Six Chelsea stars start for England and down world champions Spain 1-0 in thriller at Wembley Stadium
By Paul Lagan at Wembley Stadium
England 1 v Spain 0
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Chelsea secured three vital Nations League points as the Lionesses beat world champions Spain 1-0 in a pulsating encounter at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester City's Jess Park was the match winner, tucking home from close range on 33 minutes, but the win was built on the might of west London blue who had Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Niamh Charles, Keira Walsh and Lauren James in the starting line-up to call on when a winning mentality was required.
Hampton was outstanding making several goal-saving dives and was the player of the match, although Bronze ran her a close second.
Spain were a tad unlucky not to have at least snatched a point, but consummate possession has to be matched by clinical finishing and, on this occasion at least, they fell short.
England are joint top of League A Group 3 with Portugal after two matches and four points apiece.
Spain started the better, understandably considering they are a possession-based side.
But they looked to go forward at every opportunity rather than sit on the half way line tapping the ball between defenders.
England, by contrast kept their composure knowing that their time would come. The question is whether they could take advantage then.
Spain crashed the ball off the England crossbar on 11 minutes – Lucia Garcia's close-range left-footer from a corner a warning that Spain are not at Wembley to take the stadium tour.
Claudia Pina had the next chance on 20 minutes after Niamh Charles lost possession of the ball. But she inched her shot, from the edge of the England penalty area just over Hannah Hampton crossbar.
A Lauren James free-kick on the left side of the Spain area looked like it might just sneak in but Cata Coll was equal to the task, flicking that ball away for a corner.
James had another chance two minutes later on 26 minutes, but er angled shot was well blocked by Coll.
This presented England with their first serious amount of pressure on the Spain defence, who were holding out well.
The pressure paid off on 33 minutes.
Excellent work by Alessia Russo on the left saw her cause confusion in the Spain rearguard. Her poked effort was deflected into the path of in-running Jess Park, who slotted home from close range.
A beautifully struck left-footer from range by Paredes was just a tad too high as the visitors sought a quick response.
Another, this time from Aitana Bonmati, while on target was easily grasped by Hampton.4
Three minutes before the break Spain really should have equalised but Hampton was quick to react to Bonmati's shot and blocked it.
Hampton was at it again three minutes into the second half, this time denying Garcia as England were cut open by some sharp passing.
Someone decided to turn the lights out on 52 minutes – thankfully there was just a minute's outage and play resumed.
James had a tasty run and shot on goal, on 57 minutes, Coll was equal to it and the score remained 1-0 to the Lionesses.
England opted to make a couple of substitutions, On came Nikita Parris and Chloe Kelly on 64 - off went Russo and Park.
Hampton was close to her player of the match award when she brilliantly tipped away substitute Leila Ouahabi's thunderbolt on 73 minutes.
England made another substitution with seven minutes left on the clock, off went Ella Toone, on came Jess Naz.
England had a great chance to put the game to bed on 76 minutes when a quick break saw James lash the ball towards goal. Coll made a brilliant double save, first to block James' effort but then to snatch the loose ball from off the goal line with Chloe Kelly ready to pounce.
Teams: England: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles Clinton, Walsh, Toone, Park, Russo, James
Subs: Earps, Moorhouse, Morgan, Le Tissier, Turner, Carter, Kelly, Ngunga, Beever-Jones, Parris Mace, Brown
Spain: Coll Batile, Paredes Hernandez, Mendez, Carmona, Bonmati, Aleixandri, Caldentey Oliver, Pina, Garcia Cordoba, Paralluelo
Subs: Nanclares, Sullastres, Codina, Martin-Prieto, Del Castillo, Quahabi, Garcia, Oroz, Lopez Serrano, Zubieta, Redondo
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Norway)
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