Nev claims max factor
summer. The Lionesses fly to Portugal today ahead of Tuesday’s friendly, and Neville added: “We should have been three or four goals up and I want to see us show more ruthlessness in the final third.”
Teesside rolled out the red carpet in front of the biggest turnout for an England women’s friendly outside Wembley as 29,238 saw Jodie Taylor, Beth Mead and Nikita Parris all waste good opportunities.
That sloppiness proved costly when Manchester United keeper Earps allowed a tame header from unmarked forward Debinha to squirm through her grasp and over the line four minutes after the break.
Debinha – the game’s outstanding performer – doubled her tally thanks to more lax England defending just after the hour. The Brazilian goalscorer reacted first to a low cross from the right to send a looping effort over Earps with the help of a deflection off Steph Houghton.
Beth England sparked a late fightback, coming off the bench to head home skipper Houghton’s cross with 10 minutes left.
The Chelsea striker almost added to her first international goal but mistimed a late diving header, before fellow sub Lucy Staniforth was denied a stoppage-time leveller.
Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said: “It was a great result – England put us under a lot of pressure.”