England vs Belgium LIVE: Lionesses retain the Arnold Clark Cup with six-goal win
England 6-1 Belgium: The Lionesses lifted the Arnold Clark Cup for the second time after thrasing Belgium at Ashton Gate
England have won the Arnold Clark Cup for the second time after thrashing Belgium 6-1 in Bristol, giving the Lionesses the perfect start to their World Cup year under Sarina Wiegman.
Two goals each from Chloe Kelly and captain Leah Williamson helped to wrap up a dominant result in front of over 26,000 fans at Ashton Gate. The victory added to wins against South Korea and Italy this week as the Lionesses took maximum points from the four-team tournament and comfortably retained their title.
Wiegman’s side won the inaugural edition of the Arnold Clark Cup last year ahead of their historic victory at the European Championships, and the Lionesses will hope the tournament once again acts as the perfect platform before this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
England will face China, Denmark and Haiti in Group D of the World Cup, while the Lionesses will look to extend their unbeaten run under Wiegman - which now stands at 29 matches - when they take on Brazil and Australia in friendly matches in April.
Follow all the reaction as the Lionesses face Belgium for the Arnold Clark Cup:
England 1-0 Belgium
20 mins: England are getting so much possession on the edge of the Belgium box. Now Toone tries a flick towards Kelly, when she had the chance to shoot. Belgium are barely getting out of their half.
England 1-0 Belgium
18 mins: England are enjoying this. Toone does a step-over on the edge before Stanway drops a shoulder and shoots. It takes a deflection and loops up to James - but the volley is straight at the goalkeeper.
England 1-0 Belgium
16 mins: James creates more danger for England from the right side, her cross just a bit above Kelly at the back post. Greenwood picks it up on the other side and whips a ball towards the box, but Russo is just eased away from it by the Belgium defender.
GOAL! England 1-0 Belgium (Kelly, 12 min)
Chloe Kelly scores after great work by Lauren James down the right, who dribbles into the box and crosses low for her winger on the opposite side. The ball pops up off a Belgian defender and Kelly taps home. A well-deserved opener for England.
England 0-0 Belgium
9 min: This is an extremely one-sided affair, thus far. Alex Greenwood gives away a free-kick and it gives the visitors a rare breather.
England 0-0 Belgium
7 min: England should be in front already! Keira Walsh plays a typically piercing pass through the Belgian defence for Chloe Kelly, who whips a delivery across the six-yard box for the arriving for Lauren James. The whole stadium expects the net to bulge but somehow James fires over the bar.
England 0-0 Belgium
5 min: A couple of half-sighters for Alessia Russo, first with a long-range shot which was blocked, and then a moment later with a header which she tried to flick on target but couldn’t quite connect properly.
England 0-0 Belgium
2 min: A really bright and energetic start from England. Chloe Kelly gets in behind down the left side of the box and drills in a low cut-back, which has to be cleared behind for a corner.
Kick-off! England 0-0 Belgium
We’re under way... although Georgia Stanway forgot about taking the knee and had to retake the kick-off.
Sarina Weigmann speaks to ITV
More from the England manager before kick-off:
“You can tell Lauren James is in good form and enjoying herself. She is a very talented player and has been for years. Now she is fit she gets some consistency at Chelsea and that does her good and does us good as well.
“Of course we want to retain this cup and that is how we approach this and every game, to win it. Of course when there is a cup to win we want to win it.”
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