A brilliant attack from England, with Georgia Stanway scoring a hat-trick, led the Lionesses to a record-breaking 8-0 win over China at Wembley.
Stanway’s three points, Beth Meade’s fast-break double, and goals from Lauren Hemp, Ella Thune and Alessia Russo gave coach Sarina Wiegman her 50th victory.
England were playing their first match at the National Stadium since successfully defending their title at Euro 2025 in Switzerland earlier this year.
This was the third leg of a four-match homecoming series, with England narrowly losing to Brazil in their first post-Euro friendly before facing Australia.
They will cap off another memorable 12 months with their final game against Ghana at St Mary’s on Tuesday, as they continue to strengthen ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
8 hits for England, 50th win for Wiegman
Beth Mead celebrates England’s opening goal in friendly against China
With goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and vice-captain Chiara Keating out through injury, Wigman handed 30-year-old Anna Moorhouse her England debut. The Orlando Pride keeper didn’t have to bring his gloves as he did when England dominated an undercooked China in the Asian champions’ first match since July.
It took just 12 minutes for the hosts to take the lead after Lucy Bronze overlapped on the right and played in Meade. The Arsenal forward controlled the ball with his left foot and then needed one touch to drive the ball home with his right foot.
Moments later, Hemp fed Toon to the opposite flank and her cross was finished by Meade at the far post, doubling the Lionesses’ lead.
Hemp, playing his first international game since the Euros after an injury, appeared on the scoresheet with three goals in four minutes. Russo waved the ball out to Stanway, who ran into the area and Hemp fired home from six yards out.
Lauren Hemp celebrates scoring third goal for England against China
The fourth goal came 23 minutes later, when the Chinese goalkeeper punched Pang Hongyan and punched Hemp’s cross straight to Stanway, who volleyed it through the crowded penalty area and into the goal.
The fifth goal came in the 38th minute when a VAR check revealed that Rangers defender Lee Meng-wen had stuck out his arm to block Russo’s volley, leading to Stanway taking the penalty.
Stanway completed his first England hat-trick eight minutes into the second half, performing a brilliant give-and-go with Toon and slotting the ball into the net.
Thune scored in the 71st minute, taking advantage of a bad mix-up in the Chinese defense to roll the ball into an empty net, and seven minutes later Thune teed up the tireless Russo, who slipped into the number eight.
See photos of Stanway’s hat trick…
Stanway scores a hat-trick as England win 6-0
Stanway scores England’s fifth goal from the penalty spot
Stanway celebrates with Meade after England’s 4-0 win
Wiegman defends demand not to allow England debutants
Sarina Wiegmann defended her decision not to give new players a chance as England beat China 8-0.
There were some familiar names on the scoresheet in the one-sided friendly at Wembley, but Wigman used the opportunity to give youngsters Freya Godfrey and Anouk Denton their England debuts.
“We take every game seriously,” Wiegman said after leading the Lionesses to their 50th win. “And if you sub in three players at half-time, I think that’s enough.
“We have a team of 25 and we have a lot of guys who are seriously knocking on the door, everyone wants to play.
“Some players are new to the team and are really finding their feet. Others are playing for us and doing a really good job and competing for starting positions. That’s how I look at the game.”
What’s next for Lioness?
England cap off another memorable 12 months with a final friendly against Ghana at St Mary’s on Tuesday as they continue to build up their preparation for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
