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“She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League,” noted England coach Sarina Wiegman with a smile.

To Lucia Kendall, the moment was just as monumental.

The England boss was commenting on the instant the Villa player ran off in jubilation following her debut international strike – early in a win 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.

Getting up from her slide, Kendall took in the moment with cheeks puffed and a massive grin.

A Dream Return to St Mary's

Southampton was her home for a decade; she was a core player there after graduating from the academy and racking up 103 appearances prior to her summer transfer to Aston Villa.

Consequently, scoring at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an unbelievable moment.

“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 said.

“It felt like it was written [in the stars]. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

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

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

“It was an interesting one. There was no time for me to do both anymore,” Kendall commented in a recent 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 realised I enjoy football a bit more.”

Her idol growing up as a Chelsea fan was Frank Lampard – an England midfielder renowned for his goalscoring prowess – and Kendall has begun her career in a similar fashion.

Balancing her football at Southampton with university studies in psychology demonstrated the focus and ambition needed to excel.

The club did their utmost to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa moved decisively to bring her to the top flight.

Her rapid progress has seen her become a WSL regular and an England international in a very brief period.

“She shows consistency and that's not easy when you just come into a new environment and into the WSL with Aston Villa,” said Wiegman.

“Things have gone so quickly so fast, but she just keeps up her levels and shows she is a good player - and that is impressive.”

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.

With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she noted, “The faith and regular playing time I received from 16 was crucial.

“Their unwavering belief in my abilities made me feel prepared for the challenge ahead.

“I understood the need to justify my selection at international level, where the tempo is higher, akin to moving up a league.”

Acknowledgment of Her Football Intelligence

Her seamless transition to the international stage has led to praise for her innate midfield qualities and natural demeanour.

While mindful of shielding her young star, Wiegman is confident due to Kendall’s grounded and focused attitude.

Shortly after her maiden call-up, she faced 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 was a veteran presence.

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