Wiegman: Keating is a talented player | OneFootball

Lionesses Head Coach Sarina Wiegman says Khiara Keating is a ‘very talented player’ which was on show in the City keeper’s England debut on Saturday.

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England debut a dream come true, says Keating

Keating was named in the starting line-up alongside City captain Alex Greenwood in their 2-1 friendly defeat to Brazil, which was hosted by the Etihad.

England quickly found themselves two goals behind after Beatriz Zaneratto and Maria Eduarda Rodrigues capitalised on Brazil’s intense high press.

Brazil were then reduced to 10 when their captain Angelina Alonso Costantino was shown a straight red card after her foul on Ella Toone, who burst through on goal.

After that, Keating was only called into action a handful of times. But when she was, she collected crosses and caught Brazil chances comfortably.

Her confidence at the back allowed England to press high in search of a draw, but the Lionesses only found the back of Brazil’s net once through Georgia Stanway’s penalty.

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Wiegman stated after the game that, despite the result, it was a debut Keating should be proud of.

“I think she is a very, very talented player,” began Wiegamn.

“She has been with us for a while and also played in the U23s. So she has shown how talented she is, and now she got an opportunity to make her debut.

“Of course it was a hard start to the game, but I think she dealt really well with that. And in the second half she didn’t get that many actions, but that is even harder for the goalkeeper to be there when needed, and I think that was good.

“And also moments when they jumped, so when we are in possession, that she stayed calm and played out when the opportunity was there to play out because we had an overload.

“I think we can be happy with her debut.”