England have returned to winning ways in the UEFA Women’s Nations League with a hard-working 1-0 victory over Belgium in Leicester this evening.
Lauren Hemp netted the only goal of the game in the first half at The King Power Stadium as the Lionesses made hard work of their latest competitive challenge.
England started the match at rocket speed and they registered some early shots on goal. Niamh Charles looped an effort over the bar before visiting keeper Nicky Evrard palmed a Hemp shot away. Ella Toone had an opportunity from the rebound but she was unable to direct the ball on target.
Belgium are a team with good individuals and they almost edged into the lead themselves when Justine Vanhaevermaet directed a header at goal, however, she was denied by an acrobatic save from Mary Earps.
England broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Millie Bright’s header from a corner kick hit the post but Hemp was there to sweep home the rebound.
The Lionesses had chances to extend their lead but both Toone and Alex Greenwood struck long range efforts straight at Evrard. Alessia Russo then had a golden opportunity to score just after the half-hour mark but she failed to get the necessary connection on the ball after Hemp had beaten Evrard.
Belgium were almost level at the end of the first half when Tine De Caigny got a toe on a corner kick delivery but the ball went the wrong side of the near post.
England started the second period with the same early zip and both Bright and Lucy Bronze headed narrowly wide from corners. The Lionesses struggled to build on that start though and good quality chances were very much hard to come by.
With the scoreline at 1-0, Belgium were very much still in the game and England keeper Earps was required to make an excellent save to deny substitute Sarah Wijnants.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman threw on Fran Kirby and Rachel Daly in a bid to get a reaction from her side but the Lionesses continued to make hard work of their task. Greenwood did force a good save from Evrard from a free-kick before Hemp’s effort was blocked by the Belgian keeper.
Both sides continued to attack in the closing stages of the match but neither keeper was seriously troubled as the contest ended 1-0 in the hosts’ favour.
The two sides will have little time to analyse and reflect on this evening’s fixture, they meet in the reverse match in Leuven on Tuesday evening.