Stanway penalty gives England crucial victory against Republic of Ireland
England 2-1 Ireland; Russo 5, Stanway 57pen; Russell 90+4Lionesses need just a point in final qualifier
It took just 41 seconds after kick-off here for “football’s coming home” to break out in the stands. In the eyes of women’s football fans, never mind Sunday, it “came home” two years ago, and England took another big step towards ensuring they will be in Switzerland next summer to defend their title by outclassing the Republic of Ireland.
It was Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp who was truly coming home on Friday, as the winger from North Walsham returned to Norwich, where she began her career at the club’s centre of excellence, and the only slight disappointment for the fans, on an otherwise excellent night for the Lionesses, was that their local heroine was not on the scoresheet. Nonetheless, Hemp, like many of her teammates, was in strong form as the World Cup finalists outclassed their opponents.
