England's Lionesses delivered a spirited performance to defeat France 2-1 in a tightly contested UEFA Women's Nations League match. The victory keeps England's hopes alive in the competition as they chase a spot in next year's Olympics.
Stanway and Kelly Fire England to Victory
Georgia Stanway opened the scoring for England with a composed penalty in the first half, sending the French goalkeeper the wrong way. France responded swiftly, levelling before halftime with a well-taken goal from Elisa De Almeida.
However, Chloe Kelly proved to be the hero for the Lionesses, netting the winner in the second half with a clinical finish. The Manchester City winger continued her fine form, ensuring England took all three points.
Key Moments of the Match
- First Half: Stanway's penalty gave England an early lead, but France equalised before the break.
- Second Half: Kelly's decisive strike secured the win for Sarina Wiegman's side.
- Defensive Resilience: England's backline held firm under late French pressure to preserve the lead.
What This Means for England
The victory puts England in a strong position in Group A1, keeping their Olympic qualification dreams alive. With one game remaining, the Lionesses must now focus on their final group fixture against the Netherlands.
Sarina Wiegman praised her team's determination, saying, "The players showed real character tonight. We knew France would be tough, but we stuck to our game plan and got the result we needed."
