England made the perfect start to their Arnold Clark Cup campaign after easing past South Korea 4-0 to remain unbeaten under manager Sarina Wiegman.
A Georgia Stanway penalty, plus goals after the break from Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Lauren James did the damage for the European champions. The Lionesses missed early chances through Chelsea's James and Ella Toone, as Korea initially provided stubborn resistance.
But the European Champions broke the deadlock not long before the break, James' driving run into the box drawing the challenge to win England a penalty, only seconds after Russo had smashed the post. Stanway converted clinically, just as she had done against the USA in October. England were at their fluent best after the break, with a quickfire double from Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo taking them out of sight, before James got her name on the scoresheet to cap a superb display.
Katie Robinson should have made it five in the closing minutes but hit the post with the goal gaping. The win sends England top of the table and means they are now unbeaten in 27 games under Wiegman.
Here are the key talking points from England's Arnold Clark Cup opener.
England eventually comfortable after nervy start
Korea's gameplan to sit behind the ball and frustrate England did have some initial success. When it was still 0-0 after 20 minutes, Lucy Bronze, honoured before the game for winning her 100th cap, sent a long-range effort well over the bar and the Asian Cup runners-up looked solid.
But this England team doesn't panic. Those in white shirts kept the ball moving quickly and precisely, refusing to allow their opponents a seconds rest.
They deserved the lead even before James was brought down, giving Stanway the chance to thump England in-front. Once they had the lead the Lionesses looked far more relaxed and the second half become something of an onslaught.
Russo rediscovers England scoring touch
Once England looked more relaxed in front of goal, they began to turn on the style. The second half was only minutes old when Chloe Kelly cut inside to fire home a deflected effort.
And it was then the turn of centre forward Alessia Russo to join the scoring party. The Man Utd striker produced a clever finish after an excellent low cross from full-back Alex Greenwood to flick the ball beyond the keeper.
It gave England an unassailable 3-0 lead and gave Russo her first international goal since the 10-0 win over Luxembourg in September. Immediately she looked to have found an extra burst of energy and started popping up out wide as England turned the screw.
Lauren James shows what she can do
Sarina Wiegman may have said before the game it wasn't solely down to the forwards to provide England's goals, but considering the form she has been in, big things were expected from Lauren James.
The Chelsea star was in from the off and very nearly gave England a dream start to 2023 when firing just wide from inside the penalty area. James proved a constant threat to the Korean backline and managed to reach Lucy Bronze's superb 17th minute cross only to narrowly miss the target.
And the forward helped break the Korean resilience when she drove into the area to win the penalty, converted by Stanway. 12 minutes from the end she got the goal her all-action display deserved by smashing home from just inside the box, before she was substituted to a standing ovation.
It was no surprise to see her play such a big part considering her club form, but any doubts from Wiegman over where she could do it in an England shirt were answered emphatically this evening.
Williamson's versatility could offer useful 'plan B'
With midfield lynchpin Keira Walsh out with illness, Lionesses skipper Leah Williamson showed her versatility by stepping into the engine room for Wiegman on her hometown return to Milton Keynes. Taking up a deep-lying playmaker role in front of the back four, the Arsenal star didn't miss a beat, helping England dominate possession from the off.
Williamson was on the end of a couple of naughty tackles in the first ten minutes, with the Koreans clearly keen to not give her any time on the ball. But the 25-year-old showed her composure on the ball and allowed England to control possession for much of the evening.
The captain did drop back into defence in the second half, following the introduction of Katie Zelem to for Jess Carter. But her impressive midfield audition gives Wiegman yet another viable option in the middle of the park.
Wiegman still holds the magic touch
Once again Wiegman kept everyone guessing with her team selection right up until kick-off. England could have lined up as a three at the back with Williamson deployed in defence, or in the 4-2-3-1 system that served them so well last summer. The Dutchwoman seems to have the ability to combine experimenting with the team, whilst keeping a steely determination not to lose a game.
Tonight's result means England have now gone 27 games without defeat since she took the reigns. If she can maintain that run through to the World Cup finals, it will be nothing short of a remarkable achievement.
She even dropped one her most consistent players in Lauren Hemp and it still paid off - with James and Chloe Kelly shining down the flanks for the Lionesses from the off. She also found time, once the game was won, to give the likes of Laura Coombs and Rachel Daly a chance to impress.
A day may come where Sarina doesn't nail her team selection, but it certainly wasn't tonight.
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