Key events
The win is a record victory for a Lionesses team at Wembley Stadium. They break the record they set just before the Euros with their 6-0 win over Portugal.
That is Sarina Wiegman’s 50th win as England manager. Not a bad way to record it.
Full time: England 8-0 China
A commanding performance at HQ for England with the scores including a hat-trick for Georgia Stanway. A good outing in front of a sold-out Wembley but China have a lot to improve on.
90 + 3 min: Sweet Caroline rings around Wembley once again as England cruise to a dominant win. They have been battling for more but I think they will have to settle with eight.
90 + 1 min: China make a great move and it comes to Jiali but the effort is straight at Moorhouse. There will be three minutes added.
89 min: England win a corner and Kelly is stood over it again. The delivery isn’t great but the hosts get it into the box with a Hinds cross. However, Pan comes out and collects.
87 min: Charles loses possession and can’t quite win it back, Linyan takes a punt and Moorhouse almost loses control but eventually collects. The England goalkeeper’s only real need to make a save all evening.
86 min: England almost have a ninth as Charles makes a great run and she finds Russo but her chance is wide. That is the Arsenal player’s last action as she is replaced by Beever-Jones.
84 min: Hinds lifts a perfectly weighted cross into the box but it doesn’t find a teammate.
82 min: Now a fun fact for you the record win for any England senior team at Wembley stands at 9-0 when England’s men beat Luxembourg. The Lionesses are looking to equal or beat that now. But China are not letting England have it all their own way with Wei popping a great attempt which goes over the bar.
80 min: The goal is given but I do not know why, that looked offside. But the technology will know more than me.
Toone feeds Russo and her cross is touched by Pan but it’s in. However, VAR will be checking if she is offside.
GOAL! England 8-0 China (Russo, 78)
Oh my.
77 min: England really toying with China now, it really has exposed just how much the visitors need to develop before the World Cup in two years time.
75 min: Stanway falls asleep at the back with a rogue pass which almost sees China pounce but Kun can’t turn the ball goalward. England now make another change with Hinds on for Bronze.
74 min: The visitors must just want to hear the full time whistle, 7-0 down and more than 15 minutes left to play. This would be a record win for the Lionesses at Wembley if it remains as things stand.
Kelly crosses in a beauty and Pan again punches clear instead of collecting. It comes to Bronze, who should have taken it herself, squares it to Park who hits the bar. A poor pass to Pan comes next but her clearances falls to Toone who taps home.
GOAL! England 7-0 China (Toone, 72)
Another goalkeeper error.
70 min: China has such a positive spell earlier in this half but their spark has been put out and England are continuing their knocks on the door. Kendall has a shot blocked before Park’s is also deflected.
68 min: China make a triple change including Kun and Jiali, while Kendall is on for Walsh for England.
67 min: England win a free kick as they continue to knock on the scoring door. Kelly is over this one but it’s headed out for a corner. Kelly is on the corner and she goes short, it eventually comes into the box from Le Tissier but Pan collects.
65 min: I am surprised Sarina Wiegman has not made more changes with the scoreline what it is. It feels like the perfect opportunity to bring the likes of Godfrey on. But at the moment China are their own worst enemies as Pan fluffs a pass and almost gifts Russo a goal but Chen clears.
63 min: England eventually find Russo down the right and she makes an incredible run once again. Her cross isn’t met by any teammate and the chance is gone. Another is almost created by some sloppy defensive passes from the visitors but Pan mops up the mess.
61 min: Le Tissier wins a free kick from Linyan, who has been a really bright spark for China since coming on, in England’s half so they will build from deep here.
59 min: China have had a really positive few minutes on the ball but they seem to be rushing their plays, a little more patience and they might batter down England’s defence. The closest shot so far for China with Linyan’s attempt over the bar.
57 min: China win a corner after Toone sees the ball out to close down a chance. The delivery is a good one but Bronze heads it, it falls to Chen but her chance is wide. It comes off of an England player though and China have another corner but it’s dealt with well.
55 min: China were doing well to deal with England’s attacks in this half but it was silky football that unlocked their defence this time. The Lionesses are on their way to their biggest win at Wembley as they are currently tying their largest victory with their 6-0 win over Portugal earlier this year.
