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76,893 fans packed into Wembley Stadium on Friday to watch England defeat the United States women’s national team 2-1 in a wildly entertaining friendly. The game had a bit of everything including two controversial VAR decisions that went against the U.S.
The game got off to a brutal start for the USWNT when Alana Cook had a nightmare at the back. In the ninth minute a dangerous but clearable cross from Beth Mead came into the box and Cook failed to get it clear. Lauren Hemp jumped on the failed clearance and tucked in the game’s opener
England takes the 1-0 lead at Wembley pic.twitter.com/p5E12yNFsf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
It was England who would make a mistake 18 minutes later when Lindsey Horan picked the pocket of Georgia Stanway to set up Sophia Smith for the equalizer.
@USWNT's Sophia Stunning Smith!@sophsssmith makes things level at Wembley pic.twitter.com/cbBr6MgVAu
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
England’s next goal came with controversy as a VAR review gave England a penalty kick for Hailie Mace’s high boot on Lucy Bronze. Mace was an early first half substitute after Emily Fox picked up an injury.
A penalty was given to England after a VAR review of this sequence pic.twitter.com/YicGKAm6ev
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
This call left a sour taste in the mouth of USWNT fans. A player putting their head that low for a 50/50 ball is asking for trouble. It’s worth noting that the USWNT players had little protest to the VAR decision.
Stanway would step up and bury the penalty in the 33rd minute.
The Lionesses are back on top thanks to Georgia Stanway from the spot! pic.twitter.com/QOqLiUP9JC
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
Trinity Rodman thought she had equalized in the 36th minute after a beautifully worked goal that include a cross from Smith, a Megan Rapinoe dummy and a confident finish. VAR would step in again to hurt the USWNT by saying Smith was offside in the build-up.
What could have been
This Trinity Rodman goal was disallowed by VAR pic.twitter.com/JemzMWDCQD— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
Was offsides the right call here? pic.twitter.com/HcJoECvPZc
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
This writer is going to break character for a moment. That offside call was atrocious.
I wasn’t buying this offside even if it was buy one get three free. The referee didn’t even bother to go to the VAR screen to look at this insanely tight call. On top of that there wasn’t an angle down the line to provide clear and obvious evidence that Smith was offside. Rodman and the USWNT got robbed.
The second half saw the introduction of Crystal Dunn who hadn’t played with the USWNT in over a year.
Crystal Dunn enters the match for the @USWNT pic.twitter.com/K2oIVoxNlB
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2022
There were several half chances for the USWNT and England throughout the final 45 minutes but no clear-cut goal scoring opportunities.
England deserves plenty of credit. The Lionesses played with confidence and looked the better side for large portions of the game. If these two teams meet in Australia at the 2023 World Cup it will be a must-watch affair.
Friday’s victory sees England extend its unbeaten streak to 23 games including winning 15 straight. This is the first loss the USWNT has suffered since that heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Canada in the Tokyo Olympics semifinal.
The USWNT isn’t done with its Euro tour yet as it will play Spain on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
