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“Her celebration was worthy of a Champions League triumph,” remarked England boss Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.

And for Lucia Kendall, it was a near-equivalent experience.

Wiegman was reflecting on the moment the Aston Villa midfielder dashed into the corner after scoring 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 quipped, in reference to Kendall’s immaculate knee slide.

Rising to her feet among her celebrating colleagues, the young player wore an expression of utter disbelief.

A Fairytale Homecoming

Having been “a staple” of Southampton for a decade, where she came up through the youth ranks to play over a century of games, her summer switch to Villa was a significant change.

So when she scored at St Mary's Stadium on her homecoming, and on only her third England cap, it was the stuff of dreams.

“A really special moment for me to be able to do it here, where I grew up. This place made me into the player I am,” Kendall remarked.

“It appeared as though it was fate. It was so special. I got consumed by emotion really.”

‘Things Have Gone So Quickly’

Southampton laid the groundwork, yet a formative decision made when she was 15 shaped her destiny.

Despite being a capable cricketer (her father played for Hampshire), the impending demands of senior football at Southampton necessitated a decision. She went with football.

“It was a tough call. I simply couldn't manage both,” Kendall explained in a previous media conference.

“I loved playing cricket growing up. It was a really difficult decision. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I understood I enjoy football a bit more.”

Growing up admiring Chelsea and Frank Lampard’s goal-getting midfield exploits, Kendall is starting her own path with comparable attacking output.

Juggling life at Southampton with a psychology degree at university, it was clear early on that Kendall had the determination and commitment to become a star.

The second-tier club held on to her for as long as they could, but when her contract expired in the summer, Villa acted quickly to put her in the Women's Super League limelight.

In a matter of months, Kendall has quickly risen, securing a regular place in the WSL and a call-up to the national team.

“Displaying consistency is challenging for any new arrival in the WSL, but she has managed it,” noted Wiegman.

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

Her performance was notable; she struck the woodwork and was instrumental in another chance, preceding Russo’s spot-kick.

Exiting the pitch to acclaim, the announcer emphasized her deep connection to the club and city.

Having netted 29 times for Southampton during her long tenure, she said, “My early exposure to senior football there from 16 was invaluable experience.

“It was the consistent trust they showed in me as a player and the belief. I felt like I was ready for [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.”

Acknowledgment of Her Football Intelligence

At the highest level, she has appeared comfortable, described as a natural midfielder who “gets it”.

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

In her early interactions with the press, she emphasized her willingness to fulfill any role for the benefit of the team.

Teammate Alessia Russo observed that Kendall integrated as if she’d always been there.

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