That was a lovely bit of football from England. A well worked, patient move sees Stanway control well and taps home. I believe she is just the third Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley, Aggie Beever-Jones and Beth Mead the other two players.
GOAL! England 6-0 China (Stanway, 52)
That’s her hat-trick.
51 min: England win a free kick and they take it quickly. They have some patient build-up before Toone pops it in but it’s well defended. The Lionesses come again but again it is scrambled clear and China counter. Linyan crosses it in but it’s headed clear.
49 min: Park finds Russo but she looked offside from the angle fans saw but it takes quite a while for the flag to be raised.
47 min: A similar start to the beginning of the game in the second half with China getting a chance but England scramble to clear.
Back underway: England 5-0 China
Can China manage to get on the board? Or will England continue to run away with this? All to come. The Lionesses are making a triple change with Mead, Morgan and Hemp off for Wubben-Moy, Park and Kelly. China make one change with Wuri off for Linyan.
Freya Godfrey might be one such player Sarina Wiegman chooses to give a debut to this evening. Have a read of this recent interview with the London City Lionesses star:
Half-time: England 5-0 China
Well I don’t think anyone would have predicted this scoreline before kick-off. An absolutely dominant display from the Lionesses at a sold-out Wembley with China falling apart defensively. Two goals from Beth Mead, two from Georgia Stanway and another from Lauren Hemp sees the Lionesses with a five-goal lead. Can they keep up this performance throughout? Or will Sarina Wiegman send on some less experienced players to get some international minutes in their legs? All to come.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added on. I thought it would be longer given there was a hefty VAR check.
44 min: England so close again to another goal with Toone this time the one with the chance but Pan saves. The Manchester United player was also then judged to be offside.
42 min: Hemp has been excellent so far this evening and she finds Charles with a lovely short pass. China deal with the latest attack but it is clear the visitors just want to hear the half time whistle.
40 min: Toone loses the ball in the midfield and China eventually work it up the pitch but the offside flag is then risen.
This has just been an absolute nightmare for China. A horror show defensively capped off by that penalty being given. The team are in a huddle just trying to get some motivation to keep going.
PENALTY! England 5-0 China (Stanway, 38)
It is the Bayern Munich star who steps up and she has never missed a penalty outside of a shootout. She stands with her hands on her hips and strikes it sweetly.
37 min: A penalty is given, surely Stanway will take it.
36 min: It actually looks like it hits her chest and then her hand but the referee has been told to look at the monitor. Usually it goes to a penalty in this situations. Let’s wait and see.
35 min: VAR are now checking for handball. Russo controls the ball with her chest and then hits a shot. It looks like it hits Mengwen’s hand and the time it is taking it seems it could be given as a penalty.
34 min: England win a free kick with Hemp fouled. Mead is the take of the set piece and her delivery is a good one. China attempt to clear but Russo manages to get a shot away, England claim handball but nothing has been given. VAR is in operation this evening so if there is anything to check they will get to it.
31 min: Matt L has emailed and said:
Was the “Crackling atmosphere” comment next to the Sweet Caroline commentary a reference to Neil Diamonds other big hit Crackling Rosie perchance? If so, Bravo!
I would love to say it was intentional Matt but it’s a happy coincidence. Back on the pitch, it looks as though China are going to be making some very early substitutions, no player wants to be hooked this early but it would make sense with this shambolic start for the visitors.
30 min: China have their best chance since the opening minutes as Yanwen peels forward but Hemp wins it back to snuff out the chance. England immediately counter as Russo is found, her shot is saved from Pan and smacks the bar but then the offside flag is raised so it wouldn’t have stood anyway.
28 min: Russo does really well on the edge of the box to trigger England’s latest attack, it really has been all the hosts so far. Many phases later Bronze pops it into the box and Pan collects. The Chelsea defender wanted a corner but it isn’t given.
26 min: Have you seen a more competent England performance than this? The last time they played this well must have been against the Netherlands at the Euros. Get in touch and let me know your thoughts.
China wildly play is loosely back. Hemp dispossesses Mengwen and the Man City star crosses in. Stanway absolutely whacks it into the back of the net. This is quite a performance from Sarina Wiegman’s side.
