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England have suffered their first defeat in the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League with the Lionesses going down 3-2 to Belgium in Leuven this evening.
Sarina Wiegman’s side started sluggishly and found themselves 3-0 down inside the opening half-hour. Beth Mead reduced the arrears from the penalty spot while Michelle Agyemang marked her senior England debut with a goal, but in the end, the early damage was too severe and the Lionesses were unable to return home with points.
Belgium started brightly and they were ahead after just three minutes. Tessa Wullaert found herself in space on the right and she fired a low effort into the far corner of the England net.
Justine Vanhaevermaet’s looping header then made it 2-0 to the hosts before Wullaert netted The Red Flames’ third goal after getting on the end of a low cross.
It could have got even worse for England when Jill Janssens found herself in on goal, but Hannah Hampton came to the Lionesses’ rescue.
England reduced the arrears 10 minutes before half-time. Mead was fouled in the box and she picked herself up to convert the resulting penalty.
The Lionesses were better in the second half and home keeper Lisa Lichtfus had to be alert to push the ball over the bar following a long range effort from Leah Williamson before Lucy Bronze headed wide from a free-kick.
A Jess Park effort was then diverted onto the bar by Vanhaevermaet before Agyemang volleyed home her first England goal just 41 seconds into her senior debut.
England pushed hard for a leveller with Ella Toone going close, but the mountain was too high for the Lionesses to climb as they fell to a 3-2 defeat.
Wiegman’s side complete their UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign with a home fixture against Portugal and a trip to Spain in the next international window.
