In a nail-biting showdown at St James' Park, Chloe Kelly emerged as the hero for the England Lionesses, converting a crucial penalty to secure a 2-1 victory over France in the UEFA Women's Nations League. The match, played in front of a roaring home crowd, was a must-win for England to keep their Olympic qualification hopes alive.
The game got off to a flying start when England's Ella Toone opened the scoring in the first half, sending the Newcastle faithful into raptures. However, France responded strongly after the break, with Kadidiatou Diani equalising to set up a tense finale.
Just when it seemed the match might end in a draw, Georgia Stanway was brought down in the box, giving England a golden opportunity from the spot. With nerves of steel, Kelly stepped up and coolly slotted home the winner, sparking wild celebrations among her teammates and fans alike.
This victory marks a significant turnaround for Sarina Wiegman's side after their disappointing 2-1 defeat to France in the reverse fixture. The Lionesses now face a crucial final group game against the Netherlands, where another win could see them progress to the Nations League semi-finals - a key step towards Olympic qualification.
Kelly's ice-cool penalty capped off an impressive individual performance, further cementing her reputation as one of England's most reliable players in high-pressure situations. The Manchester City forward, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final, once again proved her big-game mentality when her country needed it most.
The result keeps England's Olympic dreams very much alive, though they'll need to maintain this level of performance when they travel to face the Netherlands in their final group match next month.
