‘As if she had won the Champions League’ - Kendall’s memorable evening for England

“She reacted like a Champions League winner,” noted England boss Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.

For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was comparable.

Wiegman was recalling the moment the Aston Villa midfielder raced away into the corner after netting her first Lionesses goal – six minutes into a triumph over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“The ground staff might need to repair that turf!” she quipped, in reference to Kendall’s immaculate knee slide.

As the 21-year-old got to her feet, with a look of disbelief and mobbed by her team-mates, a broad smile spread across her face.

A Dream Return to St Mary's

Kendall was “a fixture” at Southampton – a club where she had devoted ten years, graduating from their academy and playing 103 games before moving to Villa in July.

Consequently, scoring at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an magical moment.

“It was a truly special moment to achieve this here, in my hometown. This place shaped the player I am,” Kendall stated.

“It seemed destined to happen. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

While Southampton was instrumental in her development, a critical choice at 15 determined her trajectory.

The gifted youngster was also a avid cricketer – her dad Will played for Hampshire – but eventually had to pick one of the sports just as she was breaking into Southampton's first-team squad. She chose football.

“It was an interesting one. There was no time for me to do both anymore,” Kendall commented in a recent media conference.

“Growing up, I had a passion for cricket. The decision was genuinely tough. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I understood I enjoy football a bit more.”

Her idol growing up as a Chelsea fan was Frank Lampard – an England midfielder famed for his goalscoring ability – and Kendall has started out in a comparable fashion.

Her ability to manage first-team football alongside a psychology degree was evidence of the drive and commitment required for the top level.

The club fought to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa seized the opportunity to bring her to the top flight.

Her meteoric rise has seen her become a WSL fixture and an England international in a short space of time.

“Maintaining her level immediately in a new league and club is difficult, yet she has done so,” noted Wiegman.

“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”

The midfielder was influential, later hitting the bar and nearly creating a goal for Kearns, prior to Russo’s late penalty.

She was substituted after an hour to a cheer from the home crowd and the excited voice of the stadium announcer proclaiming that she was “Southampton's very own”.

Having scored 29 times for Southampton during her long tenure, she said, “My early exposure to senior football there from 16 set me up perfectly.

“Their unwavering belief in my abilities made me feel prepared for the challenge ahead.

“Entering the England setup, I was aware I had to demonstrate my worth. The increased pace felt like a step up in class.”

Acknowledgment of Her Football Intelligence

At the highest level, she has immediately looked the part, described as a natural midfielder who “has it”.

The England manager wants to manage her exposure, citing the roles of both media and club, but is reassured by the player’s modest nature.

In her early interactions with the press, she stressed her willingness to play her part for the benefit of the team.

According to Russo, Kendall’s integration was so smooth it seemed she’d was a veteran presence.

“{This team's just gone on to win back-to