Six-goal Lionesses successfully defend Arnold Clark Cup

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·23 February 2023

Six-goal Lionesses successfully defend Arnold Clark Cup

England are crowned winners of the Arnold Clark Cup. (James Whitehead / SPP)

England retained the Arnold Clark Cup with a 6-1 thrashing of Belgium at Ashton Gate, where Chloe Kelly’s brace made her the tournament’s top scorer.

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Kelly got the final touch following a strong Lauren James run and cross for the opening goal, and four minutes before the break Leah Williamson headed home a cross from Lucy Bronze.

Kelly made it 3-0 soon after the restart, with a rush of goals to come in the last dozen minutes or so.

Julie Biesmans conceded an own goal, Rachel Daly set up Lucy Bronze for the fifth, Elena Dhont pulled one back before Williamson doubled her tally from outside the box.

Martina Rosucci (8 Italy) celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal. (James Whitehead / SPP)

Earlier, Italy had finished third with a stoppage-time decider against South Korea.

Arianna Caruso headed Italy in front from a deflected first-half cross but South Korea equaliser with 20 minutes left, when Ji So-Yun curled the ball inside the far post.

South Korea came desperately close to a winner but with the last touch of the game, Martina Rosucci turned in Cristiana Girelli’s cross for an Italy victory.