Wembley Stadium dey bubble tonight as England women national team, dem wey dem dey call Lionesses, face Spain for one serious World Cup qualifier. The match na like heavyweight bout between European champions England and World champions Spain. Both teams don win their first two qualifying matches, but only one team go qualify direct from the group. England dey top the table with better goal difference, so the stakes high well well.
From the blast of whistle, the game start with small cagey play. Both teams dey try study each other style. Alessia Russo even slide tackle Alexia Putellas early, but referee just give free kick, no yellow card. Fran Kirby, wey be former England forward for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, talk say England need to dey comfortable even when things no dey comfortable. She yarn say Spain dey good with ball and aggressive without am, so England go suffer small without ball but dem get talent to shine when dem get am.
As the match dey go, Spain try find their passing rhythm. Patri Guijarro get through after some neat play but her shot block. Ona Batlle rush the rebound and slice am wide. For England side, Lauren James do some good work at the back, track Mariona Caldentey and force mistake wey give England throw-in. But Spain still dey press with long balls to create space.
Then England corner come change everything. Alex Greenwood launch the corner into the box. For inside, tori sweet. Alessia Russo dey for ground but she manage to scoop the ball up. Lauren Hemp react quick quick, hook effort toward goal. Alexia Putellas try clear am for line but she take too much time. Referee no give am at first, but goal line technology confirm say ball don cross line. Hemp already dey half celebrate, and Putellas dey question the decision but technology no lie.
Fran Kirby talk say na fantastic start for England—first set piece, first goal. She say dem for don practice that one all week. The box turn to absolute mess but the ball land perfectly for Hemp. Siobhan Chamberlain, former England goalkeeper for ITV, add say all the confusion come from Alex Greenwood delivery. Spain defenders jump but nobody connect well, and Hemp just react first.
After the goal, Spain try fight back. Vicky Lopez get chance but she take poor touch and ball go out. Hannah Hampton, England goalkeeper, try make low pass but Spain defender intercept. Hampton grimace and apologise. Keira Walsh then do important defending when Lopez take touch, Walsh boot the ball out for corner. From the corner, good delivery come in but Irene Paredes head the ball over. Close one!
Lauren James show another moment of skill, feint to send Ona Batlle the wrong way, but she no get clean shot and miss target. Emma Sanders, BBC Sport women football reporter at Wembley, talk say that scoop from Russo while on floor na brilliant. Hampton distribution dey cause small worry—Siobhan Chamberlain say England get lucky at one point when Hampton pass nearly intercept, and if Lopez take am early, goal for open.
The match continue with Spain trying to break England compact defence. Fran Kirby note say England dey defend extremely well, dem dey compact and know where dem want Spain to go. Spain dey use long ball to force England step and create space for middle, but still get sloppiness from Spain side. Craig C from Rochdale talk say Spain dey start to get into their passing rhythm.
As the game dey wind down, the atmosphere dey tense. Vicki Sparks, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentator at Wembley, describe how flames shoot high into Wembley sky and players line up—England for white, Spain for bright red. She call am mouthwatering matchup between two heavyweights. With only group winner go qualify automatically, this match pivotal.
No VAR for this match but goal-line technology dey work. That technology na wetin confirm Hemp goal. Alexia Putellas question am but technology don talk. For now, England hold on to that early lead, and the qualifier dey hang for balance. Both teams dey show why dem be champions, but for this crucial qualifier, England get the early advantage wey dem need.
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