England 5-1 Italy: Lauren Hemp strikes twice as rampant Lionesses hammer Azzurre to continue winning streak

Lauren Hemp’s brace helped dominant England to a 5-1 friendly win over Italy as a new-look Lionesses side continued their fine recent form with a fourth straight win.

Fresh off hammering Austria 7-2 on Friday, the second match of England’s camp in Spain saw them face a bigger challenge against an Azzurre side unbeaten in four games and coming off a UEFA Nations League campaign where they defeated world champions Spain.

But England’s set piece prowess caused huge damage in the first half as Lotte Wubben-Moy’s opener and two Hemp goals came from corners, before Italy pulled one back on the brink of half time.

Substitute Ella Toone and Rachel Daly struck after the break as Sarina Wiegman’s rampant side made it 18 goals in three games.

Wiegman made five changes to the side that thrashed Austria 7-2 on Friday, with Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Chloe Kelly and Keira Walsh coming in.

The new-look side got off to a fast start, needing little over a minute for Wubben-Moy to open the scoring by heading home her first international goal from a corner.

The Arsenal defender almost made that two when her glancing header from a Kelly cross required a sharp save from Laura Giuliani.

However, the Italy keeper went from hero to zero midway through the half when her weak punch from a corner fell straight to Hemp, who took a touch before bundling home a finish through a crowded box.

Italy’s trouble defending corners cost them for a third time in the 33rd minute when they failed to clear their lines and Giorgia Stanway hooked a ball back into the box for Hemp to head home.

But in first half stoppage-time the Azzurre struck back through Michela Cambiaghi, who tucked home from a clever Michela Catena assist to give the Italians faint hope.

Wiegman shuffled her pack at half-time, introducing Lauren James and Jess Carter, and James showcased her threat with a nice turn and shot that required a diving save from Giuliani.

It was a sign of things to come as England made it four with 69 minutes on the clock, James racing onto a ball over the top and hooking a cut-back to fellow substitute Ella Toone for a neat cushioned volley finish.

Cambiaghi squandered a huge chance to pull one back minutes later when left with just the keeper to beat from eight yards after England made a hash of playing out, but she skewed her finish wide.

A misjudged backpass was pounced on by Daly with just over 10 minutes to go, the striker keeping her composure to round the keeper and roll in a finish.

Hemp was close to a hat-trick late on when James' shot was parried by the keeper and fell in her path, but the forward headed wide.

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