Rampant Lionesses Put Eight Past China in Wembley Rout
In a display of sheer attacking dominance, the England Women's football team delivered a stunning 8-0 victory against China at a sold-out Wembley Stadium. The friendly match was headlined by a Georgia Stanway hat-trick, with additional goals from Beth Mead (2), Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone, and Alessia Russo completing the comprehensive rout.
Clinical First-Half Onslaught
The match was effectively decided before half-time, with England establishing a formidable five-goal lead by the break. The goal rush began in the 12th minute when Beth Mead expertly controlled a Lucy Bronze flick-on before firing past China's goalkeeper, Hongyan Pan. Mead doubled her tally just two minutes later, demonstrating the team's relentless pace.
Lauren Hemp added a third goal in the 16th minute, connecting with a cross from Stanway. The Bayern Munich forward then got on the scoresheet herself, volleying in a rebound after Pan could only parry Hemp's effort. Stanway secured her brace from the penalty spot just before half-time after a handball by Li Mengwen, sending England into the interval with an unassailable lead.
Stanway Seals Treble in Second Half
The second period saw no let-up in England's intensity. Stanway completed her well-deserved hat-trick just seven minutes after the restart, finishing a neat one-two with Ella Toone. Toone then capitalised on a misplaced pass from Pan to slot home England's seventh, before Alessia Russo rounded off the scoring in the 78th minute, tapping in from close range to make it eight.
Despite several key absences, including Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood, the starting lineup remained strong. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was handed her first start, while Maya Le Tissier partnered Esme Morgan in central defence.
Context and Crowd at Wembley
The 8-0 victory evoked memories of the heavy wins that characterised the early part of Sarina Wiegman's tenure, where England routinely dispatched lower-ranked opponents. While the match provided fantastic entertainment for the 74,611 fans in attendance, it also highlighted the evolving competitive landscape in women's football, where such one-sided fixtures are becoming rarer due to structural improvements in the game.
The FA's achievement of selling out the national stadium for a friendly against the world's 16th-ranked team was a significant marker of the sport's growing popularity in the UK, previously reserved for matches against top-ten nations.
