The Lionesses controlled the game from start to finish, showing composure and creativity throughout — though the joy of the evening was tempered by a serious-looking injury to teenager Michelle Agyemang, who was stretchered off in the second half.
Bright Start for England
The match began with high energy from both sides, but Australia’s hopes took a sharp turn just 19 minutes in when defender Alanna Kennedy was shown a straight red card for a last-player challenge on Beever-Jones.
From that moment, England took control. Within a minute of the dismissal, Beever-Jones made the breakthrough. Her initial free-kick rebounded off the Australian wall, but she reacted quickest to fire home the opener and put the hosts ahead 1–0.
It was a dream return for the 21-year-old Chelsea forward, who played out of position on the wing but delivered a confident and determined performance.
Bronze Doubles the Lead
England didn’t take long to extend their advantage. Ten minutes before the break, birthday girl Lucy Bronze made it 2–0 with a clever finish from close range after a sustained spell of pressure.
Bronze’s goal came on a night when she celebrated both her 33rd birthday and her 116th cap for the national team. The veteran right-back was lively throughout the first half, driving forward from deep and linking up well with midfielders Jordan Nobbs and Keira Walsh.
The Lionesses went into halftime comfortably ahead, with goalkeeper Mary Earps enjoying a quiet 45 minutes as Australia struggled to maintain possession with ten players.
Dominant but Disciplined Second Half
England continued to control the rhythm of the match after the break, dictating possession through Walsh and debutant Grace Kendall — the Aston Villa midfielder who impressed with her composure and tactical awareness in her first senior international start.
Kendall nearly marked her debut with a goal just before the hour mark when her header crashed off the crossbar following a corner from Laura Hinds. Wiegman’s decision to hand the youngster a start was rewarded with an assured display that offered balance and stability in midfield.
As the game wore on, England’s substitutes added fresh energy. Chloe Kelly and Georgia Stanway came on to stretch Australia’s tiring defense, while Agyemang was introduced to lead the line in place of Alessia Russo.
Agyemang Injury Casts a Shadow
Unfortunately, what was shaping up to be a near-perfect night for England took a worrying turn in the 78th minute. Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old Arsenal striker who starred during the Euro 2025 campaign, went down off the ball and was visibly in pain.
Medical staff rushed onto the pitch, and after several minutes of treatment, Agyemang was stretchered off with her hands covering her face. The sight drew a standing ovation from the Pride Park crowd, who showed their support for the young forward.
“We’re still waiting for confirmation, but it doesn’t look good,” Wiegman said after the match. “It was horrible to see. We’ll just hope it’s not as serious as it looked.”
Beever-Jones, who had also picked up a knock earlier, was forced to leave the pitch late on, leaving England to finish the match with ten players — ironically restoring numerical equality for the final minutes.
Stanway’s Penalty Seals the Win
Despite the disruption, England maintained their focus. In stoppage time, Georgia Stanway added the finishing touch with a confident penalty after Caitlin Foord fouled Missy Kearns inside the box.
Arnold, the Australian goalkeeper, guessed the wrong way as Stanway smashed the spot-kick into the net to make it 3–0. The goal capped off a dominant performance and restored momentum for the Lionesses ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Ghana and China.
Wiegman: “We Wanted to Hurt Them”
Speaking after the match, head coach Sarina Wiegman praised her team’s focus and response following the Brazil defeat.
“We wanted to dominate the game, and we did,” she told ITV. “The red card changed things early, of course, but I’m really pleased with how we handled the situation. We learned a lot from the match against Brazil, and today we showed progress.”
On debutant Grace Kendall’s performance, Wiegman was full of praise:
“She did really well. She’s impressed us at Aston Villa, and tonight she showed she can play at this level. She keeps things simple, reads the game well, and wins her duels. For someone so young, that’s very impressive.”
Wiegman also expressed sympathy for Agyemang:
“That looked horrible. It’s too early to say what it is, but we’ll be thinking of her. You never want to see that happen, especially in a friendly.”
Beever-Jones: “It Was a Team Effort”
Aggie Beever-Jones, who opened the scoring, reflected on her performance and Agyemang’s injury:
“It’s never nice to see a teammate go off like that,” she said. “I don’t know what’s happened yet, but we’re all praying she’s okay.”
The Chelsea forward also spoke about her own knock, which saw her leave the pitch late in the game.
“I’m fine,” she assured. “I didn’t want to come off, but sometimes you have to be smart. It’s a friendly, and we’ve got bigger games ahead.”
Beever-Jones added that she was happy to play in any position:
“I just try to show Sarina what I can do. I was on the wing today, which isn’t my usual role, but I’ll play anywhere for England.”
Australia Struggle After Early Red Card
For the Matildas, it was a frustrating evening. The red card to Kennedy left them chasing shadows for much of the match, and head coach Joe Montemurro admitted that it made assessing his team’s progress difficult.
“The red card obviously changes everything,” he said post-match. “It’s not ideal in a friendly when you’re trying to work on systems and combinations. But we can still take lessons from the game.”
Australia’s main concern remains their attacking options. Sam Kerr, still regaining full fitness after a long injury layoff, struggled to make an impact before being substituted in the second half.
The Matildas will now turn their attention to back-to-back friendlies against New Zealand before beginning preparations for next year’s Asian Cup, which they will host.
England Show Signs of Revival
This win comes as a timely boost for England, who had faced questions about form and consistency following a difficult run of results. The team looked much sharper, with improved movement and cohesion in midfield — something that had been missing in previous outings.
Keira Walsh was influential in dictating play, while Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly provided width and creativity. The defense, marshalled by Millie Bright and Maya Le Tissier, handled Australia’s limited attacks comfortably.
For the first time in months, England looked like the well-oiled, confident side that captured the hearts of fans during the Euros.
Looking Ahead
England now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures against Ghana and China, two teams that will provide different kinds of tests. Wiegman indicated that squad rotation will continue as she assesses her options ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“We always want to improve,” she said. “Every camp gives us a new challenge and a chance to test combinations. We’ve got a lot of talent coming through, and nights like this show that competition for places is very healthy.”
With new faces like Kendall and Agyemang pushing for regular inclusion, and senior players such as Bronze and Stanway maintaining their influence, the Lionesses look poised for a strong run heading into 2026.
Final Thoughts
The 3–0 scoreline reflects England’s dominance but doesn’t tell the full story of a match that mixed promise with concern. Wiegman’s side played with confidence, fluidity, and control, showing progress after recent setbacks.
However, the serious-looking injury to Michelle Agyemang overshadowed what was otherwise an uplifting night for the Lionesses. Her recovery will be watched closely by fans and teammates alike.
Still, the performance offered a glimpse of England’s depth and resilience — two qualities they’ll need in abundance as they build toward another major tournament year.
Final Score: England 3–0 Australia
(Beever-Jones 20’, Bronze 40’, Stanway 90+6’ pen)
