European champions England beat world champions USA for the first time since 2017 in front of more than 76,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
It promised to be a blockbuster fixture and did not disappoint with VAR drama, goals and penalties included in the showpiece friendly.
Manchester City winger Lauren Hamp, deputizing as the main striker for the injured Alicia Russo, put the Lionesses ahead after just 10 minutes.
The USA responded when Sophia Smith fired in an equalizer but England were penalized for a high boot on Lucy Bruins when referee Reem Hussain went to check the VAR monitor.
Georgia Steinway made it 2-1, before the USA had a goal disallowed after a minor offside minute.
Chances continued to fall for both sides after the break – in an open, frantic clash – the best of them to watch.
There was more frustration for the USA when they were awarded a penalty for handball in the 81st minute, but referee Hussain checked the VAR monitor again and reversed his decision.
England recorded a huge victory over their arch-rivals in their first meeting at the National Stadium, extending their impressive unbeaten run to 23 matches under manager Serena Wegman.
Speaking to ITV Sport after the game, Wegman said: “It was really intense, just what we wanted. The USA played as we expected, they gave us a hard time at times. I thought We played well at times, better than the first half.”
It was only the third time England have beaten the USA in 11 meetings – and the first since the SheBelieves Cup in March 2017. The teams met in the semifinals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup with the USA winning 2–1.
It also comes 10 months before the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which England are bidding to win for the first time, while the United States hope to defend their crown for a third consecutive tournament.
Ahead of kick-off, England expressed solidarity with the US after the National Women’s Soccer League revealed “systemic” abuse and mismanagement earlier this week.
The players wore armbands of teal, the Wembley Arch was lit up with teal and the two squads gathered in the middle before kick-off, arm in arm in front of a banner reading ‘Protect the Players’.
USA manager Vlatko Andonovski said after the game: “Obviously it was a very difficult week for everyone. It wasn’t easy for them to see and experience everything they went through.
“I admire their bravery and their fearlessness and relentlessness. They have shown once again that nothing will stop them from playing the game they love. I hope we never have to go through this again. will have.
“It was a very special moment when the players came together and had the banner in front of them. It made me laugh when the crowd applauded them. It was a statement, and once again the players used the game. What an incredible job this event has done as a platform to fight back against that.”
