England have qualified for the last-16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 with a 6-1 victory over China in Adelaide this afternoon.
Lauren James was the star of the show with two goals and three assists. Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly were also on target for the Lionesses at Hindmarsh Stadium.
England broke the deadlock with their first chance of the game. Russo got the ball under control in the box and managed to pick out the bottom corner of the Chinese net. The forward then almost turned provider for Hemp but she was denied by a last-ditch block.
Hemp did make it 2-0 soon after when James superbly played her in for a simple finish from inside the box.
Lucy Bronze then saw a header cannon off the post before James superbly finished off a set-piece routine for her first goal of the game.
England were unlucky not to go into the half-time interval four goals to the good. James curled home a stunner from 20 yards but Bronze was deemed to be in an offside position and the goal was ruled out.
China pulled a goal back early in the second half from the penalty spot after Bronze had committed a hand ball. Forward Wang Shuang was the player to convert from 12 yards.
England re-established their three-goal lead through a stunning James volley before substitute Kelly made it 5-1 with a tap-in.
Daly rounded-off the scoring by lashing the ball into the net from close range late in the game.
England will now face Nigeria in a last-16 tie in Brisbane on Monday morning.
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