England end year with 2-0 win in friendly over Ghana
Kendall scores her first goal after capitalising on defensive mistake
Russo adds late second from penalty spot
Kelly substituted in first half after suffering injury
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FT: England 2-0 Ghana
That's all for tonight as England beat Ghana in their final fixture of the calendar year.
We'll be back at the weekend as the Women's Super League continues, with Arsenal v Liverpool at 12:00 GMT on Saturday before five games on Sunday.
For now, head over to the 'Report' tab to read Emma Sanders' take from St Mary's.
See you!
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
You'll have to wait until 2026 to next be able to watch the Lionesses in action, when they begin their 2027 World Cup qualification campaign.
Here are England's upcoming fixtures:
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
England
More from England manager Sarina Wiegman, speaking to ITV: "Of course, people get opportunities. Like Missy Bo and she made runs in behind. I thought at bits her execution could have been better. I think Lotte felt comfortable at the back and she already showed that at Arsenal. Taylor is right-footed and left-footed, that helps. She is showing more."
On Anna Moorhouse: "She has waited for this moment for so long so she was really happy. A couple of moments she stayed really calm and played out. She wasn't challenged more than that but she did what she had to do."
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I loved the Lionesses ruthlessness this year. They dug in when things got hard and muscled out the win. That’s special and proper English.
Hanna
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
England
England manager Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV: "I hoped we would score more. I think if we had taken the chances better, it would have been more than this. A lot of other players and we know as individuals they are really good but we have to make these connections again. Happy, but Lucia's goal was so funny. She was so happy and she celebrated as if it was a Champions League final! Good for her!
"When she played Australia last month she almost had a goal and it was an enjoyable moment. A good goal too.
"Ghana were strong in the duels and we wanted runs in the half spaces and get numbers in the box. We had some big opportunities. We weren't that lucky at moments either."
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Kendall looks very composed on the ball, great for the Lionesses
Kevin
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
England
England midfielder Missy Bo Kearns, speaking to ITV: "I really enjoyed it. It was a tough game. We tried to move the ball quickly and create chances. I think on another day we'd score a few more. It was enjoyable."
On Lucia Kendall: "I'm really proud of Lucia, I've seen the growth of her. She deserves it. she works so hard. You can see it, her basics, what she's bringing for club and country. She's shining."
On the importance of youth pathways: "I think it's really important getting the experience and playing in the international breaks two games, getting your body used to it and playing different styles of play. It happens all the time in youth age groups. Also playing lots of games, that's one thing I found really beneficial."
On where she thinks she plays best in midfield: "I think higher up, I think I've got a lot of strengths there. Everyone is doing really well and I think it's a good thing to have, that's why we're Euro champions two times on the bounce because the quality is so high."
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: England 2-0 Ghana
Anita Asante
Former Arsenal defender on ITV
To get player of the match on your debut is incredible and to keep that level of consistency and performance is credit to her.
But also the way she's applied herself in these matches
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Russo has been outstanding for club and country. Despite the plaudits very much underrated.
Keith
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
England
England goalscorer Alessia Russo, speaking to ITV: "We've had a good camp, we've built on a lot and are really looking forward to going forward to the next few years. It's a new England, we say it every cycle but we've got lots of youngsters and it's a really exciting time."
On Ghana: "They posed a completely different threat. They were really good, they put on a good show and made it difficult for us. That's what we want in these games pre-World Cup and pre-qualifiers. We want to test ourselves against lots of different playing styles and that's what we got."
On this 'homecoming' tour: "It's nice to be able to come and be able to celebrate in front of our fans and play in front of our fans. They travel a lot and are really important for us. Also, we're just constantly building. When you have friendlies and camps where you have time, you can train a bit more but you can also try new things, try new relationships. We've seen over the past few camps. It's a really exciting time to be part of England."
On Lucia Kendall: "She's brilliant. She's come straight into the team and it's like she's been here for years. She's brilliant. She's got so much quality and wants to learn off the other girls as well in midfield. Sometimes in football there's 'meant to be' moments and I think that was it for her tonight."
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: England 2-0 Ghana
Ian Wright
Former Arsenal striker on ITV
If we are going to be honest, from the two games Kendall has been the bright spark. And when she played in her debut, she was just so natural in the role.
She has got it. She seems to have it as a midfielder.
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
England
More from England goalscorer Lucia Kendall speaking to ITV: ""It was special to get that here today but hopefully many more. I get in them positions, I just need to score more!
"That pathway (through the youth system at England) has really helped me transition so easily, but also the players here. They are easy to play with and they are a really special group.
"You have got some incredible players in this midfield and it is easy to play alongside them. I try and pick up bits from them. It makes it so much easier for me."
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
England
England goalscorer Lucia Kendall speaking to ITV: "Really special moment for me to be able to do it here, where I grew up, this place made me into the player I was. It felt like it was written today. It was really nice.
"It was so special. I got overwhelmed with emotion really. It was really special.
"The academy here instilled that in me from a young age and my family have kept me grounded. It has been instilled in me from young.
