**FROM WEMBLEY STADIUM: An emphatic display from Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses saw the side fly past Portugal in a 6-0 thrashing under the arch of Wembley Stadium. Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones was the star of the show, securing a first half hat-trick in stellar fashion.**
The Lineups
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**ENG:** Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Morgan, Carter; Walsh, Park, Clinton; Hemp, Beever-Jones Mead
**POR:** Pereira; Borges, Costa, Pinto; Norton, Jacinto, Silva, Pinto, Amado; Capeta, Silva
**The Action**
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England got the fast start that they were hoping for as Jess Park pressured the Portuguese midfield into a turnover at the back. Aggie Beever-Jones let the ball run across her body with intelligent instinct before firing her strike into the bottom corner to give England the lead inside of two minutes.
The euphoria was extended as Beever-Jones’ well-timed run allowed Beth Mead to pounce inside of the area, but the Arsenal forward fired her strike directly at goalkeeper Ines Pereira. However, Lucy Bronze was there to pounce on the remains and head home her finish to double England’s advantage inside of just five minutes.
The Lionesses continued to rattle the Portuguese defence as Grace Clinton’s footwork worked to evade her marker in the right channel. Giving the ball back to Bronze, the Chelsea defender whipped in a delightful cross which was headed home by Beever-Jones to add a third to England’s tally. The thumping header was pin-point, but Portugal’s complacency to leave the striker alone in the box was tragic.
[Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2217860352)
What once was a game of football soon turned into humiliation for Portugal as England hit the back of the net once more. Beever-Jones’ intelligent touch allowed Jess Park to stride through the midfield before locating Mead in the space. Cutting in on her right foot, the Arsenal forward buried a Thierry Henry-esque strike into the far corner.
It was all becoming rather embarrassing as England claimed a 5-0 lead before half time. Beever-Jones picked up the ball in what seemed to be a very tight offside call, before burying her strike from range between the goalkeeper and the near post. The Chelsea star gingerly looked at the linesman who kept her flag down and confirmed a heroic hat-trick for the 21-year-old.
Fresh of the back of a heroic Champions League feat, Mead’s curling delivery located Arsenal teammate Chloe Kelly at the back post. A calm and composed header looped into the top corner and gave the Lionesses their sixth of the evening.
The victory means that England secure second spot in the Group 3 standings after Spain secured a 5-1 victory over Belgium on the road.
[Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2217133279)
England Player Ratings
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**Hannah Hampton – 7/10 –** Had nothing to do but her distribution was superb.
**Lucy Bronze – 9/10 – A comprehensive performance from the right back. Did the defensive work but also inspired England up the flank in the offensive opportunities.**
**Leah Williamson – 8/10 – Her distribution is second to none, helping England open up the pitch more than once. A sensational ball to give Beever-Jones the hat trick and did her job defensively.**
**Esme Morgan – 8/10 –** A really strong showing despite the little work she had to do.
**Jess Carter – 8/10 –** Worked really well with Hemp to catalyse England’s attack up the flank. Nullified Portugal well.
**Keira Walsh – 7/10 –** Did her job well and worked to nullify any threat of the Portugal attack in front of Morgan and Williamson.
**Grace Clinton – 8/10 –** Plays like a footballer way beyond her years, and tonight was no different.
**Jess Park – 8/10 –** Quick on her feet and good at finding the space.
**Beth Mead – 9/10 –** Other than Beever-Jones, Mead was England’s finest performer. At her best on the ball, and her vision was world class. A well deserved goal and a pinpoint curling cross to provide Kelly with England’s sixth.
**Aggie Beever-Jones – 10/10 –** Wow. 21 years old and bagging a first half hat-trick under the arch of Wembley Stadium. Despite Portugal’s obvious howler in defence, Beever-Jones created her own luck. The first goal was crafted by professionalism as she let the ball roll across her body before burying her strike. A booming header and a superb near post finish from range to close up her phenomenal display.
**Lauren Hemp – 8/10 –** Electric up the flank and so quick-thinking on the ball. Hemp’s brilliance will be integral if England are to put on a show at Euro 2025.
**Chloe Kelly (57’ for Hemp) – 8/10 –** To think that just four months ago Kelly was considering a break from football is enough to make a grown man cry. Four months on and she has won a Champions League and is back scoring at Wembley with a smile on her face. She plays with the passion and intensity that the England shirt demands.
**Maya Le Tissier (57’ for Bronze) – 7/10 –** Played her role well. Clear that Wiegman prefers her at right back than in her natural centre back place.
**Alex Greenwood (57’ for Morgan) – 7/10 –** Her left footed outlet from defence is a prized possession for the Lionesses. A true leader on the pitch, showed that when she calmed down Williamson near the end of the game.
**Fran Kirby (65’ for Park) – 7/10 –** Classy as ever.
**Georgia Stanway (72’ for Walsh) – 6/10 –** Great to see her on the pitch! Would have scored higher had she played more time.