Football Apr 26, 2026

Iceland Women 0-1 England Women: Russo fires England to win in 500th game as Lionesses stay perfect

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Iceland Women 0-1 England Women: Russo fires England to win in 500th game as Lionesses stay perfect

England marked their 500th international match with a 1-0 victory over Iceland, although they were made to work for it after a dominant first half in Reykjavik.

Alessia Russo's first-half goal ultimately proved enough, but Iceland came close to a dramatic equaliser late on.

England were in control early and quickly forced Iceland back, with much of their threat coming down the right. The breakthrough came from a sharp counter-attack, with Lauren Hemp driving forward before picking out Russo, who finished confidently into the bottom corner.

The visitors dominated the first half, limiting Iceland largely to set-pieces, while Hannah Hampton was rarely tested.

However, the momentum shifted after the break. Iceland grew into the game and began to ask more questions, particularly through long throws and direct play into the England box.

England struggled to regain the same level of control, and were fortunate not to concede late on in a remarkable moment. A loose ball trickled across goal and struck the post, before Hampton reacted brilliantly to deny the follow-up.

It was a warning sign for the Lionesses, who had chances to extend their lead but were unable to find a second goal to kill the game.

In the end, Sarina Wiegman's side held on to maintain their perfect start and remain top of Group A3 - but this was far from the comfortable win it had looked set to be at half-time.

"It was a very hard game, a big difference between the first half and the second half," she told ITV.

"The tempo could be a bit higher. We created some opportunities, but didn't convert them into big chances. The goal was a good goal.

"Second half, they pressed a little bit high and we had to make some better decisions, especially in these circumstances, and we were struggling.

"We know they're good at the throw-ins and the corners and that's what we defended really well.

"It was a very hard fight, but we got it over the line and that's the most important."

"It was nerve-wracking at the end. We knew they'd put more bodies forward and make it difficult, but we got the win, which is the most important thing," she told ITV.

"It's my job to make those saves, but it's a team effort. We pride ourselves on that - we win together. Alessia [Russo] got a great finish at one end, and I had to do my job at the other.

"We would have liked to control the game a bit better, but we know how dangerous they are, especially with set-pieces and balls into the box. We had to stay solid, and I think we did that.

"We knew we wanted six points from these two games and we've done that, so we go into the next camp with real positivity."

Analysis by Your Site' Sam Cohen:

"Iceland will rue those missed chances in the closing stages. After a quiet first half, they grew into the game and put England under real pressure late on.

"The long throws caused repeated problems, creating the kind of moments they needed. Johannsdottir was twice denied by Hampton, who stood firm when it mattered most.

"On another day, one of those chances finds the net and changes the outcome. Instead, Iceland are left wondering how they didn't take something from the game."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa: Ryan Sessegnon scores Cottagers' first goal in three games to raise European hopes

Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa: Ryan Sessegnon scores Cottagers' first goal in three games to raise European hopes

Fulham ground out a first win - and goal - in three games to move level with the final European spot in the early weekend standings with a narrow 1-0...

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Mo Salah injured as Reds move up to fourth in Premier League

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Mo Salah injured as Reds move up to fourth in Premier League

Liverpool are up to fourth in the Premier League after earning a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, but Mohamed Salah may have played his final game for...

West Ham United 2-1 Everton: Callum Wilson's late winner keeps Hammers out of Premier League relegation zone

West Ham United 2-1 Everton: Callum Wilson's late winner keeps Hammers out of Premier League relegation zone

Callum Wilson came off the bench to score in stoppage time as West Ham beat Everton 2-1 to stay out of the Premier League relegation zone.On a topsy-t...

Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Joao Palhinha scores late on to give Spurs a Premier League lifeline at Molineux

Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Joao Palhinha scores late on to give Spurs a Premier League lifeline at Molineux

Joao Palhinha poked in a late winner for Tottenham as they picked up their first Premier League victory of 2026 in a 1-0 win at Wolves that gives them...

Brentford 2-2 Everton: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's stoppage-time goal snatches point for visitors, while Igor Thiago makes history for Bees

Brentford 2-2 Everton: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's stoppage-time goal snatches point for visitors, while Igor Thiago makes history for Bees

Igor Thiago made history by scoring his 21st goal of the Premier League season but it wasn't enough as Everton snatched a stoppage-time point from Bre...

Burnley 0-2 Brighton: Mats Wieffer scores unlikely double as Seagulls win at Turf Moor to keep European hopes alive

Burnley 0-2 Brighton: Mats Wieffer scores unlikely double as Seagulls win at Turf Moor to keep European hopes alive

Mats Wieffer scored twice at Turf Moor as Brighton beat Burnley 2-0 to keep their hopes of securing European football alive with six games to go in th...