Summary

  • Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to BBC 5 Sports Extra & BBC Radio Scotland Extra commentary

  • FT: England 2-1 Scotland - Daly header disallowed for offside before Bronze opener

  • Hemp doubles lead with bullet header but Hanson pulls one back

  • Lionesses' first match since World Cup final loss

  • Nations League opener for both sides

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Goodnight!published at 22:15 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    That's all from us!

    You can read Emma Sanders' report from the Stadium of Light here.

    We'll be back on Tuesday when England take on the Netherlands in their second Nations League match while Scotland face Belgium.

    Thanks for your company this evening.

    See you soon!

  2. Postpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    I don't understand why only England can get team GB into Olympics when team GB is made up of 4 countries

    John

    Remember, only one of those four nations' results can be considered for Team GB's qualification and England are the nominated nation to make it happen for Great Britain.

  3. What does the result mean?published at 22:13 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    So that result puts England in a really decent position heading into the rest of their Nations League matches.

    Remember, Olympic qualification is on the line and the Lionesses will pretty much need to top their group if they are to secure that.

    For Scotland, they will be disappointed not to have come away with at least a point today but will take positives from a really good performance which had the World Cup finalists shaken.

  4. 'We came here to win'published at 22:12 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Scotland

    More from Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa:

    “We are disappointed because we came here to win. We wanted to come here to compete and play and we did in some ways. We don’t speak about referees normally but I think it was a clear penalty (on Martha Thomas). Scotland was brilliant in many other moments, I hope you enjoyed it and this is the kind of performance they can produce.

    “This is the next level of the women’s game. This is the level that Sarina [Wiegman] and the players are bringing the game to. We want to win games. We had the feeling we could get something out of the game now we can only take the positives and go again on Tuesday.

    “I think we showed in the second half we are a team that needs to show our identity which is work hard, go to goal as quick as we can but also we want to have the ball. There were moments we showed our level but we could still be better on the ball. In the last minute it was England who were forced to play that side of the game because Scotland was good."

    On the penalty: “I have seen it very clearly live and I have no questions. I think it’s a clear penalty. I can just say my opinion. Hopefully we have a decision on another day. There is a degree of contact from behind. There’s nothing we can do now."

  5. 'As a top nation you want a little bit more'published at 22:10 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Sarina Wiegman is a pragmatist. Doesn't matter how you do it but that you do it, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

    But when you know you are one of the best teams in the world, you kind of want just a little bit more.

    At the end of the day, if you get through the game and collect the points to qualify for the major tournaments you forget these performances.

    But in the moment you do just stop and think about how you could improve to that next level.

  6. 'Tough but points on the board the most important thing'published at 22:09 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    England

    England's Rachel Daly speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a typical rivalry game, England v Scotland. Two teams in very different positions in terms of coming off the back of the summer.

    "Scotland are a fantastic team, we knew that heading into the game, they've got some great technical players and work really well as a team. We knew that it was going to be difficult, but we got the three points that we needed. We take that forward now into the next one versus the Netherlands.

    "It is tournament football at the end of the day, and it is the points on the board that matter. It is a really tough group with these three opponents and we can go forward with our heads held high, analyse what we can improve and go from there. Three points to start, we will take that.

    "Conceding right on half time wasn't ideal, it makes it a different game going in 2-0 instead of 2-1. Credit to Scotland for how they came out in the second half, they made it really tough for us and were brilliant. But we are happy to take the three points."

  7. 'England missed Walsh's progressive play in the middle'published at 22:07 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Karen Bardsley
    Former England and Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    One overriding theme over the course of the game was England's struggles when trying to play through the midfield.

    Their play centered the most around the wides areas and finding those side diamonds, but then they just ended up going long and direct.

    Specifically what they missed today, what Keira Walsh does so well, is getting into tight spaces, getting on the ball, being brave and looking forward. We didn't see nearly enough of that tonight.

  8. 'I am proud of my team'published at 22:06 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Scotland

    Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa talking to ITV Sport: "We competed at the same level as England overall. A draw could have been perfectly possible. We came here to win and we showed we could do it. We competed at a very high level. I am very proud of my team.

    "Part of the plan tactically, we knew England would attack. Once we were comfortable on the ball and growing in the game we started believing and grew in the game second half. We wanted to come and compete in the Nations League and develop as a team."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Poor officiating today that prevented England having a more comfortable 4-1 win and gave Scotland a respectable score. Now the Lionesses need to score 4 in the return fixture to maintain their 3 goal average against Scotland.

