England 3-2 Netherlands: Ella Toone scores stoppage time WINNER for Sarina Wiegman’s side to keep Great Britain hopes of Olympic qualification alive

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 substitute Ella Toone. The forward has now scored three goals at Wembley – it is a special place for her and her country.

The Lionesses will still have to beat Scotland and hope the Netherlands do not beat Belgium in their final game. The odds are still against them. But with Sarina Wiegman at the helm, you can never rule this England team out.

They should have taken the lead after 10 minutes when Lauren James played Lauren Hemp through. The forward’s effort would have nestled in the right-hand corner but for the fingertips of Daphne van Domselaar. England should have had a corner but a goal-kick was awarded. It was a significant decision in that the Dutch immediately went up the other end to make it 1-0, though that did not excuse England’s defending.

Victoria Pelova found space on the left and played a ball in-behind for Beerensteyn. Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze got back but ended up in each other’s way as the forward held off both defenders to fire past Mary Earps.

Wembley fell silent. England were stunned, but the worst was still to come. A comedy of errors led to a second for Beerensteyn in the 35th minute. First, Keira Walsh was caught in possession. Then Carter failed to clear and Berensteyn was able to pounce before cutting past Alex Greenwood to fire a low effort to the bottom left corner. It was a shot that Earps should have saved but the ball went underneath the goalkeeper’s hands. Replays showed Beerensteyn had come from an offside position but with VAR not in use, the goal stood. It was little more than the Dutch deserved.

England needed some second half magic and it was James who provided it. The forward was the Lionesses star for much of the World Cup before her red card against Nigeria overshadowed what had been a breakout tournament. The memories of that night are a distant memory now. The forward found space on the left and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Georgia Stanway to head home. England suddenly came to life and two minutes later they were level. Niamh Charles and Fran Kirby combined on the left to tee up Hemp, who side-footed the ball into the bottom left corner. Game on. England needed another goal to keep their Olympic dream alive and it was Toone who scored it in added time. Another sublime pass from James picked the forward out at the back-post and hit a first time finish into the bottom corner.

More to follow…