LONDON, Feb 27 (V7N) – Jess Park’s first-half strike secured England a 1-0 victory over Spain in a Women’s Nations League clash on Wednesday, offering a measure of redemption for their 2023 World Cup final defeat.

Park’s decisive goal came in the 33rd minute at Wembley, sealing a hard-fought win against the team ranked second in the world. Following a 1-1 draw with Portugal in their tournament opener, Sarina Wiegman’s squad made a strong statement ahead of their European Championship title defense in Switzerland this summer.

“I think we had a point to prove. We just wanted to do a lot better than Friday,” Wiegman said. “We wanted to prove to ourselves we can do better, and we absolutely knew that we had to step up.”

This was the first meeting between the two teams since England’s heartbreak in the World Cup final, a victory for Spain that was later overshadowed by the controversy surrounding former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales. Rubiales was recently found guilty of sexual assault for forcibly kissing Spanish star Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup medal ceremony, a case that sparked global outrage.

Despite the lingering off-field drama, Spain were focused on football but struggled to convert their chances. They nearly took the lead early on when Lucia Garcia’s corner struck the crossbar. England’s Lauren James tested Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll with two powerful shots before Park capitalized on a loose ball in the box after Alessia Russo’s attempt was blocked by Spain captain Irene Paredes.

Spain responded with pressure, as Salma Paralluelo and Aitana Bonmati both came close to equalizing. The match was briefly halted in the 52nd minute due to a stadium lighting failure, but play resumed quickly.

Montse Tomé’s side continued to push forward in search of an equalizer, with Leila Ouahabi forcing a strong save from England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton in the final minutes. England nearly doubled their lead when Coll fumbled a shot from James before recovering just in time.

“We had chances that we simply didn’t take. That’s something we need to improve on,” Tomé admitted. “England could have scored more as well. Cata Coll made at least three very good saves. It was a high-level match.”

With this win, England gain crucial momentum as they prepare for the upcoming Euros, while Spain will look to bounce back in their next fixture.

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