By Samindra Kunti in Leuven
April 9 – Belgium upset injury-hit England 3-2 with a brace from Tessa Wullaert in the Nations League.
The hosts and their star striker Wullaert stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first 30 minutes to dumbfound the English who rallied but did not have enough to overturn the deficit. The European champions missed Alessia Russo and her hold-up play up front. With a different attacking style, Nikita Parris failed to trouble on the Belgian defence.
After four minutes, the hosts had the lead with a composed finish from Wullaert, who had got in behind the English rearguard following some lax marking. It would be a recurring theme: the Belgians waltzing into the space left by the English backline.
Two years ago, Wullaert had also been instrumental in Belgium’s shock 3-2 win against the European champions with a brace – and she was about to repeat the feat. Wullaert provided a 16th-minute assist for Justin Vanhaevermaet’s header to fly past the England number one Hannah Hampton, 2-0.
England simply hadn’t woken up. Perhaps they were also complacent after their easy 5-0 win in the first leg last Friday in Bristol. By the half-hour mark, Sarina Wiegman and her team were 3-0 down, Wullaert getting her brace with a tap-in from close range. It was a poor goal for England to concede.
A few minutes later, Beth Mead provided the visitors with a lifeline following a penalty conversion after Davina Philtjens had taken out England’s number seven inside the box. At half-time, Wiegman rang the changes and the Lionesses played with more zest. Teenager Michelle Agyemang scored a stunning debut goal in the 81st minute to reduce the deficit, but England failed to rescue a draw.
They have been overtaken at the top of the group by Spain, who thrashed Portugal 7-1. In May, as the Nations League group stages wrap up ahead of this summer’s Euro 2025, England host Portugal and travel to Spain, the world champions. They will need a vast improvement from Tuesday’s defeat which exposed a lack of depth in the squad.
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