    George, Leeds

  10. 'We didn't make it easy for ourselves'published at 22:00 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV:

    "Very happy with three points, with the performance at moments I was happy other moments I wasn't that happy because we were struggling a bit.

    "The first half we dominated, we had moments where they could counter-attack but we reduced that a bit. Second half we had problems keeping the ball and we made some decisions that made it not easy for ourselves. They tried to score a goal and we didn't get in the moment where we kept the ball really well and could go to their half. We kept just trying to solve problems all the time."

    On Chloe Kelly offside: "I haven't seen it back. I was very surprised that the goal was cancelled.

    On Lucy Bronze goal: "That was really good. We worked on that in the World Cup and that was the perfect pass, perfect timing and perfect header. But we had 2-0 and then one minute before half time we made it easy for them to score for 2-1. If we'd come in at 2-0 at half-time it would've been easier and at that moment that was what the score should be with the difference in level."

    On Nations League competition: "I think it's good because we want competitive games. You don't know what the score will be before a game. In World Cup qualification the difference was sometimes so big it wasn't competitive. Sometimes it's nice to win and have an easy win but that's not sport, you shouldn't know in sport what the result will be."

  11. 'Scotland taking gigantic steps'published at 21:57 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The passion you need, especially if you are going to play for Scotland as you are underdogs in a lot of games, I saw that in every single player in that team tonight.

    The steps Scotland are making are gigantic, and it is joyous.

    Lauren Hemp and Sophie Howard battle for the ballImage source, Getty Images
  12. 'England were made to really work for it by Scotland'published at 21:52 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Vicki Sparks
    BBC commentator, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think England will feel some measure of relief at the result as Scotland were much the better side in that second half.

    The European champions and World Cup runners up were the overwhelming favourites going into this tie, and initially their performance underlined that.

    It all turned on the stroke of half time, penned back having gone two goals ahead, via a Kirsty Hanson goal.

    A different Scotland came out in the second half, with belief and confidence, they hit the bar and had plenty of other chances too.

    Yet England used the experience they have garnered under Sarina Wiegman and in these tournaments in recent years to see out the result.

  13. Next up...published at 21:49 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    Next up, England will face the Netherlands on Tuesday.

    The 2017 Euros winners conceded a last minute goal against Belgium and lost their opener 2-1 this evening.

    Scotland will face Belgium next week and, based on this performance, will think they have a good chance of getting a positive result.

  14. 'Sloppy passes let Scotland back into game'published at 21:47 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    England

    England's Lucy Bronze speaking to ITV:

    "Scotland getting that goal right before half time changed the momentum of the game. First half we were by far the better team but in the second half it was more even.

    "We made more mistakes, they got some confidence from the goal. In the first half they looked a bit shaky in the beginning but then second half they were more confident. A couple of sloppy passes from us let them back into the game."

    On her goal: "It was something we worked on in the World Cup but it never came off so saved it for tonight."

  15. 'Scotland came so close and showed their improved quality'published at 21:43 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I thought England were brilliant for about half an hour and we thought that they could go on and run away with it.

    Scotland are technically better now than they have been in some time.

    Yes England were missing a few players, and there have been some retirements since the last contest between the sides, but Scotland have a more limited pool, and have delivered that performance tonight without one of their best players Erin Cuthbert.

    We look forward to the return leg, that should be a good one. It looks to be a a really interesting group that we have here.

  16. 'Fortunate but job done'published at 21:39 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Karen Bardsley
    Former England and Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Job done for England, fortunately.

    Not a convincing performance tonight.

    Mary Earps wavesImage source, Reuters
  17. Postpublished at 21:39 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    FT: England 2-1 Scotland

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

    Far from convincing from England but they are off the mark in the Women's Nations League.

    Scotland will be pleased with their night's work but for all their efforts, they have nothing to show for it and that will be a blow.

  18. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:38 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

    England 2-1 Scotland

    That was indeed the last action of the match.

    Shaky from England, to say the least. But that's job done in their opening Nations League match.

  19. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    England 2-1 Scotland

    That, will probably be that.

    Caroline Weir sends it in and Fiona Brown gets a head on it but Mary Earps smothers gratefully.

  20. DISALLOWED GOALpublished at 90+2 mins

    England 2-1 Scotland

    Lauren James was having that, no matter what. Play to the whistle.

    She picks up the ball and drives forward to get one on one with the keeper. She's offside but she's still going for it.

    Lee Gibson palms away the first effort but James heads home the follow up and then decides she has seen the flag.

    Lauren James celebrates before seeing her goal is disallowedImage source, Reuters