hesitation in the Belgian defence at the other end led to a fourth for England, Isabella Illiano’s moment of indecision was punished as Jess Park nipped in to take the ball and run through on goal, showing great composure to finish confidently past Evrard.

The icing on the cake came with two minutes remaining, Evrard punched away a free kick from Mead under pressure but only as far as Walsh, whose shot took a deflection on its way into the net for her first goal for England in her 83rd cap.

This rounded off a five-star night for England as they repeated the same margin of victory over Belgium at the same venue two years earlier. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Leuven.

England: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Niamh Charles, Keira Walsh, Leah Williamson (sub Esme Morgan 72mins), Millie Bright (sub Jess Carter 80mins), Beth Mead, Grace Clinton, Alessia Russo (sub Nikita Parris 72mins), Ella Toone (sub Jess Park 58mins), Lauren James (sub Aggie Beever-Jones 45mins). Subs not used: Mary Earps, Anna Moorhouse, Maya Le Tissier, Millie Turner, Lucy Parker, Maisie Symonds.  

Belgium: Nicky Evrard, Davina Philtjens (sub Laura Deloose 75mins), Amber Tysiak, Isabella Illiano, Hannah Eurlings (sub Jassina Blom 83mins), Justine Vanhaevermaet, Janice Cayman, Mariam Toloba (sub Feli Delacauw 62mins), Jill Janssens, Jame Teulings (sub Tine De Caigny 83mins), Kassandra Missipo (sub Marie Detruyer 62mins). Subs not used: Femke Bastlaen, Lisa Lichtfus, Ella Van Kerkhoven, Feli Delacauw, Sarah Wijnante, Elena Dhont, Nia Elyn, Jasmien Mathye.