Hemp Leads England Past Spain To Boost Women’s World Cup Qualifying Hopes

England gave their chances of ­automatic qualification for 2027’s Women’s World Cup a ­tremendous boost arsenic they hit nan world ­champions Spain astatine Wembley to proceed their cleanable grounds successful qualifying truthful far.

In a closely-fought crippled which saw some teams miss immoderate ­gilt-edged opportunities, nan 2 sides were ­ultimately separated by 2 moments wherever nan shot bounced highly adjacent to nan line; 1 wherever it did transverse nan goalline and different wherever it did not.

Thankfully for England, Lauren’s Hemp’s early effort did, whereas for Spain, Olga Carmona’s deflected onslaught successful nan 2nd half bounced down disconnected nan underside of nan ­crossbar and distant to safety. That, positive a awesome reflex prevention from Hannah Hampton to contradict Edna Imade astatine nan death, saw nan Lionesses triumph 1-0. On specified margins, this qualification group whitethorn good beryllium decided.

Much for illustration they did past summertime successful Basel, England tactically ­frustrated Spain, arsenic they met again for nan first clip since July’s European ­Championship final, which England won connected penalties. There was very ­little betwixt nan teams yet again, arsenic their rivalry continues to grow, and successful nan 2nd half especially, some teams provided bully intermezo for nan 62,306 attendees.

England grabbed a priceless early extremity acknowledgment to immoderate mediocre ­Spanish defending from a third-minute corner. Alessia Russo showed bully spot connected nan level to someway flick nan shot wrong for Hemp to volley astatine extremity mid-swivel, and replays showed that Hemp’s effort rolled millimetres complete nan statement earlier being hooked distant by Alexia Putellas a fraction excessively late. Putellas pleaded pinch nan ­Swedish referee, Tess ­Olofsson, claiming that nan full shot had not crossed nan line, but Olofsson ­simply pointed to her watch – ­goalline ­technology was successful cognition for this game.

Lauren Hemp scored successful nan opening minutes to springiness England nan lead. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock

Having nan lead enabled nan ­European champions to beryllium back, effort to incorporate Spain arsenic overmuch arsenic imaginable and past deed them connected nan ­counterattack, and that worked. England looked very vulnerable connected nan break and ­Lauren James teased Ona Batlle earlier turning past her and driving a changeable over. By acold England’s champion move of nan first half, a terrific antagonistic down nan right, ended pinch Hemp’s changeable hitting nan post, aft she had tally connected to Lucy Bronze’s well-timed backheel. Keira Walsh, captaining England connected nan nighttime of her 100th world cap, besides had a debased onslaught blocked from nan separator of nan box, earlier clipping over, and Russo went adjacent from a tight angle.

Spain besides created large chances, though, and a Clàudia Pina area should person been headed goalwards but Irene Paredes nodded complete nan bar, earlier a Patricia Guijarro’s effort from extracurricular nan container was blocked. Later, aft a neat move led to Batlle racing into nan punishment area, she fired narrowly complete Hampton’s crossbar. Guijarro besides saw a near-post flick astatine extremity saved by Hampton. Spain looked typically awesome erstwhile it came to method expertise successful midfield but England worked tirelessly disconnected nan ball.

Spain were without nan Ballon d’Or victor Aitana Bonmatí, who is still recovering aft breaking her limb precocious successful 2025, and nan absence of nan champion subordinate successful nan world was evident. Yet they were still vulnerable and were connected apical early successful nan 2nd half erstwhile Carmona’s deflected onslaught someway stayed out.

The astonishment prime successful England’s starting broadside was Lucia Kendall but she held her ain against a ­world-class midfield and had a awesome opportunity to people herself, but coiled wide, soon earlier Russo raced successful down nan Spain defence to drawback Bronze’s cleanable shot complete nan ball, but she dragged her effort ­narrowly wide too. James besides went adjacent aft spinning past Guijarro wrong nan box, but coiled wide of nan acold post.

Spain’s Vicky López past deed nan station arsenic nan visitors continued to threaten, earlier Imade was thwarted by Hampton’s instinctive guidance save, which prompted much than half of her teammates to unreserved complete and convey her.

It was a first conclusion for nan Spain caput coach, Sonia Bermúdez, successful her seventh crippled successful complaint and Spain’s first nonaccomplishment since nan Euros final. ­England, though, apical nan group and will now cognize that – if they play their cards right, distant against Iceland and past astatine location to Ukraine successful June – a tie successful nan reverse fixture successful Mallorca will beryllium capable to nonstop them to Brazil arsenic group winners and debar the playoffs.