Match ends, England 1, Austria Women 0.
Ellen White scored on her 100th appearance to maintain England's winning run in Women's World Cup qualifying with a narrow victory over Austria at the Stadium of Light.
White, who is just one goal off equalling the all-time Lionesses goalscoring record, pounced on a rebound a few yards out to make it 1-0.
Beth Mead and Fran Kirby also went close in freezing conditions.
England have won all five of their qualifying matches without conceding.
Manager Sarina Wiegman expected this to be England's toughest test in qualifying to date, and so it proved with Austria keeping them at bay for almost 40 minutes.
The conditions in Sunderland were also a factor - severe weather warnings prior to kick-off meant supporters were advised not to travel and there were flurries of hail for spells in the second half.
But White, who was presented with a commemorative shirt before kick-off to acknowledge her landmark cap, eventually provided the goalscoring instinct England needed, after Kirby's strike was deflected into her path.
That capped off a dominant first half from England, who controlled possession and began to open up spaces as the break drew nearer.
Kirby and Mead combined well down the right on several occasions but could not capitalise, while Lauren Hemp came close to picking out White in the middle a few times.
The visitors were well organised however, making it difficult for England to break them down, but Wiegman's side were patient and eventually got their reward.
Austria threatened early in the second half, forcing two saves in quick succession from goalkeeper Mary Earps, but otherwise England remained on top and should have extended their lead.
The Lionesses travel to Doncaster on Tuesday for their next qualifier, taking on Latvia, who they thrashed 10-0 last month.
White closes in on record
Kelly Smith's record of 46 goals for the Lionesses is being hunted by White and she had chances in the second half to at least equal it.
She did not match Smith's record in Sunderland but it was fitting that on her 100th appearance it was the ever-reliant striker and the Lionesses' top scorer at the 2019 World Cup who provided the one goal her side managed.
"It's just an incredible achievement. If you've had 100 caps you have been so consistent," said Wiegman afterwards.
"I've learnt to know [White] as a real professional and a team player. She wants to become better every day and that's really special."
White added: "I'm incredibly proud. I feel super lucky to be a part of this team and be surrounded by talented players and to get the win which was our main goal."
She was applauded before kick-off by fans, team-mates and the media as Baroness Campbell presented her with a special "100" shirt.
"Ellen is an amazing player. I've been lucky to play a lot of games alongside her," said Kirby. "She has worked incredibly hard and always puts 110% in training and games. You want someone who will run to death for you and she does that."
Mead jumped into White's arms in celebration after she scored and it was a big day for the Arsenal forward too, playing in front of home fans in the north east - an area where she grew up and began her career - and every time she touched the ball there was an eagerness from the stands.
Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who captained England for the first time under Wiegman, kept a clean sheet and her homecoming will be in Doncaster on Tuesday.
In all, it was another successful 90 minutes for England, who have now scored 33 goals without reply in qualifying.
Player of the match
KirbyFran Kirby
England
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameKirbyAverage rating
7.77
- Squad number6Player nameBrightAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number9Player nameWhiteAverage rating
7.32
- Squad number1Player nameEarpsAverage rating
7.30
- Squad number7Player nameMeadAverage rating
7.24
- Squad number4Player nameWalshAverage rating
7.24
- Squad number11Player nameHempAverage rating
7.13
- Squad number5Player nameGreenwoodAverage rating
7.04
- Squad number2Player nameDalyAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number14Player nameStanwayAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number3Player nameStokesAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number10Player nameTooneAverage rating
6.51
- Squad number17Player nameParrisAverage rating
6.23
- Squad number15Player nameCarterAverage rating
6.01
Austria
Avg
- Squad number7Player nameWenningerAverage rating
5.67
- Squad number12Player nameWienroitherAverage rating
5.61
- Squad number14Player nameHöbingerAverage rating
5.57
- Squad number1Player nameZinsbergerAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number9Player nameZadrazilAverage rating
5.19
- Squad number19Player nameHanshawAverage rating
5.05
- Squad number22Player nameEnzingerAverage rating
4.86
- Squad number8Player nameDunstAverage rating
4.78
- Squad number3Player nameNaschenwengAverage rating
4.65
- Squad number5Player namePlattnerAverage rating
4.48
- Squad number15Player nameBillaAverage rating
4.43
- Squad number13Player nameKirchbergerAverage rating
4.43
- Squad number17Player namePuntigamAverage rating
4.14
- Squad number18Player nameWienerroitherAverage rating
3.79
Line-ups
England
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Earps
- 2Daly
- 6Bright
- 5Greenwood
- 3StokesSubstituted forCarterat 90+2'minutes
- 8Kirby
- 4Walsh
- 10TooneSubstituted forStanwayat 63'minutes
- 7MeadSubstituted forParrisat 70'minutes
- 9White
- 11Hemp
Substitutes
- 12Charles
- 13MacIver
- 14Stanway
- 15Carter
- 16Wubben-Moy
- 17Parris
- 18Nobbs
- 19England
- 20Scott
- 21Hampton
- 22Russo
- 23Zelem
Austria
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Zinsberger
- 12Wienroither
- 7Wenninger
- 13Kirchberger
- 19Hanshaw
- 9Zadrazil
- 17Puntigam
- 5PlattnerSubstituted forHöbingerat 89'minutes
- 8Dunst
- 15BillaSubstituted forEnzingerat 87'minutes
- 3NaschenwengSubstituted forWienerroitherat 60'minutesBooked at 62mins
Substitutes
- 2Horvat
- 4Fuchs
- 6Schiechtl
- 10Triendl
- 11Georgieva
- 14Höbinger
- 16Eder
- 18Wienerroither
- 20Schasching
- 21El Sherif
- 22Enzinger
- 23Pal
- Referee:
- Kateryna Monzul
- Attendance:
- 9,159
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away3
- Corners
- Home12
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, England 1, Austria Women 0.
Post update
Georgia Stanway (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Sarah Puntigam (Austria Women).
Substitution
Substitution, England. Jessica Carter replaces Demi Stokes.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lauren Hemp (England) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Georgia Stanway.
Post update
Attempt missed. Barbara Dunst (Austria Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Sarah Puntigam.
Substitution
Substitution, Austria Women. Marie-Therese Höbinger replaces Maria Plattner.
Substitution
Substitution, Austria Women. Stefanie Enzinger replaces Nicole Billa.
Post update
Offside, England. Alex Greenwood tries a through ball, but Nikita Parris is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, England. Conceded by Manuela Zinsberger.
Post update
Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ellen White.
Post update
Georgia Stanway (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Sarah Puntigam (Austria Women).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ellen White (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, England. Conceded by Carina Wenninger.
Post update
Alex Greenwood (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nicole Billa (Austria Women).
Post update
Foul by Ellen White (England).
Post update
Manuela Zinsberger (Austria Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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