🌍 Controversy as England beat USA; Germany down France; Spain draw Sweden | OneFootball

We had plenty of mouth-watering clashes on Friday in women’s football as some of the world’s best teams were in action.

Here is what went down.

England beat USA in controversial style

Scorers: Hemp 10′, Stanway 33′ (P); Smith 28′

The reigning European champions welcomed the reigning World Cup champions to Wembley and England beat the United States 2-1.

It did not take long for the deadlock to break in this very entertaining fixture as Lucy Bronze set up a counterattack which ended in Lauren Hemp tapping home for 1-0 within 10 minutes.

Then to make things worse for the USA, they were forced into an early substitution as defender Emily Fox picked up an injury.

But the top-ranked Americans then showed why they are number one in the world and hit right back. Lindsey Horan stole the ball off Georgia Stanway and set up Sophia Smith for the equaliser.

It wouldn’t take long for the lead to turn back in favour of the hosts though as Hailie Mace (who came on for Fox) was called for a high boot on Bronze after VAR review.

Stanway then had a chance to make up for her earlier mistake and slotted the penalty home for 2-1.

But almost immediately after, the USA tied the game through Trinity Rodman only for VAR to rule the goal out following a controversial offside in the build-up.

Coming out after the break the speed of this game died down significantly. But it was England who looked the better of the two on the pitch and came close to adding a third through Stanway but her curling effort went wide.

Meanwhile for the Americans, Smith and Rodman remained alert as did Rose Lavelle in the middle of the park but nothing they did could spark a comeback.

In the end, neither side was able to find the back of the net in the second half and England came out on top 2-1 for only their third win over the USA.

Sarina Wiegman’s side are now unbeaten in 23 matches.

Germany edge France

Scorers: Popp 44′, 48′; Asseyi 85′ (P)

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany survived a late scare to beat France 2-1.

It was a tense first half between these sides but neither really threatened goal during the opening 45 minutes. In total, only four shots found the target combined though Germany held more possession (57%).

It looked as if things would stay all square at the break until Wolfsburg’s Alexandra Popp got the better of Lyon’s Wendie Renard on a corner and handed Germany the lead.

Coming out after the break the inevitable German striker found the net once again to double things and made it a mountain to climb for France.

As time went on Kadidiatou Diani, Delphine Cascarino, Grace Geyoro and others couldn’t find a way to inspire the visitors.

But they were handed a bit of luck late on when goalkeeper Merle Frohms conceded a penalty and Viviane Asseyi made things a one-goal game from the spot.

However the late surge was not enough and the hosts held on for the victory.

Spain fight back to draw Sweden

Scorers: Cardona 83′; Blomqvist 14′

Then finally Spain dug deep to play out a 1-1 draw with Sweden.

It wouldn’t take long for the deadlock to break as the visitors grabbed the lead in Córdoba within the opening minutes.

Wolfsburg ace Rebecka Blomqvist found the back of the net thanks to some fine service from attacking partner Kosovare Asllani of Milan.

The hosts, meanwhile, were playing with a heavily changed line-up following a recent fallout between the national team players and the Spanish football federation.

But coming out after the break Spain ramped up their pressure and maintained 66% possession as they pushed for an equaliser.

Their attacking line however struggled to beat Chelsea goalkeeper Zećira Mušović.

Yet in the dying moments Real Madrid ace Marta Cardona came off the bench and redirected the ball home to save Spain and see the match end all square.