England 3-2 Netherlands: Player ratings as Lionesses' comeback keeps Team GB's Olympic hopes alive
FROM WEMBLEY STADIUM — England came from two goals down to secure a 3-2 win over the Netherlands to keep their hopes of reaching the Nations League finals and 2024 Olympics alive.
As Mary Earps slammed her fist on the ground after Lineth Beerensteyn netted her second goal in the first half, the Lionesses' hopes of reaching Paris 2024 were looking grim. But some brilliance orchestrated by Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp brought England back to level terms just after the break.
England had never conceded twice without reply under Sarina Wiegman and had never overturned a two goal deficit to win since she took over.
But there is a first time for everything and substitute Ella Toone nutmegged goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to net a stoppage time winner and keep England's hopes of reaching the Nations League finals in tact.
The England manager uncharacteristically opted for a new striker in Lauren Hemp, who last featured as a number nine for England against the USA in October 2022, as opposed to Alessia Russo or Rachel Daly.
Wiegman's squad choices paid off in front of 71,632 fans at Wembley, but the Netherlands still top the group based on head-to-head record. It all comes down to Tuesday's games where, if Belgium and the Netherlands drop points, England will top the group with a win against Scotland.
It was all England for the first 10 minutes as the hosts squandered gifts presented by the shaky visiting defence. Lauren James' through ball to Hemp forced Van Domselaar into an acrobatic save to deny the Manchester City forward, before the Netherlands responded by taking the lead against the run of play.
Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze clattered into one another in a bout of poor defending that allowed Beerensteyn to slot home.
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