The growing rivalry between the United States women’s national team and England took its next step at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, as Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps was the star of a scoreless friendly in London.
[ MORE: Arsenal’s Fox, Chelsea’s Bright on Emma Hayes’ USWNT turnaround ]
Earps made a huge save early and was called upon several times in the second half, as the Yanks failed to find finish without its starting “triple espresso” trident of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith available for this week’s matches against England and the Netherlands.
Naomi Girma and Emily Sonnett were solid for Emma Hayes’ Yanks, as the ex-Chelsea manager stayed unbeaten in her new gig as USWNT boss, while Earps and captain Leah Williamson were the stasr of England’s show.
The game may be the final one international appearance for legendary USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who announced her international retirement this week. the Yanks meet the Netherlands on Tuesday at the Hague.
[ MORE USWNT: Results, upcoming fixtures | Records — most goals, caps, wins]
How to watch England vs USWNT live stream link, start time, stadium, more
Kickoff: 12:20pm ET — Saturday November 30
Location: Wembley Stadium in London, England
TV Channel: Telemundo, NBC Universo
Stream: Online via Peacock Premium (en Espanol)
England vs USWNT final score: 0-0
England vs USWNT live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — England 0-0 USWNT
USWNT sub
Ally Sentnor makes her USWNT debut in place of Horan.
0-0, 88'.
USWNT finds footing again
Shaw in particular has been an impact player in changing this game back toward the USWNT, who are in possession as the game enters the final 10 minutes at Wembley.
England subs
Jessica Naz comes off for England hero Chloe Kelly, while Jessica Park will exit for Fran Kirby.
0-0, 75'
USWNT subs
Jaedyn Shaw and Korbin Albert enter for Lynn Williams and Alyssa Thompson.
0-0, 73' at Wembley Stadium. Looks like England will make a double sub soon.
Penalty to USWNT... overturned!
Ryan rips into a shot.
Alex Greenwood blocks it with her chest and then it comes off her arm, which she appeared to be pulling back behind her body.
VAR is going to have a look at this. It’s controversial at best, and it will be overturned after a pitchside monitor review from Finnish referee Lina Lehtovaara.
Brave block from Sonnett
Now England have their turn producing danger
Georgia Stanway lays into a left-footed shot from beyond the 18 and Emily Sonnett bravely nods it way over the goal.
Oof. Has to sting.
Leah Williamson denies USWNT opener
Yazmeen Ryan came in for Emma Sears at the break and she’s been very good.
Ryan’s on the right and looks to find Horan at the front post, but Leah Williamson just gets on the end of the ball.
Self-promoting note — here’s Williamson’s summer conversation with NBC Sports.
Very good start to the second half for Emma Hayes’ Yanks
Even Naomi Girma’s up in the attacking mix as the Yanks prod for the opener.
Lucy Bronze eventually breaks up that rush, but the Yanks are right back it.
Now it’s the captain. Lindsey Horan’s on the right side and slashes a bounding shot wide of the far post.
0-0, 53'.
Halftime — England 0-0 USWNT
It’s been even enough, but the Yanks would be in the lead if not for Lionesses star goalkeeper Mary Earps.
Earps again!
Lindsey Horan leads a counter attack and plays Alyssa Thompson to the left end line.
Thompson cuts in front and passes to Casey Krueger, who drills a shot through traffic that’s saved by Earps.
The Yanks can’t do anything with the rebound, and it’s still scoreless in the 33rd minute.
Patient, technical football
For a wet pitch, both teams are working well with the ball.
Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey have been strong for the USWNT, while Lucy Bronze is buzzing for the Lionesses.
Mary Earps save!
Emma Sears cues up Alyssa Thompson from about 15 yards, and Thompson hesitates for ripping a shot toward the far post.
Mary Earps flies across goal to limit the damage to a corner with a terrific save.
Good start for Lionesses as players missing from both
Tierna Davidson starts on the bench for the USWNT, who are of course without a hint of the triple espresso trident of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson. Croix Bethune, Crystal Dunn, and Andi Sullivan also miss out.
Ella Toone, Lauren James, and Lauren Hemp all aren’t with England.
England lineup
Earps, Bronze, Carter, Walsh, Williamson, Greenwood, Naz, Stanway, Russo, Park, Mead
USWNT lineup
Naeher, Fox, Krueger, Girma, Sonnett, Coffey, Sears, Horan, Lavelle, A. Thompson, L. Williams
WUSWNT squad
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC; 1), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 113)
DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 64/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 60/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 1/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 42/2), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 59/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 17/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 101/2)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 20/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 26/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 159/36), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 108/24), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 1/1)
FORWARDS (6): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 2/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 2/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 19/8), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/1), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 73/20)
England squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (PSG), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Gabby George (Manchester United), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
England, USWNT have ‘created a rivalry across the ocean’
This is the first match-up between the USWNT and England since 2022 — a 2-1 England win at Wembley — and the 20th all-time meeting.
The U.S. won the previous meeting at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, and more notably the 2019 World Cup semifinal in France.
“The Wembley game is gonna be good,” said Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, who went 90 minutes in the England win at Wembley Stadium in 2022. “There’s the attention of the boss ladies on the side — Emma Hayes and Sarina [Wiegman] are the two big names in terms of women’s coaches. There are not two you’d put in the same conversation in terms of women. And then you’ve got the European champions and the Olympic gold medalists going head to head where both teams have a huge amount of respect.
England captain Leah Williamson admires USWNT, aims to defend Wembley
There’s a really healthy respect between the two sides, especially after the Lionesses won EURO 2022 and reached the final of the 2023 World Cup.
ProSoccerTalk asked Williamson what defines the strength of the American team.
“The competitive nature and the athleticism have always been the thing,” she said. “Fortunately for the U.S., the women’s game has been so loud [in the States] for so long. They’ve had the resources maybe when other people didn’t so they’ve always stood out, but the competitive edge and the mindset is a thing that America has in general. That kind of dreamer-into-winning mindset is an interesting one.
“I think it’s great because in England we tear lumps out of ourselves before we say anything nice and I think American culture is different because it’s ‘I’ve decided I’m going to do this and this is how I’m gonna do it’ so that competitive edge is what I notice most as the biggest difference.”
There’s no question England plays with an edge, too, and it should be a feisty affair in November.
“We’re at Wembley — it’s our home stadium so to speak,” Williamson added. “We invite the Olympic champions, No. 1 ranked team in the world. It’s a nice healthy competition because we rarely play each other but it’s one of the most competitive fixtures we’ll play.”
Bright agreed.
“It’s always a rivalry,” she said. “In the past there’s been rivalry for different reasons but [now] it’s just pure competition. It’s wanting to play against the best team, the best players. It’s wanting to beat those players and have the bragging rights ultimately. To play in an iconic stadium, a stadium everyone wants to play in, at Wembley and it’s two opponents who are extremely competitive and have some of the best players. It’s a fiery game. Two teams that never give in and have really developed over the years. ... The way they are now playing under Emma is going to be a different U.S. team to what we’re used to as well. It’s completely different for the fans and they should be excited about it.”
Bright acknowledged pride in Hayes leading the USWNT to gold but thinks she might have a thing or two to help the Lionesses claim a famous victory at Wembley.
“I have a great relationship with Emma and I knew her very well,” Bright said. “I probably know all of her tricks of the trade inside and out.”
England vs USWNT head-to-head history
USWNT wins: 12
Draws: 2
England wins: 5
