Wembley wonderland: Stanway scores hat-trick as England thrash China | OneFootball

England produced a ruthless display to thrash China 8-0 in a dominant performance in front of a sold-out Wembley crowd.

Beth Mead’s early brace put the European champions 2–0 up inside 14 minutes, and Lauren Hemp added a third two minutes later. Georgia Stanway then took centre stage, scoring twice before the break and completing her hat-trick in the 52nd minute as England made it six.

A defensive mix-up handed Ella Toone the seventh, which she calmly slotted home, before Alessia Russo rounded off the night with the eighth, finishing a neat ball from Toone.

This was the third match of England’s four-game Homecoming Series, celebrating the Lionesses’ victorious summer with fans across the country.

Hat-trick hero

Georgia Stanway scores against China (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

Georgia Stanway netted her first senior England hat-trick in style. Her opener came after the China goalkeeper failed to deal with a Hemp cross, punching the ball straight to Stanway, who drilled her shot into the far corner.

Her second came from the spot, after a VAR intervention saw England handed a penalty for a handball. The Lionesses’ resident spot-kick specialist stepped up and buried it in typical style.

Stanway’s third was the pick of the bunch – a slick team move of quick passing was finished beautifully by the Bayern Munich midfielder to round up her special night.

Stanway became just the third English woman to score a hat-trick at Wembley, following in the footsteps of Mead at Euro 2022 and Aggie Beever-Jones earlier this year against Portugal in the Nations League.

Statement victory

Though the Homecoming Series consists of four friendlies, the matches offer a useful measure of England’s progress against teams they don’t often play.

The Lionesses began with a 2-1 defeat to seventh-ranked Brazil in Manchester, before responding with a 3-0 win over Australia in Derby. This emphatic 8-0 victory over 16th-ranked China in front of 74,611 fans at Wembley was their clearest statement yet, and a scoreline that matched their Euro 2022 group game against Norway.

Anna Moorhouse’s debut

Moorhouse makes a save (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

Following Mary Earps’ international retirement,  it was Manchester City’s Khiara Keating and Orlando Pride’s Anna Moorhouse who joined Hannah Hampton in Switzerland.

With Chelsea’s Hampton sidelined this camp by a thigh injury, the No.1 shirt was up for grabs. Keating was handed her debut against Brazil in October but she withdrew from this England camp with a minor groin injury, opening the door for Moorhouse to make her England debut at Wembley. She seized her opportunity, keeping a clean sheet, though she was rarely tested.

Meanwhile, Keating’s withdrawal created an opening for Ellie Roebuck, returning to the bench for the first time since suffering a stroke in 2023 making it a special night for both keepers.

Maya Le Tissier and Lotte Wubben-Moy get their chance

The only outfield players not to feature on the pitch in Switzerland, Maya Le Tissier and Lotte Wubben-Moy, both got their chance at Wembley.

Le Tissier started in her preferred centre-back role, having previously been used as a full-back by boss Sarina Wiegman, while Wubben-Moy replaced Esme Morgan at half-time. 

Le Tissier showed the composure and authority familiar from her Manchester United performances, with Wubben-Moy providing assured support alongside her.

Fran Kirby appreciation

Ahead of kick-off, England celebrated the remarkable international career of Fran Kirby, who retired before Euro 2025.

FA Chair Debbie Hewitt joined Kirby’s father and brother in a special presentation recognising her 77 caps, 19 goals, and her crucial role in England’s historic EURO 2022 triumph, in which she started all six matches. 

Kirby also carried the EURO 2025 trophy onto the pitch as part of the pre-match ceremony giving her a fitting tribute and a wonderful send-off to one of the Lionesses’ greats.

She was given a big hug from Lucy Bronze as she was celebrated in front of the Wembley crowd.