By James Reid
Jess Park’s first-half strike gave England a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Park prodded home from close range midway through the opening 45 minutes, after impressive work from Alessia Russo in the build-up.
It proved the sole and decisive goal in a closely fought encounter in London, with both sides creating a number of chances but finding goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Catarina Coll equal on all other occasions.
Victory gives the Lionesses their first three points of the current Nations League and sends them top of League A Group 3 following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Portugal.
Spain started in control and had the first sight of goal inside 10 minutes when Salma Paralluelo showed dancing feet inside the box, but the England defence eventually crowded her out.
Lucia Garcia then rattled the crossbar just four minutes later for the visitors, after England failed to clear a corner.
The Lionesses began to work their way into the match, but Spain continued to threaten with Claudia Pina rifling over from just outside the box.
It was then England’s turn to gain some momentum, with Lauren James at the heart of Sarina Wiegman’s side grabbing a foothold in the contest.
The forward dropped deep and produced a neat turn before releasing the overlapping Niamh Charles in behind, and the full back was fouled by Irene Paredes just outside the box.
James’ resulting free kick was saved comfortably by Coll at the near post, and the Spanish stopper was called into action just a minute later to again deny James.
Millie Bright’s long raking pass found James over the top of the Spain defence, but Coll stood strong to deny James’ curled effort.
The England pressure eventually told, as Jess Park made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark.
Excellent work from Alessia Russo saw the striker turn her marker and drive into the box before the ball was eventually deflected to Park with an open goal, and the attacker made no mistake from close range.
Spain looked to respond quickly and almost did so through Paralluelo, but the winger’s ambitious long-range strike was just wide of Hampton’s post.
Hampton was then called into action, but she was more than equal to Aitana Bonmati’s shot from the edge of the box before Paralluelo again tried her luck,but her effort was also straight at the England stopper.
Hampton became increasingly busy towards the end of the half and did well to palm away another Bonmati effort after the Ballon D’Or winner found herself unmarked in the box.
Spain had the first sight of goal in the second half, but Bonmati’s effort curled wide of the target from just inside the area.
The visitors then forced a smart save from Hampton, with the England ‘keeper deny Garcia with her legs after Mariona Caldentey split the defence with a slide-rule pass.
The early stages of the second half were end-to-end, with Grace Clinton forcing Coll into a comfortable save after Park broke free from a throw in on the right wing.
England continued to find joy attacking Spain’s full backs, and James continued her bright display when she cut inside Ona Batlle before curling a shot that was well saved by Coll.
Spain then spurned a great chance to equalise. Substitute Athenea del Castillo broke in behind on the right and squared to Paralluelo but she was crowded out by England defenders as she bore down on goal.
The visitors continued to put the pressure on the Lionesses’ defence, Leila Ouahabi the next to test Hampton from range but the goalkeeper was able to push away the shot, before Caldentey rippled the side netting moments later.
England almost doubled their lead late on when Clinton’s cross found James unmarked in the box and her shot was spilled by Coll, only for the ‘keeper to recover just in time to prevent a second goal.
Spain continued to threaten into additional time, and Hampton was required to parry a Pina cross that was goal-bound.
