Kelly double helps England Lionesses beat Belgium to retain Arnold Clark Cup

For England, another piece of silverware but attention will turn quickly towards lifting the biggest prize in the game. A comfortable victory over Belgium ensured the Lionesses defended the Arnold Clark Cup but they have two matches and one international window to navigate before the World Cup comes into focus.

Chloe Kelly, the hero at Wembley last summer, scored either side of a powerful header from the captain, Leah Williamson, to set England en route to victory before an own goal by Julie Biesmans and a late strike by Lucy Bronze. A stoppage-time strike by the Belgium substitute Elena Dhont was nothing more than a consolation, even more so when Williamson side-footed in her second of the night from outside the box to make it 6-1.

The last time these teams met was a few weeks before the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph and Sarina Wiegman acknowledged that, beyond wanting to defend their crown, the ideal takeaway from this game was to gain further momentum in preparation for the next major tournament, in Australia and New Zealand this summer. On Wednesday it was confirmed England will face Haiti, ranked 55th in the world, in July’s Group D opener in Adelaide.

England’s players and staff visited the nearby seaside resort of Clevedon to stretch their legs hours before kick-off and from the moment Williamson powered wide inside the first couple of minutes they controlled proceedings in Bristol.

Alex Greenwood saw an early shot blocked from the edge of the box before Lauren James drove over from a Kelly cross. Kelly and James ably flanked Alessia Russo, who was preferred to Rachel Daly in attack, one of nine changes from Sunday’s victory over Italy as Wiegman sought to manage workloads.

It was no surprise when Kelly turned in on the goalline with 11 and a half minutes on the clock after in-form Chelsea forward James turned provider. James stormed to the byline, crossed low into the box and Kelly feasted on a failed clearance by Biesmans. Kelly had gone close moments earlier but her effort was blocked by the Belgium centre-back Jody Vangheluwe. England doubled their advantage three minutes before the interval when Williamson showed great determination to rise above her marker to head in Lucy Bronze’s chipped cross.

Leah Williamson lifts the Arnold Clark Cup trophy for England after their 6-1 defeat of Belgium. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Belgium, powerless to extract the ball from England’s grasp, barely set foot inside the home side’s half. England never looked like conceding, let alone losing. In truth, it has been that way for some time. They last suffered defeat almost two years ago, in April 2021, in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Canada in Stoke. Wiegman is undefeated as England manager.

They have now scored 137 goals across 29 matches, conceding just nine goals along the way. Belgium came into this game on a three-match winning run, with the former Manchester City forward Tessa Wullaert having scored six goals in her past five matches, but a gulf in class was evident throughout.

James was the catalyst for almost all of England’s good work. Perhaps Wiegman needed no more convincing – James was also involved in goals against South Korea and Italy – and replaced the 21-year-old with Lauren Hemp at half-time. Hemp continued where James left off and her curling shot led to England’s third goal. Nicky Evrard did not get to grips with Hemp’s effort and when the Belgium goalkeeper parried the ball inside the six-yard box Kelly was on hand to tuck the ball in for her second goal five minutes into the second half.

By this point, England were going for the jugular. Kelly went on a twisting run that culminated with her shooting over before Williamson dropped a deft header wide from a cute Bronze cross. Then, approaching the hour, Kelly grazed the upright with another fine effort after dancing in from the right wing. Ives Serneels, the Belgium head coach, recognised a need to stem the flow and reacted with a triple substitution.

Evrard saved smartly to prevent Russo’s deflected shot nestling in the corner on 70 minutes and that was the Manchester United striker’s final action, with Daly introduced to a sold-out Ashton Gate in her place.

But there was still time for Biesmans to inadvertently send Georgia Stanway’s pass into her own net as England chalked up a fourth goal. Then came a fifth with a minute of normal time to play, when Bronze poked in from close range. In a week in which the Lionesses have been nominated for the Laureus world team of the year award alongside the Golden State Warriors and the Formula One champions, Red Bull, it is easy to see the appeal.