England 8-0 China: Arsenal's Beth Mead grabs double as Lionesses thrash Asia Cup holders 

Sarina Wiegman's England side routed China in an international friendly at Wembley Stadium with help from Arsenal's Beth Mead 

England thrashed China 8-0 in front of 74,611 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.

Four goals in 11 minutes, five before half time and eight in total, including a hattrick from Georgia Stanway, sealed an emphatic victory for the Lionesses, who proved far too strong for the Asia Cup champions.

Beth Mead opening the scoring an a goal-laden evening in north west London with two goals in the first 14 minutes, before Lauren Hemp added a third 120 seconds later. Following Stairways’ treble, the home side’s Ella Toone and Alessia Russo rounded-off the rout.

Four months ago this weekend, Wiegman’s mighty Lionesses retained the European Championships on a never to be forgotten evening in Basle, Switzerland.

Plenty has happened since then. While results in the two matches since then may have been indifferent, a 3-0 stroll over Joe Montemurro’s Australian side, prior to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Brazil at Manchester City, it is off the field where the impressive Wiegman has had to show her calm leadership - not least when having to deal with the fall out from Mary Earps pointlessly controversial book.

Lionesses boss Wiegman has also had to deal with the retirement of defensive stalwart and Euro 2022 winner Millie Bright, not to mention Fran Kirby - who was honoured before the match - as well as missing influential captain Leah Williamson, and the exciting young striker Michelle Ageymang through injury. The England and Arsenal legend a big miss, after having lifted back to back Euro titles for Wiegman, as well playing a big part in the Gunners memorable Champions League victory back in May.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman handed 30-year-old goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse a debut, with Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating missing through injury, but the Oldham-born Orlando Pirate would have had far more difficult training sessions, than against a limited China side, preparing to defend their crown next March.

Chelsea’s Niamh Charles started at left-back, while Manchester City attacker Hemp returned for the first time since Euro 2025.

England camped outside the Chinese box looking to find a way through the visitors defence when Mead played a cross to Arsenal teammate Russo, but the Gunners striker’s header was off target.

Such dominance was about to lead to an avalanche of goals, when Mead put England 1-0 ahead with a clinical finish from Lucy Bronze’s cross on 12 minutes

The Arsenal striker grabbed her second in 120 seconds, when doubling the home side’s lead after getting on the end of Ella Toone’s ball into the box on 14 minutes.

Worse was to come for the startled visitors, when Lauren Hemp made it three after only 16 minutes as England dominated, the goal coming after Stanway’s excellent cross.

In a whirlwind start Georgia Stanway made it 4-0 with a little more than 20 minutes gone here at the national stadium. The strike coming after Hemp outmuscled here opponent, as shellshocked Hongyan Pan failed to deal with the cross, prior to Stanway hammering the ball home.

The rampant home side made it 5-0 when China Stanway slotted home England’s penalty for her second of the game on 38 minutes, after VAR instructed referee Alina Pesu to go to the monitor after Russo’s shot hit Li Mengwen’s arm in the box.

Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly replaced Hemp at the interval, with another Gunners Lotte Wubben-Moy coming on for Esme Morgan as relentless England chased further goals.

Stanway made it 6-0 for the home side with her hattrick after a neat finish on 52 minutes. England made it 7-0 when Toone capitalised on a mix-up among the shell-shocked Chinese backline here at Wembley

There was still time for Arsenal striker Russo to make it eight with a fine finish from Toone’s through ball.