Lucia Kendall marked her ‘homecoming’ with the opening goal at St Mary’s Stadium as England ended 2025 with a friendly victory over Ghana.
Southampton academy graduate Kendall, 21, started just her second game for the Lionesses and scored six minutes in when the ball fell to her in the six-yard area.
The Aston Villa midfielder also hit the crossbar – one of four times England struck the woodwork in another dominant display.
Substitute Alessia Russo doubled England’s tally in stoppage time when she won a penalty, awarded for handball, and converted it.
To mark the end of a successful year in which the Lionesses defended their European title, manager Sarina Wiegman handed opportunities to a number of youngsters.
Before Russo struck, Kendall and Villa club-mate Missy Bo Kearns were among those to come close to adding to England’s opener, while Aggie Beever-Jones was denied on a few occasions.
Russo almost scored with her first touch in the second half and hit the post after Beever-Jones and Lucy Bronze had headed efforts on to the crossbar.
It was also a return to St Mary’s for Wiegman, who began her four-year tenure as England boss with an 8-0 win over North Macedonia there in 2021.
During her time in charge, England have reached three successive major tournament finals, winning two of them, and this week’s victories over China and Ghana brought a celebratory air to finish a memorable year.
