The Lionesses made a spectacular return to Wembley Stadium, delivering a commanding 8-0 victory over China in a one-sided friendly match. The emphatic win, orchestrated by a Georgia Stanway hat-trick, marked a triumphant homecoming for the European champions.
Wembley Dominance from the Start
England needed only 12 minutes to open the scoring, setting the tone for a relentless performance. Lucy Bronze overlapped down the right flank and delivered a precise pass to Beth Mead, who expertly controlled the ball before lashing it into the net.
The floodgates opened immediately afterwards. Moments later, the lead was doubled when Lauren Hemp, in her first international since the Euros, found Ella Toone, whose cross was met by Mead for a quickfire brace.
A devastating four-minute spell saw the hosts score three times. Hemp got her name on the scoresheet for the third goal, tapping in from close range after a driving run and square pass from Stanway. The fourth arrived when China's goalkeeper punched a Hemp cross directly to Stanway, who volleyed home through a crowded penalty area.
Stanway Seals Historic Treble
The first-half rout continued when a VAR review confirmed a Chinese handball, allowing Stanway to convert a 38th-minute penalty for her second goal of the evening. This secured a 5-0 lead at half-time and put the result beyond any doubt.
Stanway completed her memorable hat-trick eight minutes after the restart, playing a neat one-two with Toone before slotting the ball home calmly. This marked her first senior international treble for England.
The scoring was rounded off in the final twenty minutes. Toone capitalised on a defensive mix-up to roll the ball into an empty net, before turning provider for Alessia Russo, who slid in to complete the 8-0 scoreline.
A Landmark Victory for Wiegman's Side
The comprehensive win represented a significant milestone for manager Sarina Wiegman, being her 50th victory in charge of the national team. It was also England's first match at the national stadium since successfully defending their European title in Switzerland earlier this year.
With regular goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating absent through injury, Wiegman handed a debut to 30-year-old Anna Moorhouse of Orlando Pride. However, the debutant was largely a spectator due to England's overwhelming dominance.
The match formed part of a four-match homecoming series for the Lionesses, who will conclude their memorable year with a final fixture against Ghana at St Mary's on Tuesday, continuing their preparations for next year's World Cup qualifiers.
