Lauren James shined with two goals and three assists, leading a resurgent England attack to secure top spot in Group D at the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a commanding 6-1 win over China.
Lauren James’ two goals and three assists spearheaded a revitalized England attack and ensured the Lionesses took first place in Group D with a smashing 6-1 victory over China at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Alessia Russo started her tournament account after four minutes, while Lauren Hemp and James made it three by halftime, with James having another goal ruled out due to a VAR check in stoppage time at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium.
Wang Shuang pulled one back after the break with a penalty kick, but goals from replacement Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly gave the Lionesses a comfortable win in front of 13,497 fans.
England will return to Brisbane on Monday to face Nigeria in the last 16 of the World Cup.
While England’s 1-0 group-stage victories over Haiti and Denmark may have felt like home games, China got raucous, flag-waving, drum-banging support at Adelaide United’s home stadium.
After much speculation as to how boss Sarina Wiegman would cope without injured midfielder Keira Walsh, who remained at England’s New South Wales base camp, the answer came in the form of Manchester United’s Katie Zelem, making her first start for the Lionesses.
Jess Carter and Hemp both returned, with Ella Toone and Kelly making way.
England’s opener came as a result of a fine pass from Hemp in the build-up and a header from James to set up Russo to slot past Zhu Yu.
With the goal, Russo made England the first team in Women’s World Cup history to score at least once in 16 consecutive matches, and they were not done for the first time this tournament.
While there had been countless promises that new relationships were being formed in training, actions in Adelaide began to back up those comments.
Following Millie Bright’s booted clearing, which stemmed a wave of Chinese momentum in England’s final third, the Lionesses were back on the offensive with a passing series that began with Bright, then James, and ended with Hemp tapping in for England’s second.
Lucy Bronze’s header ricocheted off the far post, and she couldn’t make something of her own rebound, blasting wide, while Zhu saved Georgia Stanway’s headed effort.
But James, who scored the sole goal against Denmark, quickly increased the Lionesses’ lead to three goals, curling a free-kick over the heads of a swarm of red shirts and in for her second goal of the tournament.
The Chelsea forward appeared to have made it four in stoppage time, but after a lengthy VAR investigation, Australian referee Casey Reibelt judged Bronze offside in the build-up.
Mary Earps was alive to Wu Chengshu’s low, drilled effort after the restart, then Bronze found herself once again on the wrong end of a video replay, this time punished for a handball that appeared to have hit her chest.
Reibelt, however, pointed to the spot and striker Wang made no mistake as she sent Earps the wrong way to claw one back for China from a 57th-minute penalty, with Bronze booked for her protest.
It was not long before England restored their three-goal advantage through James, who lifted the ball past Zhu from Carter’s fine pass to make it 4-1 after 66 minutes.
Kelly, who scored in England’s historic Euro 2022 victory a year and a day ago, came on as one of three substitutes and made a near-instant impact from six yards out, with the assist again coming from 21-year-old James.
If that wasn’t enough to convince England that their goal drought had ended, Daly made it 6-1 with a thunderous volley before another late save from Earps gave Chen Qiaozhu the opportunity to cut the gap.
England were free to celebrate after 11 minutes of stoppage time.
