Belgium Women vs England Women. Women's International Friendlies.
Den Dreef.
England were 2-0 ahead inside half an hour, but had to battle back for a draw
Thursday 29 August 2019 22:57, UK
A second-half penalty from Nikita Parris saved England Women's blushes as they drew 3-3 against Belgium Women in their first game since the Women's World Cup.
England were 2-0 up inside half an hour, with Jodie Taylor (22) and Beth Mead (26) firing the visitors ahead in what looked like a continuation of their form from the summer tournament.
But Belgium came roaring back into the tie, with an unfortunate Carly Telford own goal (38) giving them a lifeline before Ella Van Kerkhoven made it 2-2 with the last kick of the first half.
The Inter Milan Women forward was on the scoresheet again 10 minutes after the break after a rare error from Steph Houghton. But after a Jancie Cayman handball in the 73rd minute, Parris was able to convert and help England avoid a potentially embarrassing defeat.
The game came 54 days after England's defeat to Sweden in the Women's World Cup third-place play-off, while Belgium had failed to qualify for the competition, having lost in their own play-off against Switzerland for a place in France.
The Lionesses - 14 places above Belgium in the world rankings - opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. England broke after clearing a Belgium corner, with Georgia Stanway holding the ball up well at the top right corner. She then played a fine diagonal pass to pick out Taylor's wonderful run, with the striker then lifting the ball over the oncoming Nicky Evrard.
Four minutes later, and England doubled their lead with another wonderful attack. Lucy Bronze did brilliantly to hold off two Belgium players before slipping the ball through for Taylor. She took on the shot, but it was pushed away by Evrard - although only as far as Mead. She then slotted home into an almost empty net and England looked to be cruising.
But a slice of bad luck for the Lionesses saw them unravel in the final nine minutes of the half. Tine De Caigny nodded a corner goalwards, but Bronze was on the line to clear. Heleen Jaques then came storming towards the loose ball to try and poke home, with her effort rebounding off the crossbar, onto the back of Telford's head before beating Bronze, who tried unsuccessfully to keep the ball out. Telford tried to claim there was foul in the six-yard box, but the goal correctly stood.
With mere seconds of the first half to play, Belgium doubled their lead after some questionable England defending. Cayman was allowed to flash a cross into the area, with Houghton unable to see it away with a jump. Van Kerkhoven was waiting ahead of Abbie McManus to guide the ball home with her head as Belgium levelled the game before the break.
The second half did not start much better as Houghton made an uncharacteristic error for Belgium's third. Half-time substitute Davinia Vanmechelen put a wonderful cross into the area, which De Caigny headed goalwards. However, the England captain got to the ball first and looked to pass it out, but her effort found the waiting Van Kerkhoven, who fired the ball high into the top of the net as Belgium took the lead for the first time.
But England were given a lifeline as the superb Cayman handled in the area in the 73rd minute, doing so right in front of the referee who instantly pointed to the spot. Parris bravely took the ball, having missed twice from the spot during the World Cup, and scored a thunderous effort, sending the ball into the top corner.
The short answer is - yes. England did not concede until the semi-finals in France and let in four goals altogether, just one short of their overall total from the game at the Den Dreef Stadium.
Admittedly, there are factors to consider. England were without the main spine of their World Cup team - Millie Bright, Jill Scott and Ellen White all missing - and some players were out of position. Bronze is a prime example, being used in midfield rather than the marauding wing-back that helped her win the UEFA Women's Player of the Year award just before kick-off.
England will play few competitive fixtures over the next two years, having already qualified for the 2021 Women's Euros as hosts, but this was certainly no ordinary friendly. Belgium came out to test England - aiming for Euro qualification themselves - and showed why they had won five of their six fixtures heading into Thursday's game.
England heads dropped after Telford's unfortunate own goal and some poor defensive errors were to blame for the next two, with a mixture of better play from Belgium and a few nerves from England creeping in as they look to recover from their World Cup disappointment.
The good news for Phil Neville is he has time to work on the issues and will be welcoming back key players into the fold for upcoming fixtures. But as a former defender himself, the result may be viewed as a slight step back from their good work at the World Cup.
England will next be in action on Tuesday as they travel to Norway for another international friendly. Belgium will also play on the same day as they take on Croatia in a Women's Euros 2021 qualification game.
