England 3-2 Netherlands: Ella Toone scores late winner in crucial Women’s Nations League tie

Ella Toone scored a late winner for England as they came from two goals down to beat the Netherlands in a crucial Women’s Nations League tie, keeping alive Team GB’s hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games.

The World Cup runners-up were 2-0 down after 35 minutes when Lineth Beerensteyn punished defensive errors and took advantage of a passive midfield to score twice for the Netherlands.

But England responded through Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp, who netted within two minutes of each other in the second half, before Toone fired in a dramatic late goal and received a roar of celebration from supporters at Wembley Stadium.

On a stage that has produced so many successful moments for the Lionesses, Sarina Wiegman’s side did just enough to edge past a Netherlands team who had outwitted them before the break.

On a bitterly cold evening at Wembley, the Lionesses knew only victory would be enough to keep alive Team GB’s hopes of competing in Paris.

As the nominated nation to qualify on behalf of Team GB, England need to win their Nations League group and reach the final – or finish third if Olympic hosts France make the final – in order to secure a place.

But having already suffered defeats by Belgium and the Netherlands in the competition, England’s hopes were in major doubt and nothing short of victory against Andries Jonker’s side would have been enough at Wembley.

Euro 2022 stars Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Toone all came off the bench to help inspire a comeback and it was the Manchester United midfielder, who scored the opening goal in that European success at Wembley, who delivered the goods again.

England will qualify for the semi-finals if they beat Scotland on Tuesday and the Netherlands drop points in their final match with Belgium.

However, even if the Netherlands beat Belgium at home, England could still go through if they defeat the Scots by a sufficiently large scoreline to take their goal difference above the Dutch.

Lionesses do enough but job not done

There had been concern about England’s form for several months with criticism even coming during their World Cup campaign, which ended in defeat by Spain in August’s showpiece.

With just two wins in their previous five matches – having lost only once in their first 30 games under Wiegman – pressure was on England to perform.

Their first-half display was nowhere near good enough and they were duly punished by Beerensteyn’s ruthlessness, with Wiegman also paying for some questionable team selections.

Lauren Hemp, making her 50th appearance for the Lionesses, was preferred in central attack over mainstay Russo, while Chelsea centre-back Jess Carter was the chosen replacement for injured club team-mate Millie Bright.

But England were all over the place for the majority of the opening 45 minutes as gaps broke in defence.

The Netherlands were able to carve through the midfield and England’s forwards could not get into the game.

Goalkeeper Mary Earps, wearing the armband in Bright’s absence, was at fault for Beerensteyn’s second goal as she allowed the ball to squeeze between her hands at the near post, after the Dutch striker had got the better of Carter and Lucy Bronze for her opener.

However, a much-needed half-time break seemed to mark a reset for England and Stanway was unmarked in the box when she headed in Lauren James’ curling cross, before Hemp’s low strike beat goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to make it 2-2.

Wiegman’s wildcards – her substitutions – were all used, including a return for winger Mead for the first time in a year, and it eventually paid off with Toone’s driven strike nestling into the far corner with minutes remaining.

England’s job is still not complete but qualification is in their hands as they travel to Scotland for their final group match on Tuesday at Hampden Park.

Line-ups

England

Formation 4-3-3

1Earps2Bronze6Carter5Greenwood3Charles8Stanway4Walsh9Kirby7Kelly11Hemp10James

1Earps

2Bronze

6CarterSubstituted forMorganat 63′minutes

5GreenwoodBooked at 31mins

3CharlesSubstituted forDalyat 86′minutes

8StanwaySubstituted forTooneat 68′minutes

4Walsh

9KirbySubstituted forRussoat 68′minutes

7KellySubstituted forMeadat 45′minutes

11Hemp

10James

Substitutes

12Morgan

13Hampton

14Toone

15Wubben-Moy

16Zelem

17Mead

18Clinton

19Daly

20Le Tissier

21Keating

22Turner

23Russo

Netherlands

Formation 3-4-1-2

1van Domselaar3Dijkstra8Spitse20Janssen17Pelova14Groenen10van de Donk22Brugts6Roord7Beerensteyn11Martens

1van Domselaar

3Dijkstra

8SpitseSubstituted forvan Dongenat 70′minutesBooked at 78mins

20JanssenSubstituted forCasparijat 63′minutes

17PelovaSubstituted forJansenat 64′minutes

14GroenenSubstituted forEgurrolaat 45′minutes

10van de DonkSubstituted forvan de Sandenat 85′minutes

22Brugts

6Roord

7Beerensteyn

11Martens

Substitutes

2Wilms

4Leuchter

5van Dongen

9Miedema

12van de Sanden

13Jansen

15Snoeijs

16Weimar

18Casparij

19Kaptein

21Egurrola

23Lorsheyd

Referee:
Tess Olofsson

Match Stats

Home TeamEnglandAway TeamNetherlands

Possession

Home55%

Away45%

Shots

Home21

Away13

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home1

Away3

Fouls

Home8

Away7