LOCAL star Lucia Kendall netted her first goal for England to open the scoring as her side beat Ghana 2-0 at St Mary’s, in their final match of 2025.
The Lionesses, who won the UEFA European Championship earlier this year, concluded their homecoming series of friendlies with a clash against the African outfit in Southampton.
Kendall, who was born in Hampshire and played for her local team, Winchester City Flyers, spent 10 years at Saints before moving to WSL Aston Villa earlier this summer.
She made her England debut in October 2025 and followed that up with a dream first strike in front of her family and friends just six minutes into the match. Alessia Russo plundered the second from the spot in stoppage time.
Over 20,000 attended England Women’s third appearance in Southampton, with their most recent visit coming in the group stage of the EUROs-winning campaign as they beat Northern Ireland 5-0 in 2022.
Legendary Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman made seven changes to her side which thrashed China 8-0 in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Kendall, on her second England start, took full advantage of a loose ball inside the six yard box to net inside six minutes in front of the Northam Stand at her former home.
A brilliant save denied her an assist shortly after, when she set up Missy Bo Kearns, before Kendall forced a strong save from the keeper again a minute later.
England lost star player Chloe Kelly, who scored the trophy-winning penalty against Spain in July, through injury after 21 minutes, with Beth Mead replacing her.
Aggie Beever-Jones was next to be denied, from close range later in the half, and a cross flicked up off Kendall onto the crossbar just before half-time.
Lucy Bronze also hit the woodwork with a header 10 minutes into the second half, and Jess Park shanked wide with the goal gaping on the rebound.
England hit the crossbar for a third time through Beever-Jones, with Kendall withdrawn to a standing applause only slightly behind the hour mark.
Little else of note happened, and this was not helped by some humorous time wasting from losing Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan Findib in the closing stages, which was booed by the home crowd.
But the hosts were given a fortuitous penalty kick for handball in added time, as Russo’s goalbound header was blocked on the line. The Arsenal striker slotted home to her right to send the fans home happy at 2-0.
European champions England will now turn their attentions to qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.
They have been drawn in a group alongside 2023 winners Spain - who beat the Lionesses in the final - as well as Ukraine and Iceland.
England: Moorhouse; Bronze, Hinds, Walsh, Le Tissier, Wubben-Moy, Park, Kendall, Beever-Jones, Bo Kearns, Kelly.
Subs: Baggaley, Roebuck, Charles, Stanway, Russo, Mead, Hemp, Toone, Blindkilde Brown, Clinton, Denton, Godfrey.
Ghana: Konlan, Simon, Boakye, Duah, Yeboah, Cudjoe, Asantewaa, Kusi, Boye-Hlorkah, Nyamekye, Boaduwaa.
Subs: Abambila, Achiaa, Adubea, Amenyeku, Amoh, Amponsah, Aniwaa, Badu, Marfo, Kim, Bonsu, McCarthy, Norshie.
Referee: Lina Lehtovaara.
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