Ella Toone delivers on the big stage again! Sarina Wiegman’s super sub is no stranger to performing under pressure and score last-gasp winner to keep the Lionesses’ Olympic hopes alive…. claiming she knew her job was to change the game!
- England beat the Netherlands 3-2 thanks to a last-gasp winner from Ella Toone
- Toone’s goal in the 90+1 minute has kept their Olympic qualification hopes alive
- Manchester United in a mess – they have a collapse in them – It’s All Kicking Off
Ella Toone loves to score on the big occasions at Wembley and she did it again on Friday night as the Lionesses kept their Olympic qualification hopes alive with their victory over the Netherlands.
This was a must-win for England and – as they were the nominated nation – Team GB’s hopes for Paris 2024 and they looked outplayed and outnumbered by the Netherlands in the first 45 minutes of the match. They went into the break trailing 2-0 after a brace by 27-year-old Netherlands striker Lineth Beerensteyn.
Chloe Kelly was the first to be substituted at half-time, coming off for Beth Mead who made her long-awaited return to the England team after over a year out recovering from an ACL injury.
Two goals later – one from Georgia Stanway and the other from Lauren Hemp – meant the scores were level when Ella Toone’s and Alessia Russo’s numbers were flashed on the board, and it seemed inevitable that one of Sarina Wiegman’s super subs would be the one to grab the winner.
A perfect cross from Lauren James in the 91st minute at the edge of the box found Toone by the back post and the 24-year-old was ready to pounce, scoring on the half-volley in the characteristically controlled way that she so often does and sending 71,000 fans wild.
Ella Toone loves to score on the big occasions at Wembley and she did it again on Friday night
Toone’s goal in the 90+1 minute of the game has kept their Olympic qualification hopes alive
It seemed inevitable that one of Wiegman ’s super subs would be the one to grab the winner
‘I knew my role tonight was to come on and change the game in any way that I could and I managed to get on the scoresheet, but what a ball from LJ [James],’ said Toone after the match.
The Manchester United player has so often been at the heart of some of England’s biggest moments, scoring the first – and what a wonderful goal it was – against Germany at the memorable Euros final as well as against Brazil in the Finalissima earlier this year. Toone added to her Wembley tally once again with tonight’s stoppage time winner.
Replying to a question about her apparent love of scoring in England’s biggest moments she said: ‘I wish we play here every week,’ with a smile on her face.
‘It was really loud. I didn’t really have time to celebrate, I wanted to get the ball out of the net and go and get another one, so I didn’t really get to embrace it.
‘The crowd were amazing tonight. Another packed out Wembley Stadium and we love playing here.’
Wiegman credited the powerhouse that is the England national stadium as well, as she said that the home advantage ‘made it easier’ for England in aiding their fightback against the Netherlands.
Now England travel to Scotland on Tuesday and they will be hoping that the Manchester United midfielder is up and firing in their final must-win group game of the Nations League – as well as praying that the Netherlands drop points against Belgium.
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