Summary

  • England 2-1 USA - goals from Hemp and Stanway (pen) give Lionesses first win over USA since 2017

  • Smith had levelled for visitors in eventful first half

  • World champions had goal ruled out for marginal offside and late penalty overturned by VAR

  • Former England players honoured as part of 50th anniversary celebrations

  • #bbcfootball

  1. Postpublished at 3 mins

    England 0-0 USA

    Few nerves here maybe. This is a pretty big occasion for these players.

    Keira Walsh gives the ball away in midfield and Lindsey Horan latches onto it to attempt a counter-attack but it's wasted.

    Beth Mead drives forward the other way moments later and again passes straight to the feet of an opposition player.

    England will want to get a bit more control in the game here.

  2. Postpublished at 20:06 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England 0-0 USA

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    Lauren Hemp is definitely playing as the number nine.

  3. Postpublished at 1 min

    England 0-0 USA

    An early effort on goal from the USA. Sophia Smith makes a run into the box and fires a shot off but it's straight into the hands of Mary Earps.

  4. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England 0-0 USA

    Here we go then.

    Ego, pride, bragging rights.

    Let's go.

  5. Postpublished at 20:01 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    Before kick-off, a short period of silence for the victims of the stadium tragedy in Indonesia last weekend.

    England v USAImage source, Getty Images
  6. 'The atmosphere is electric'published at 20:00 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England 0-0 USA

    Stephen Warnock
    Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There's something magical here tonight and rightly so.

    The atmosphere is electric, it's absolutely deafening in the ground.

    Now it's over to England to give a performance worthy of it.

  7. England and US stand in solidaritypublished at 19:59 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    To show solidarity with the USA for victims of sexual abuse, Wembley's arch has been lit in the colour teal between 19:45 and 20:00 BST.

    Both squads are now gathering in the middle of the pitch before kick-off in front of a banner saying "Protect the players".

    Players holding up bannerImage source, Getty Images
  8. 'I'm really pleased to be here as one of the original Lionesses'published at 19:56 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Former Lioness Wendy Owen speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Juliette Ferrignton.

    "Tonight there [the Lionesses] able to celebrate Euro 2022 because everyone here will be giving them a celebration.

    "And I'm really pleased to be here as one of the original 1972 Lionesses, to celebrate our 50th anniversary which was a match against Scotland.

    On meeting Serena Wiegman's side, she said: "They were clapping us! When we arrived at the side of the training pitch, they turned around, stopped what they were doing and applauded us. That was fantastic!

    "I was glued to the TV for the Euro's and I was screaming. As soon as they won, my phone started going mental and it was people I knew congratulating me. I said "what are you congratulating me for, I didn't do it?' and they said 'yes you did, you started it off.' That felt really special."

  9. Postpublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    A special moment as the teams head out of the tunnel, welcomed by the guard of honour of the squad from 1972.

    And now for the national anthems...

  10. Original Lionesses form guard of honourpublished at 19:54 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    Anna Thompson
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    The original England women’s squad from 1972 are on the pitch and have formed a guard of honour for the current team.

    One of them has just touched the European Championship trophy and they are now jigging about to the music blaring out at Wembley.

    After feeling ignored for many years, the pioneers are rightfully part of the celebrations and history.

    Guard of honourImage source, BBC Sport
  11. Special recognition for 1972 teampublished at 19:53 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England women train, 1972Image source, Getty Images

    For context, women's football was banned in 1921 because "the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged".

    In 1971, the FA rescinded that ban and in 1972, England women played their first full international against Scotland.

    The players from that team have fought for a long time to earn the recognition they deserve for representing their country.

    Current England forward Beth Mead said it is "about time" the players of the past were recognised for paving the way for future generations of Lionesses.

    It's been a long time and coming and it will be a very special evening for all of those involved.

    Read more about the 1972 players here.

  12. 50 years of Lionessespublished at 19:51 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England 1972 teamImage source, Getty Images

    Tonight is also a special night of recognition for 50 years of England women's teams.

    Members of England's inaugural team of 1972 will line up with the current Lionesses prior to kick-off and more than 100 former internationals are expected to attend the fixture.

    The 1972 team played in England's first full international against Scotland - a 3-2 win in Greenock, near Glasgow.

    Those players have never received a cap for representing their country and that will change tonight when they are awarded a bespoke England cap as part of the evening's celebrations.

    Read more about the celebrations here.

  13. Postpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    Not long to go before the players will be heading through these doors.

    Exciting stuff...

    European Champions logo at WembleyImage source, Getty Images
  14. How many will we get?published at 19:47 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    It's another sell-out crowd at Wembley tonight though the bad weather and the disruptions to public transport might affect the crowd. There was a record 87,192 in attendance for the Euro 2022 final so that's the number to beat.

  15. Postpublished at 19:45 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    Izzy Christiansen
    Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The USA will be worried about England and rightly so.

    It's not always about having brilliant individuals, it's about having a collective and that's what England have.

  16. Postpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    It's not just England fans who are enjoying the hype around the Lionesses and women's football in Europe.

    United States head coach Vlatko Andonovski said he pushed for his side to play England in a friendly after experiencing the "buzz" of Euro 2022.

    Read more about what the US coach said here.

  17. Postpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    The last time England stepped foot on the pitch at Wembley, this happened.

    Any excuse to to relive these moments...

    Chloe Kelly scores winning goalImage source, Getty Images
    Chloe Kelly celebrates with England team matesImage source, Getty Images
    England lift Euros trophyImage source, Getty Images
  18. 'Hemp is our best option'published at 19:39 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman to ITV Sport: "We've thought a lot about it, all three players up front have played No 9. Hemp has speed, can get behind defence, we tried it in training and it went really well.

    "We had some options, but we thought this was the best starting line up for this game."

    On Leah Williamson missing: "Of course we are going to miss her, but it is an opportunity for other players to step up."

    On playing to a sold out Wembley: "It is a very good moment to play them, and is the best test we can have. After tonight we know where we are, then we have 10 months to prepare for the World Cup."

  19. Postpublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    Great scenes heading up Wembley way.

    Wembley WayImage source, Getty Images
  20. Players greeted to a roarpublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 7 October 2022

    England v USA (20:00 BST)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    The stadium is filling up nicely now. Wembley Way was absolutely packed as I got off the tube at peak time! There didn't seem to be many inside when the players came out to warm-up but the roar that followed suggested otherwise. The USA players also got a good reception. They have a big following here it seems.