Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright lead rampant Lionesses to dominant 5–0 win over Belgium at Ashton Gate.
England’s Lionesses surged to the summit of their Nations League group on Friday night, dispatching Belgium in dazzling fashion with a 5–0 victory at a packed Ashton Gate.
Sarina Wiegman’s side picked up where they left off after their narrow but impressive win over world champions Spain, proving they can dominate both the elite and the underdogs. If that earlier victory was about grit and precision, this one was about flair, fluidity and fun.
The sold-out Bristol crowd provided the perfect backdrop. Fans draped in flags, faces painted and signs held high turned up in force to support their European champions. The energy in the stadium was electric, and the Lionesses rose to meet it.
From the off, England looked sharp. Alessia Russo hit the post inside two minutes, and by the 21st minute the pressure paid off. Lauren James, ever the creative spark, floated a perfect cross to Lucy Bronze, whose header took a helpful deflection off Belgium’s Amber Tysiak before nestling into the net. Bronze, 33, was immense all evening — a reminder of the engine and leadership that helped England to Euro glory in 2022.
The second goal arrived in the dying seconds of the first half. Once again, Bronze was involved, flicking on a corner that Millie Bright bundled over the line. Ashton Gate erupted as England doubled their lead and took full control of the game.
Mexican waves rippled through the stands before the hour mark. Phone torches lit up the stadium after sunset. It was more than just a win — it was an occasion.
The only slight concern came at half-time, when James was withdrawn with what Wiegman later confirmed was a “small tweak” to her leg. “We didn’t want to take any risks,” the manager said. “We think it’s her hamstring.”
Her replacement, Aggie Beever-Jones, made an immediate impact. Just after Belgium’s only real spell of pressure — a deflected shot by Féli Delacauw and a dangerous ball by Jill Janssens — England countered clinically. Mead and Walsh combined, and Beever-Jones coolly finished to make it 3–0.
England didn’t let up. Walsh rattled the post moments later, but it was fellow substitute Jess Park who got on the scoresheet next, pouncing after Janice Cayman’s defensive slip and firing home a fourth.
The final blow came two minutes from time. Walsh, still chasing her first goal in an England shirt after 82 previous appearances, finally found the net — albeit with a deflection off Justine Vanhaevermaet. Wiegman, delighted, laughed off suggestions it was an own goal. “It’s hers,” she said. “We’ve been telling her to shoot more — and today she did.”
With Spain edging Portugal 3–2 earlier in the day, England’s emphatic win places them a point clear at the top of Group A3 with two games remaining. More importantly, this was a performance full of belief, balance and swagger.
It marked England’s biggest win in over a year — and came at just the right moment. With the countdown on to their Euro title defence this summer, Wiegman’s Lionesses appear to be finding their rhythm — and reminding everyone why they’re the team to beat.
