ENGLAND’s Homecoming Series clash against Australia was delayed after Euro 2025 star Michelle Agyemang had to be taken off on a stretcher.
Agyemang was applauded off the pitch in front of 26,000 fans at Pride Park after suffering an off-the-ball knee injury in the 73rd minute of Tuesday’s 3-0 win.
The striker had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes after replacing Alessia Russo, with Sarina Wiegman’s side 2-0 up on the Matildas.
Beth Mead ran over to the touchline and gestured to her knee in conversation with Wiegman before medics rushed onto the pitch.
Brighton loanee Agyemang had been inches away from tripling the lead just five minutes before going down.
Wiegman gave an ominous update on Agyemang’s condition after the final whistle, saying: “It’s not confirmed, but it looks horrible. It looked bad.”
Footie fans were quick to send their well wishes to the crocked Agyemang after seeing her writhe in agony, with one writing on X: “That looked a serious one.”
Another said: “Hopefully that Injury for Michelle Agyemang isn’t as bad as it looks, same for Aggie as well.”
And another said: “Really sad to see Michelle Agyemang have to go off. Hope it’s not too serious.”
One remarked: My heart absolutely breaks for Michelle Agyemang.”
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Another added: “Wishing Michelle Agyemang a full & speedy recovery.”
Footie pundit Laura Woods was among the well wishers for fan favourite Agyemang.
She wrote on X: “Ohh Michelle Agyemang. Sending all my love and a speedy recovery.”
Victory over the Aussies saw the Lionesses bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in their first match since retaining the European crown.
Aggie Beever-Jones lashed in an opener, before Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze, on her 34th birthday, heaped misery on the visitors, while sub Georgia Stanway’s penalty wrapped things up at the death.
Bizarrely, just as Brazil did at the Etihad on Saturday, the Aussies had a player sent off after 19 minutes – but this time England made use of their player advantage.
Alanna Kennedy was given her marching orders after a last-player challenge on Alessia Russio, who intercepted the WSL defender’s poor attempt at a Cruyff turn outside the box.
Rare starter Beever-Jones then broke the deadlock from the resulting free-kick, after first hitting the low wall before Bronze laid it back to her.
England continued to control the tempo, before Aussie captain Sam Kerr almost made them pay for sloppy passes in the middle when her shot was saved by Hannah Hampton, who returned from a minor injury.
Ella Toone said the Matildas would be out for revenge, recalling their painful 3-1 defeat to Wiegman’s side in the 2023 World Cup semi-final played on their home turf in Sydney.
Lucia Kendall shone on her debut as sub Agyemang was inches away from tripling the scoreline, before Stanway had a 20-yard hit saved on 70 minutes.
After starting against Brazil, Euro hero Chloe Kelly was forced on to replace the crocked Agyemang,
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Stanway unleashed a fine spot-kick in the final minute of stoppage-time after Katrina Gorry caught Missy Bo Kearns, with England themselves down to ten with Beever-Jones unable to continue with no subs left.
The Euro champs conclude their four-part victory series with games against China at Wembley in November and Ghana in December.
