England were 2-1 winners over Scotland at a sold-out Stadium of Light in their opening UEFA Women’s Nations League group game.
The Lionesses had begun strongly but the visitors fired some warning shots, not least when Caroline Weir forced Mary Earps into a fine save.
Rachel Daly saw her headed effort ruled out, before all the game’s three goals followed in a short spell before the break.
Lucy Bronze did make the breakthrough with a diving header from a Katie Zelem cross to the far post.
When Daly took the ball off Nicola Docherty and delivered into the box, Lauren Hemp buried a powerful header to double the lead.
With England looking like heading into the break with that clear advantage, Kirsty Hanson halved the deficit via the post in stoppage time.
In the second half, Lauren James flicked the ball over the crossbar from Bronze’s cross, while Hanson hit the bar at the other end.
James had the ball in the net in added time but was flagged for offside.
