Lionesses start the year with seven-goal victory over Austria | OneFootball

England have started the calendar year with an emphatic 7-2 victory over Austria in Algeciras this evening.

The Lionesses put on a dominant performance in which five different players got on the scoresheet.

England started the match brightly in Spain and they opened the scoring inside three minutes when Alessia Russo reacted first to the clearance of Beth Mead’s shot, firing in from close range.

Grace Clinton, who was making her England debut, then scored in the 16th minute, as she headed in her side’s second goal.

On the half-hour mark, Austria took advantage of a set-piece to pull a goal back as Virginia Kirchberger headed the ball into the top right corner; capitalising on a lapse in concentration from England.

England went into the break 3-1 up with Mead taking full advantage after Austrian keeper Manuela Zinsberger had saved an attempt from Russo.

In the second half, The Lionesses continued their good goalscoring form as they extended their lead. Russo doubled her goal tally, before Jess Carter got her name on the scoresheet, the defender making her mark with a flick from close range following an England set-piece.

Another lapse of concentration occurred down the other end, as Kirchberger headed in her second goal for Austria following a corner.

England were quick to react through Mead, who claimed her second goal of the game with a shot from the six-yard box. Three minutes into stoppage time, Rachel Daly, another impact substitute, then completed the scoring with a shot from the centre of the box.

This evening’s result means that The Lionesses have scored six or more goals in 11 games since head coach Sarina Wiegman took charge of the team in 2021.

England next play Italy on Tuesday before starting their UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifying campaign in April.