International week kicked off on Thursday with Ji So-Yun representing South Korea against China, a Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifier in Asia which was rescheduled from February, having been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first leg of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics play-off tie took place at Goyang Stadium, South Korea with Ji captaining her team. China PR took the lead in the 33rd minute with Ji countering by delivering a superb assist to Kang to bring her side level going into half-time. The visitors went on to take the lead in the second half after converting a penalty which handed them the 2-1 win. The second leg will take place in Suzhou next week.

Guro Reiten was Player of the Match in Norway’s game against Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium, netting Norway’s second goal at just over the 40-minute mark. On the same night in Dublin, Pernille Harder lined up for Denmark against the Republic of Ireland with her team-mate Sorensen’s early goal proving decisive in their 1-0 win.

Friday

On Friday night,  Canada's Jessie Fleming and Welsh captain Sophie Ingle came face-to-face for Wales' friendly with Canada in Cardiff. The Canadians were leading 2-0 when midfielder Fleming bent one from the top of the box into the top corner in the 62nd minute to seal the deal with a 3-0 triumph for Canada over Wales.

Five of the Blues travelled with the Lionesses for their friendly away at France with Bethany England, Carly Telford, Fran Kirby, Millie Bright and Niamh Charles all making the trip. The Lionesses were on the front foot early on at the Stade Michel d’Ornano but the French keeper Peyraud-Magnin was on top form, preventing them from taking the lead.

At the half-hour, Baltimore took France 1-0 up, which they maintained up to half-time. Charles came on in the second half to make her international debut for England wearing the number 12 but France had the momentum and a penalty from Asseyi increased the pressure from France taking them to 2-0.

England found a way back into the game with Kirby converting her penalty in the bottom left-hand corner, Kirby’s 14th international goal, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to take the win with Katoto’s goal sealing their fate, ending the night 3-1 in Caen.

Saturday

On Saturday, Sam Kerr headed to Wiesbaden with the Matildas facing Olympic champions Germany. Despite a bright start from Australia, who have not played an international game in over a year, Germany went on to secure an impressive 5-2 victory.

Magda Eriksson and Jonna Andersson were back to line up for Sweden on the same night against world champions the USA. The duo had missed Sweden’s last match due to Covid-19 travel restrictions but were back in action at the Friends Arena, Sweden and this time joined by Chelsea’s newest signing, Zecira Musovic.

Sweden took the lead just before half-time with a corner headed in by Hurtig and looked certain to take the victory, but with three minutes left on the clock, a foul on O’Hara resulted in the USA being awarded a penalty, which Rapinoe successfully converted into the bottom corner to end the game 1-1. Congratulations to Blues captain Eriksson who was voted the best Swedish player of the match.

Up Next

Next up, there’s a raft of games for Blues fans to look forward to on Tuesday 13 April. South Korea face China for the second time in their Olympic qualifying tie with a 9am kick-off.

International friendlies

Germany v Norway - 3pmPoland v Sweden - 5.30pmNetherlands v Australia - 5.30pmEngland v Canada - 7.15pmWales v Denmark - 7.15pm