England vs South Korea LIVE: Arnold Clark Cup result, final score and reaction as Lionesses storm to victory
England 4-0 South Korea: The Lionesses opened their Arnold Clark Cup campaign with an impressive win
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Your support makes all the difference.Sarina Wiegman wants to use the Arnold Clark Cup as preparation for this summer’s World Cup. She hopes to use these three games to look at new players, try out new formations, and work out plans as she attempts to turn the European Champions into World Champions. Based on tonight’s performance Wiegman’s conclusion must be that England have really, really good players.
South Korea were able opponents throughout the first half. Setting up in a low block and making it difficult for England to break them down. The Lionesses started slow, they were sluggish, and lacked creativity in the face of steadfast opponents with the sole exception being Lauren James.
Picked to partner Alessia Russo up top, James provided pace, power, and drive to work England up the pitch and get within range of the target. It was she who won England’s first half penalty – ably despatched by Georgia Stanway – and sent the Lionesses into the break with a slender lead.
Her teammates decided to match her levels in the second half. Russo and Chloe Kelly both netting within five minutes of each other to put the match beyond their Korean opponents. The game became an exhibition and England came alive. They passed the ball with speed, guile, and confidence, took shots from all areas of the pitch, and put on a second half show for the fans inside the Stadium MK.
To cap off an impressive night, James arrived on the end of a Lucy Bronze cross and slotted home a side-footed strike to the bottom corner to score her first ever international goal.
Relive the action from England’s opening match versus South Korea:
England 0-0 South Korea
38 mins: Off the post! That would have been a fantastic goal. Lauren James takes the ball and shuffles into the box. She leaves it to Alessia Russo who spins and smokes a fine shot across goal that strikes the inside of the far post and bounces away!
England 0-0 South Korea
36 mins: England have already notched up 11 shots but only three of them have been on target. Lucy Bronze and Lee Geum-Min collide in a 50/50 challenge and the South Korean defender yells out in pain as she hits the deck.
It looks as though she’s done something to her shoulder but the physios are called on to check her out.
England 0-0 South Korea
33 mins: There’s a little bit of encouragement for Millie Bright as she receives the ball outside the Korean penalty area. That’s all she needs to take a shot but hooks it wide of the left-hand post.
Bright finished as the joint top scorer in last season’s Arnold Clark Cup so she’s not shy in front of goal.
England 0-0 South Korea
30 mins: England look a bit leggy. Only occasionally are they moving the ball with pace and gusto to trouble the backline. Alex Greenwood gets forward with an overlapping run and wins the Lionesses a corner.
She then lofts the set piece into the space near the front post where Georgia Stanway arrives and nods the ball over the top of goal!
England 0-0 South Korea
Tonight’s game sees Lucy Bronze collect her 100th cap for England and she was presented a commemorative shirt to celebrate that achievement before kick off.
England 0-0 South Korea
27 mins: Oh no! Chloe Kelly gets it all wrong after a series of one-touch passes gets her into the penalty area. She shoots but skews her effort well wide of the target.
Lauren James keeps it alive on the opposite wing but her cross back in towards Alessia Russo is cleared away.
England 0-0 South Korea
24 mins: Chance! Lauren James receives the ball on the inside left channel and darts inside before carrying it into the box. She’s got four defenders around her but pokes a shot at goal and forces Kim J into a low stop.
The ball comes loose but bobbles wide of Alessia Russo who can’t reach it to tap it home.
England 0-0 South Korea
21 mins: Shot! Ella Toone brings the ball down the left wing and gives it to Lauren James. She has her back to goal and whips a cross field pass over to Lucy Bronze.
Bronze has time and space to get off a shot but smokes her effort from range high and wide.
England 0-0 South Korea
18 mins: There’s no way out for South Korea. They’re defending well enough but when they win back possession they don’t have many options forward to get the ball clear allowing England to regain it quickly.
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