The Lionesses slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Copa America champions Brazil in the first of four homecoming fixtures.
The City of Manchester Stadium welcomed the European champions and the South American champions as the Lionesses played their first match since their Women’s Euro 2025 glory. Two goals in the opening twenty minutes for Brazil was enough for victory, despite playing with ten players for over 70 minutes.
The Lionesses handed an international debut to goalkeeper Khiara Keating, after the world’s best, Hannah Hampton, recovers from an elbow injury. Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier was preferred to a returning Lucy Bronze in defence, as Esme Morgan partnered Jess Carter in the absence of Leah Williamson. As confirmed in her press conference earlier in the week, Keira Walsh captained the Lionesses at the home of her childhood team Manchester City, where she spent 8 years at before making the switch to Barcelona in 2022.
Both teams joined together in their campaign for Breast Cancer awareness and prevention. The England players wore pink wristbands whilst the Brazilian team played with temporary pink tattoos with the Brazilian crest. A vital campaign being given the air time it so rightfully deserves.
The Lineups
ENG: Keating; Le Tissier, Morgan, Carter, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway, Toone; Kelly, Mead, Russo
BRA: Leite; Tarciane, Mariza, Haas; Luany, Angelina, Sampaio, Ribeiro; Duninha; da Silva, Beatriz
The Action
The Lionesses started the game very poorly as Brazil missed a guilt edged opportunity inside two minutes. Brazil’s number 14, Da Silva, was played through on goal with a defence splitting pass but fired wide of the far-right hand post. A huge opportunity at the start of the game for the Champions of South America.
Brazil’s momentum continued as England struggled to keep the ball for any substantial time. Inevitably it was Brazil who struck first and went 1-0 up. The ball found its way to Beatriz, who somehow found herself with acres of space on the edge of the box and only Jess Carter in front of her. Before Carter could close down effectively, Beatriz rifled a shot into the bottom right hand corner, leaving debutant Keating no chance. A really poor goal to concede from an England perspective but it was certainly on the cards.
Brazil’s dominance over the Lionesses continued as they soon found a second goal, courtesy again from some really poor play from England. Ella Toone carelessly lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, allowing Brazil to quickly counter and drive at the already fragile Lionesses defence. The ball was played through towards Rodrigues Silva, who expertly with the outside of her foot fires it in, with the help of the inside of the right post. The goal capped off a pretty dismal opening 20 minutes for the European Champions.
The tide however was soon to change, as Toone was slid through on goal, one of the first bright moments from England, and she was clearly pulled down by Brazil’s captain. A red card was swiftly given by the referee for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. From the resulting free kick, Alex Greenwood hit a brilliant shot that rattled the crossbar. Jess Carter failed to convert the rebound and headed over – a huge opportunity was missed for the Lionesses to get back into the game.
The momentum of the game quickly swung after the dismissal and England finally began to get a foothold on proceedings.. Alessia Russo began to become prevalent in the game and her hold up skills were on full show. Mead played a low ball into the box, after receiving from Russo, but Toone’s low shot fired just wide of the far post. England continued to press and keep the ball for much longer sustained periods, but didn’t really create any clear-cut chances. In the final embers of the first half, Keira Walsh fired over from the edge of the box and brought to an end an overall disappointing half for the Lionesses.
Quickly after the break, England were handed a way back into the game in the form of a penalty. Beth Mead went to take a shot towards goal and was simply taken out by Beatriz who was rushing back into the box. England’s reliable number 8, Georgia Stanway stepped up and cooly converted the penalty into the bottom right corner. England were back in the game.
Alessia Russo continued to be at the heart of all things good in the English attack. Her incredible hold up play was causing numerous problems for the Brazil defence and creating space for her teammates. However, creating clear cut chances was remaining a large problem for the England team.
One did arrive however with 20 minutes to go. A free kick was played wide towards Beth Mead who produced a wonderful cross. Russo is rushing to meet it and from under the crossbar, she just can’t get under it enough and heads over. A huge chance to draw level and get the goal she thoroughly deserved
Towards the latter stages of the game Esme Morgan was seemingly being given the freedom of Manchester, as she would continually drive from the halfway line to the edge of Brazil’s box totally unopposed. This pattern continues as Morgan drove again, laying the ball off to Stanway, who hit a fantastic shot that hit the bar for the second time in the match.
England continued to push in the final moments but as like the pattern of the game, failed to create anything meaningful. The game drew to a close, and although a much brighter second half performance, the Lionesses kickstarted their homecoming series with a disappointing defeat against the South American Champions.
England Player Ratings
GK: Khiara Keating – 7/10 – A more than acceptable international debut from Keating. Both goals conceded were good finishers, leaving her very little chance. Looked secure and confident playing out from the back and should be content with her performance.
CB: Esme Morgan – 7/10 – Replacing the injured Williamson was always going to be a tall order but Morgan performed her role well. She was composed defensively, and her driving runs from halfway continued to cause problems.
CB: Jess Carter – 6/10 – Not a standout performance. Looked steady for the majority of the game, however, did look vulnerable and moments. Saw a lot more of the ball after Brazil received the red card.
LB: Alex Greenwood – 6/10 – Struggled to make any real impact offensively however looked strong defensively throughout. Unlucky not to score a wonder freekick.
RB: Maya Le Tissier – 6/10 – Moved positions mid match which made it difficult for her to make her mark. Nevertheless, had bright moments driving with the ball.
CDM: Keira Walsh – 6/10 – A steadfast performance. Nothing to write home about and would have wanted to do more captaining the side in Williamson’s absence.
LW
CM: Georgia Stanway – 7/10 – Composed penalty brought England back into the game but was a spark throughout. Got unlucky with her effort in the second half that rattled the crossbar.
CM: Ella Toone – 6/10 – Will feel slightly at fault with the first goal and feel she should have contributed more attackingly. Still had moments that brought light to a pretty dormant English frontline.
: Chloe Kelly – 5/10 – Really failed to make any impact of any note. Brought off early by Sarina Weigman and will be disappointed with her overall level of performance, knowing herself she can be much better.
RW: Beth Mead – 7/10 – Was the brightest winger for England. Contributed well to the frontline and can count herself unlucky she didn’t register an assist with Russo’s miss.
ST: Alessia Russo – 8/10 – England’s brightest spark by some margin in the attack. Her hold up play was excellent throughout and helped create opportunities for her teammates. Will be bitterly disappointed however that she wasn’t on the scoresheet herself.
