England are still fighting, still dreaming. At half-time their chances of topping their Nations League group and qualifying for the Olympics looked all-but over. They were two goals behind and deserved to be. But this is a team that does not give up. This is a team that knows how to win, even when they look beaten.
After Lineth Beerensteyn had given the Dutch a 2-0 lead, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp got England level shortly after half-time with two goals in two minutes. The turnaround was completed by Ella Toone in added time. The forward has now three goals in three games for England at Wembley – it is a special place for her and her country.
The Lionesses still have to beat Scotland and finish on a better goal difference if the Netherlands beat Belgium. They are three goals worse off than the Dutch.
They needed to win by two goals to have it in their own hands and that is why England’s players looked like they had lost at full-time. Mary Earps, who was at fault for the second Dutch goal, was in tears. The odds are still against them. But with Sarina Wiegman at the helm, you can never rule this team out.
‘We truly believed that we could turn it around,’ Wiegman said. ‘The players believed that too. We never lost trust.
England came from behind beat the Netherlands 3-2 thanks to a late winner from Ella Toone
At half-time their chances of topping their Nations League group and qualifying for the Olympics looked all-but over after going two goals down
After Lineth Beerensteyn had given the Dutch side a 2-0 lead, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp got England level shortly after half-time with two goals in two minutes
The turnaround was completed by substitute Toone, but England are still relying on others
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‘I was happy we turned around the game but we were so close to 4-2. The team knew exactly what we needed to do and I thought we were very close, that was the disappointment. I’m really proud of the team and how we stepped up, showed resilience and turned around the game.
‘We can’t control what the Netherlands do against Belgium but we can try our best to get a good win and see what happens.’
Mary Earps was distraught after the game having made a costly error to allow Beerensteyn’s second past her, and Wiegman refused to blame her No 1.
‘I spoke to her very shortly and I don’t want her to talk like that,’ she added. ‘We win as a team and lose as a team. That is part of the game. Of course she didn’t like the team down, everyone does her best. You only let the team down when you don’t put effort into the game and we never don’t put effort in.’
A nightmare start saw Beerensteyn put the Dutch ahead in the 12th minute. Victoria Pelova found space on the left and played a ball in-behind for the forward, who held off Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze to fire past Earps.
England must beat Scotland on Tuesday and hope the Netherlands drop points vs Belgium
The worst was still to come as Beerensteyn doubled their lead when she pounced on a mistake from Carter to fire into the bottom left corner. It was a shot that Earps should have saved but the ball went underneath the goalkeeper’s hands.
England needed some second half magic and it was Lauren James who provided it. The forward found space on the left and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Stanway to head home. England had suddenly come to life and two minutes later they were level.
Niamh Charles and Fran Kirby combined to tee up Hemp, who side-footed into the bottom left corner. Game on. England needed another goal to keep their Olympic dream alive and it was Toone who scored it.
Another sublime pass from James picked the forward out at the back-post and she hit a first time finish into the bottom corner.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps in particular was distraught after making a costly error