It took Lucia Kendall only six minutes to score in her second starting appearance for England.
“She reacted like a Champions League winner,” said England boss Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.
For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was almost identical.
Wiegman was describing the moment the Aston Villa midfielder raced away into the corner after netting her first Lionesses goal – during the opening stages of a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.
“They are still doing some treatment on the grass!” she joked, referring to Kendall’s flawless knee slide.
As the 21-year-old got to her feet, exhaling deeply and mobbed by her team-mates, a beaming smile appeared on her face.
Kendall was “a fixture” at Southampton – a club where she had been for ten seasons, graduating from their academy and playing 103 games before joining Villa in July.
Therefore, scoring at St Mary's upon her return and during just her third international match felt extraordinarily special.
“A really special moment for me to be able to do it here, where I grew up. This place shaped the player I am,” Kendall remarked.
“It felt like it was written [in the stars]. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”
Southampton laid the groundwork, yet a formative decision made when she was 15 proved to be a turning point.
Despite being a capable cricketer (her father played for Hampshire), the impending demands of senior football at Southampton forced her hand. She selected football.
“It was an interesting one. There was no time for me to do both anymore,” Kendall commented in a previous 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 knew I enjoy football a bit more.”
Her idol growing up as a Chelsea fan was Frank Lampard – an England midfielder known for his goalscoring talent – and Kendall has begun her career in a like fashion.
Her ability to handle first-team football alongside a psychology degree signaled the mental fortitude and commitment required for the top level.
Southampton held onto their prized asset for the maximum time, but upon her contract expiry, Villa signed her to the WSL.
Her rapid progress has seen her become a WSL fixture and an England international in a very brief period.
“Displaying consistency is challenging for any new arrival in the WSL, but she has managed it,” admitted Wiegman.
“Everything has happened at breakneck speed, but her ability to sustain her high standards is truly notable.”
Her performance was notable; she came close to scoring again and nearly crafted another chance, preceding Russo’s spot-kick.
She was substituted after an hour to a ovation from the home crowd and the excited voice of the stadium announcer proclaiming that she was “Southampton's very own”.
With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she commented, “The trust and regular playing time I received from 16 made all the difference.
“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.
“I knew that I had to go in [to England] and prove why I should be playing at this level. The speed of the game is quicker and it was like going up a division.”
Kendall’s tenure at Southampton concluded after 103 outings in 2025.
Her smooth transition to the international stage has led to praise for her innate midfield qualities and natural demeanour.
Wiegman is keen to protect her, saying the media can play a role in that and so can Villa, but she has no concerns because of how “grounded” Kendall is.
Days after being called up by the Lionesses for the first time, Kendall was sitting in front of the media saying she was keen to impress, but also understood the need for the team's greater good and whatever role she needed to play in that.
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
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