"I pick up little bits from here and back at club and it's just how can I be consistent? I watch players like Keira (Walsh) and I want to be like that as well."
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Lionesses this year - very lucky to win the Euros. Too much sloppiness and hubris. But at last blooding new stars like Lucia Kendall.
Andrew
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
12 wins, one draw and four losses in 2025 for England.
They got the win that truly mattered, though, being victorious at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
FT: England 2-0 Ghana
Lucia Kendall says it was a "really special moment" to score at St Mary's today.
Stick around because we'll be bringing you all of the reaction.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: England 2-0 Ghana
Totally dominant from England this evening, even if the eventual scoreline is actually quite tight.
A mammoth 5.20 expected goals - Sarina Wiegman's side created a lot of chances.
24 shots, 10 on target. If they were more clinical in the final third, there could definitely have been more goals.
Use the form at the top of this page
I would ask for your favourite Lionesses moment of 2025, but I presume for most people it would be winning Euro 2025.
So, what have you made of this year - and what did you make of this performance today?
Get in touch using the 'Get Involved' form on this page.
England 2-0 Ghana
England end 2025 with a victory!
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland 2-0 Ghana
Keira Walsh has been booked.
Lucia Kendall made her England debut in a 3-0 win over Australia last month
At a glance
Southampton academy graduate Lucia Kendall scores on her second England start within six minutes at St Mary's Stadium
Alessia Russo makes it 2-0 with a penalty in stoppage time
Chloe Kelly goes off injured before 30-minute mark
Kendall, Aggie Beever-Jones and Lucy Bronze all hit the crossbar and Russo hits the post
Lucia Kendall marked her 'homecoming' with the opening goal at St Mary's Stadium as England ended 2025 with a friendly victory over Ghana.
Southampton academy graduate Kendall, 21, started just her second game for the Lionesses and scored six minutes in when the ball fell to her in the six-yard area.
The Aston Villa midfielder also hit the crossbar - one of four times England struck the woodwork in another dominant display.
Substitute Alessia Russo doubled England's tally in stoppage time when she won a penalty, awarded for handball, and converted it.
To mark the end of a successful year in which the Lionesses defended their European title, manager Sarina Wiegman handed opportunities to a number of youngsters.
Before Russo struck, Kendall and Villa club-mate Missy Bo Kearns were among those to come close to adding to England's opener, while Aggie Beever-Jones was denied on a few occasions.
Russo almost scored with her first touch in the second half and hit the post after Beever-Jones and Lucy Bronze had headed efforts on to the crossbar.
It was also a return to St Mary's for Wiegman, who began her four-year tenure as England boss with an 8-0 win over North Macedonia there in 2021.
During her time in charge, England have reached three successive major tournament finals, winning two of them, and this week's victories over China and Ghana brought a celebratory air to finish a memorable year.
'As if she won the Champions League' - Kendall's special night
All eyes were on Kendall before kick-off as she made her return to Southampton – the club she spent almost a decade with from her youth, breaking into the senior side and scoring 29 goals in 103 appearances.
The 21-year-old's rise has been rapid having only stepped up to WSL football this year after joining Aston Villa in the summer.
She was handed a debut in October's 3-0 win over Australia, picking up the player-of-the-match award, and took just six minutes to make her mark in Southampton and net her first goal for her country.
Sprinting to the corner and knee-sliding in celebration, Kendall's night could have got even better when a corner deflected off her and bounced on to the crossbar late in the first half.
She had come close to setting up Kearns beforehand, but her Aston Villa team-mate could only direct the ball straight at goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan Fiindib.
Kendall was one of seven changes made to the starting XI by Wiegman, who had named a strong side for Saturday's 8-0 demolition of China.
A number of youngsters took their opportunities to shine with Kearns, Kendall and centre-back Maya Le Tissier among the brightest.
Arsenal full-back Taylor Hinds, who made her debut alongside Kendall in October, put in another solid and assured display, while Chelsea forward Beever-Jones headed an effort on to the crossbar.
England's most experienced player Bronze also hit the crossbar with a diving header as Wiegman's side could have added to their tally easily.
Ghana were better opposition than China – albeit England performed exceptionally well on Saturday – and they had a few opportunities to test goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, starting just her second game in the absence of injured duo Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating.
Kim Bjorkegren, Ghana's coach, said afterwards: "As a coach, you always want to win of course but at the same time we have to have in our minds that we are 67th in the world rankings and we were playing England, who are maybe right now the best team in the world.
"I think we can be really proud with how we were performing. Overall, I'm really happy and we feel we're moving in the right direction. Almost everyone can see that. We always want to be better."
Overall, Wiegman's desire to control possession and create goalscoring opportunities was satisfied as England dominated on another pleasing evening to end a successful year.
This was their final of four successive friendly matches and attention will quickly turn next year, when they begin their 2027 World Cup qualification campaign.
England's qualification campaign begins for the 2027 Women's World Cup when they take on Ukraine and Iceland in March next year. They also have Spain in their group.
Ghana are gearing up for the Women's Africa Cup Of Nations, to be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April 2026.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Manager:Sarina Wiegman
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Kim Björkegren
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
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