Grace Clinton lifts mood as Lionesses stumble past vibrant South Africa

There were more questions to be asked than answers provided in England’s 2-1 win over South Africa but, to a certain extent, friendlies are when they can afford to be far from their best.

As long as they are ready by 2 July, when Sarina Wiegman’s charges begin their defence of their European title at Euro 2025 in Switzerland, there will be few complaints. However, there is plenty to think about after the Lionesses failed to capitalise after scoring twice in a strong opening half-hour, eventually allowing ­Christinah Kgatlana to expose a defensive fragility that just will not go away and pull one back for the visiting team.

“You will see changes,” Sarina Wiegman had promised, after a far more familiar XI had graced the pitch at Wembley for the 4-3 defeat to Germany on Friday night. There were eight for the visit of South Africa, only Georgia Stanway, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson retaining their places in the starting line-up. Alex Greenwood started at centre-back alongside Williamson with Millie Bright dropping to the bench, Wiegman testing a less familiar partnership (between those three) and keeping the faith in her captain, who had not looked herself against Germany and has had a tumultuous start to the season with Arsenal.

Mary Earps returned to the starting XI as the battle for the No 1 shirt hots up and Manchester United centre-back Maya Le Tissier began at right back. Further forward, the in-form Grace Clinton and Jess Park began in the middle while Jess Naz was handed her first cap up front.

For South Africa, who suffered a 5-0 defeat to Denmark on Friday, there were four changes, among them, Hildah Magaia replaced Nthabiseng Majiya up front and Thubelihle Shamase joined identical twin sister Sphumelele Shamase on the bench.

It took 12 minutes for England to make the breakthrough in front of a fired-up crowd at the home of Coventry City. Beth Mead’s corner cleared as far as Naz who rolled the ball to Williamson to fire low past Kaylin Swart into the bottom corner. The captain, making her 50th appearance for the Lionesses, let out a roar that felt laced with catharsis as she was mobbed by her teammates, her cheeks jiggling as Stanway slapped her on either side of her face.

Within two minutes of taking the lead England were in trouble at the back, Esme Morgan was caught out by Noxolo Cesane who poked the ball away from her to Kgatlana, the fullback snuck a cross into Magaia but Clinton followed her as she attempted to run the ball into the net and somehow managed to combine with Earps to crowd the ball away.

Clinton was sensational, her forward-thinking play causing all sorts of trouble for South Africa, and she would swap defensive heroics for goal-scoring, nodding Le Tissier’s ball in from the right down and in to extend the Lionesses’ lead.

There were two changes for the visiting team at the break, Swart unable to continue in goal, her back troubling her, and Sinoxolo Cesane not returning, replaced by Andile Dlamini and Kholosa Biyana respectively.

It was never going to be as complicated as Germany, South Africa are ranked 48 places below England in the Fifa rankings, but they continued to cause problems for England and would be rewarded for their efforts 10 minutes into the second half, Williamson’s rogue pass missed by Stanway, who was a little slow to react, allowing Kgatlana to intercept and slot past a furious Earps.

Wiegman rang the changes shortly after, Alessia Russo, Fran Kirby, Lucy Bronze and Ella Toone all entering the fray in place of Clinton, Naz, Park and Morgan before Lauren Hemp and Bright replaced Mead and Williamson.

England’s blushes were spared by the assistant’s flag with less 20 minutes remaining, Kgatlana looping the ball over Earps but offside when she collected. She was through again shortly after, Bronze deflecting the shot this time. Confidence flowing through the visiting team, Kgatlana’s pace causing more problems with Earps pulling off a big save to deny her, before Toone stung the hands of Dlamini shortly after.

The end was uglier than the start by a long way, but England clung on, just, to secure the win. It is rare that England have the opportunity to play teams from Africa, where women’s football is developing at pace in some areas and lagging behind in others. However, they won’t have enjoyed just how many problems the South Africans caused. The search for form continues.