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“She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League,” said England manager Sarina Wiegman with a grin.

For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was almost identical.

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

“I think the pitch needs some attention after that!” she joked, referring to Kendall’s perfect knee slide.

Getting up from her slide, Kendall looked around with an amazed expression and a massive grin.

A Dream Return to St Mary's

Kendall was “part of the furniture” at Southampton – a club where she had been for ten seasons, graduating from their academy and playing 103 appearances before joining Villa in July.

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

“To do it here, where I was raised, was an immensely special moment. This place shaped the player I am,” Kendall said.

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

A Meteoric Ascent

It may have been Southampton who “made” Kendall, but a major decision at the age of 15 proved crucial to her future.

The talented youngster was also a avid cricketer – her dad Will played for Hampshire – but eventually had to choose between the sports just as she was earning a place in Southampton's first-team squad. She opted for football.

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

“I adored cricket as a child. Making the choice was very hard. 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 embarking on her own path with similar attacking instincts.

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

Southampton kept their prized asset for the maximum time, but upon her contract expiry, Villa signed her to the WSL.

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

“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.”

The midfielder was influential, later hitting the bar and coming close to providing an assist for Kearns, prior to Russo’s late penalty.

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

Kendall scored 29 goals for the club in more than a decade of service and added: “Being at Southampton for so long, I played regular senior football from the age of 16 and that was incredibly beneficial.

“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].

“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

Kendall has made an immediate impression at international level, with pundits stating she has just “has the quality” as a midfielder and looks like a “natural”.

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

Shortly after her maiden call-up, she spoke to reporters, expressing a desire to contribute while understanding the importance of the collective.

According to Russo, Kendall’s assimilation was so smooth it seemed she’d been part of the group for ages.

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