England beat Dutch in thriller to keep GB Olympic hopes alive

England clawed their approach again from two objectives down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a nerve-jangling Women’s Nations League group sport at Wembley on Friday and keep Great Britain’s goals of a Paris Olympic berth alive.

Ella Toone netted a 91st-minute objective whereas Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp additionally scored to propel England to second in Group A1 on 9 factors with one spherical of group video games remaining. The Dutch, additionally with 9 factors, prime the group thanks to a superior objective distinction.

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Lineth Beerensteyn capitalised on shoddy England defending to rating a first-half brace — the Netherlands’ solely two photographs on the right track on the evening.

“It was a great comeback,” Toone instructed ITV. “Three good goals. I love playing for England, I love playing football, tonight was really special. But the main thing is that we won.

“The character we confirmed to come out and get these three objectives, everybody needs to beat England, we have got that focus on on our again,” she added.

A two-goal victory would have given England a firmer grip on their destiny. The group will now be decided on Tuesday, with England facing Scotland, who are fourth on two points, and the Netherlands playing Belgium (third on eight points). A win for England combined with the Netherlands dropping points against Belgium would see the Lionesses top the group.

The group winner will progress to the Nations League semifinals, with the two finalists earning Olympic berths. If Olympic hosts France make the final, then the winner of the third-place playoff will qualify.

The Lionesses are the team nominated as the home nation who can qualify Team GB for Paris.

“I really feel just a little bit unusual,” England manager Sarina Wiegman said. “I’m actually pleased with the win however in the top you hope you win by two objectives so that you’re in a greater place.

“But, coming back from 2-0 down and how we showed up in the second half was so well done.”

Beerensteyn netted her first in the twelfth minute when she ran onto a pinpoint go from Victoria Pelova earlier than muscling previous a pair of defenders.

The Juventus ahead doubled the lead in the thirty fifth minute after beating each Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood earlier than firing a tough low shot that Mary Earps let sail straight via her arms. The Manchester United keeper slammed a fist on the turf in frustration.

Asked what she was considering after the second objective, Earps mentioned: “Words I can’t say on TV. That’ll haunt me for a long time. I’ve really let the team down today, and I’m really gutted, really gutted. [But] the team were unbelievable.”

Stanway lastly had the Wembley followers cheering in the 58th minute along with her header into the underside nook off a chipped go excessive from Lauren James.

Hemp coolly slotted dwelling in the sixtieth after a deflection from a shot from Beth Mead, who was enjoying her first sport for England in greater than a 12 months following a knee harm.

England stored urgent and second-half substitute Toone introduced the group of 71,631 followers to their ft when she blasted the ball via Daphne van Domselaar’s legs after a cross from James.

The seventh-ranked Netherlands have been eradicated by eventual winners Spain in this 12 months’s World Cup quarterfinals.

Reuters contributed to this report.