The stage was set at Wembley Stadium, as the European Champions and the Olympic gold medalists geared up for a game of greatness under the arch.
A battle for the ages came to fruition on the touchline, as Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman met for the very first time. We will still have to wait to find out who holds the upper hand, after a stalemate clash saw the highly anticipated fixture run out as a draw.
The Lineups
ENG: Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Carter, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway, Park; Mead, Russo, Naz
USA: Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Kreuger; Coffey, Horan, Lavelle; Thompson, Sears, Williams
The Action
Back on the biggest stage in England and Mary Earps made it her home instantly, pulling off a brilliant stretching save to deny Alyssa Thompson from close range.
England had their best chance of the evening as Georgia Stanway opened up the left side of the pitch with a great ball through to Beth Mead, who then plucked out Jess Park at the edge of the area. Park was far too ambitious with her efforts, firing a shot extremely off target.
The USWNT looked hungry for the scoresheet as Casey Krueger hit a low spearing shot from distance, only to be palmed away by Earps at the last second. Lynn Williams was in prime
position to finish the job, but was out-muscled by the England defence.
England came out firing after the half-time break, but the tides turned when the USA were awarded a penalty for an alleged handball by Alex Greenwood. After a long wait, the decision was overturned by VAR.
It was salt in the wound for the Americans after having a goal disallowed just moments before, as
Lindsey Horan’s tap-in was called for offside after a clever build up between Yazmeen Ryan and
Rose Lavelle.
You could certainly feel the weight of the absentees tonight, as Lauren Hemp and Lauren James would have provided England with the creative firepower that they so badly needed. The same can be said for the USA, with the ‘Triple Espresso’ of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory
Swanson all rested for the international camp. The Americans dominated the midfield battle, but were unable to be dangerous going forward.
