England closed their 2025 campaign with a composed 2-0 win over Ghana in a lively friendly at St Mary’s Stadium. Lucia Kendall scored early in front of her home crowd and Alessia Russo sealed the victory with a late penalty. The night delivered a mix of nostalgia, promise, and valuable lessons for both sides.
Kendall’s opener set the tone. The Southampton academy graduate found the net after only six minutes and felt the moment deeply. “It felt like it was written for me to score today. It was a really special moment for me,” she said after her first senior international goal.
England controlled the game from the start. They pressed high, moved the ball quickly, and created several clear chances. They struck the woodwork four times as Kendall, Missy Bo Kearns, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Lucy Bronze each came close to extending the lead.
Russo added the second goal deep into stoppage time. She won a penalty for handball and converted it with calm precision. The England captain praised the challenge they faced. “Ghana provided the type of test we wanted. We want to test ourselves against different playing styles and we definitely got that tonight,” she said.
The match held emotional significance for manager Sarina Wiegman. She began her England tenure at this same stadium in 2021 with an 8-0 win over North Macedonia. Four years on, she has reached three major finals and lifted two titles. The win over Ghana capped a year that included a successful defence of England’s European crown.
Ghana showed courage throughout. Head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren set up a disciplined team and saw strong performances from goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan, who made several impressive saves. Debutant Benedicte Simon looked composed in the backline as the Black Queens absorbed long spells of pressure.
Bjorkegren praised his players after the match. He said his team stood firm and fought for the full ninety minutes. He noted the gap in experience but insisted the performance was something to build on.
The Black Queens will carry those positives into preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. England now switch focus to their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign after closing the year with confidence and clarity.
