Tranmerekat on Tour: Bye Bye Miss American Cry

England Women at home to USA Women in a friendly at Wembley Stadium

The Lionesses host the Stars and Stripes in a 'friendly' battle between the European and World Champions back at Prenton Park South. It's Football vs Soccer for bragging rights until next year's World Cup. A few squad changes with Leah and Alesia out injured, Greenwood is in at CB and Lauren Hemp is playing as the No. 9. It's the 50th Anniversary 🥳 of the first ever Lionesses match so loads of old Lionesses are here and the 1972 squad have been given special commemorative caps. Jill Scott is here too with the Euros Trophy. Cooorrr!. Time to get going. Good luck ladies.

The visitors started well and threatened with a number of attacks. 10 minutes in, some clever passing up our the right wing and a Beth Mead cross for Hempo ⚽ to score. We're in front. Hooray. It was all level on 28 when another quick attack led to a goal from Sophia Smith. VAR 🎥 Incident 1: Lucy Bronze was flattened in an England attack but the ref ignored it and the action was soon down the other end when the VAR called for a check for a red card. Result was a yellow card but also a penalty for the foul on Lucy. Georgia ⚽buried it as ever. 2-1 to the Lionesses. VAR 🎥 Incident 2: USA find the net but it is ruled offside. It was close though and will be a talking point. There were further good chances at both ends but it was still 2-1 at the break.

The second half started to get a bit more physical and bad tempered with chances both ways. Millie got booked for a tactical foul. Ella 'Eyelashes' ◠◠ Toone replaced Fran and Georgia had a couple of good chances. VAR 🎥 Incident 3: USA had a penalty awarded by the ref for a handball by RD3 but it was overruled by VAR. HA HA. Megan Rapino got boo'd even more when she was subbed off. Lauren James came on for Chloe for the last 10. There were no more goals. Aaaand breath.

It wasn't the goal fest of the last outing but a great result against a very good side. We were well tested and rode our luck for the win. First time this generation of players has beaten the women from across the pond. Serena still unbeaten 23/23.

POTM 🏆: Lucy Bronze for the pass sequence for the first goal and outpacing Rapino amongst other things all up and down the pitch.

Ref had a bit of a shocker. Ref 0-3 VAR. Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Going to start rating stewards with the new Ste-Award. Starting with a 7/10 for being organised, helpful and doing the bag search indoors out of the rain. 👜👀🌧

Scranometer needed to apply for a second mortgage 💰 but eventually registered an 8/10 for the vegan hot dog 🌭. Still too warm hot chocolate.

First time on an escalator in a football ground as we needed 3 to get up to our seats up in the gods ⛰ . Got to ride on the tube 🚇 as well.

See you tomorrow at Sutton.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