Rachel Daly played at left back during Euro 2022England capped off their incredible 2022 with a 1-1 friendly draw against Norway in their final game of the year.
Rachel Daly, playing up front rather than her usual international position of left-back, headed in after 33 minutes in Murcia, Spain.
Norway, reduced to 10 players, equalised through Frida Maanum after an error by England keeper Ellie Roebuck.
This result means England, crowned European champions on home soil this summer, complete the year unbeaten.
The Lionesses have not lost in 26 games under head coach Sarina Wiegman and have conceded just twice in their last six games.
Daly takes her forward chance
Daly's opener came after 33 minutes in SpainDaly played at left-back in England's victorious run at Euro 2022, but here got a long-awaited start up front in the position she plays at club level for Aston Villa.
It was a decision also borne out of necessity, with Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead absent because of family circumstances while Lauren Hemp and Fran Kirby pulled out of the squad last week.
However Daly has given manager Wiegman a selection headache with her energetic performance, exemplified on 16 minutes when she charged down a Norway back-pass. Goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen's clearance bounced off the forward and rolled narrowly wide.
Daly got her deserved goal soon after however, thanks in large part to Chloe Kelly, whose deep cross was perfect for her to guide past the flat-footed Mikalsen.
While Daly impressed when moved out of defence, Maya le Tissier stood out at right-back on her senior international debut.
The Manchester United full-back made a crucial challenge inside the opening two minutes as Emilie Haavi had a shot saved at the near post by Roebuck, and looked at home with the Lionesses to continue a superb few months since her summer move from Brighton.
History made despite Roebuck mistake
The 3,000-seater Pinatar Arena in Murcia was not the most auspicious surroundings to end England's year, but nothing should be taken away from a truly historic 12 months for the Lionesses.
What looked like a controlled performance and win was lost with 11 minutes remaining however, as reserve keeper Roebuck, deployed with regular starter Mary Earps on the bench, blotted her copybook with an awful error.
She raced out of her goal to clear a long pass but missed the bouncing ball to allow Arsenal midfielder Maanum to race through and slot into an empty net.
It was a disappointing end to the night for a youthful England side. With Le Tissier and Roebuck given chances, seven of the starting XI were 25 or under. Only Daly was over 30.
Ultimately this showing was well below arguably England's most impressive display of 2022, their 8-0 dismantling of Norway at the Euros. The Norwegians are now under the management of ex-Lionesses and Team GB coach Hege Riise and have improved since that embarrassing defeat.
They troubled England all night, even without the injured Ada Hegerberg and Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen, who announced in August she would take a break from international duty because of cardiac problems.
They were set back on 72 minutes when Anja Sonstevold picked up a rare friendly red card after two bookable fouls on Nikita Parris, but were then gifted a draw by Roebuck's mistake.
Nevertheless, while this England display never touched the levels seen at the Euros, it provides a satisfactory conclusion to a year of which Lionesses fans could previously only have dreamed.
Line-ups
England
Formation 4-3-3
13Roebuck
2Le Tissier5Bright6Greenwood3Charles
8Toone4Walsh10James
7Parris9Daly11Kelly
13Roebuck2Le Tissier5BrightSubstituted forMorganat 45'minutes6GreenwoodSubstituted forRussoat 63'minutes3Charles8Toone4WalshSubstituted forZelemat 45'minutes10JamesSubstituted forStanwayat 45'minutes7ParrisSubstituted forRobinsonat 83'minutes9Daly11KellySubstitutes
1Earps12Stanway14Zelem15Morgan17Salmon18Park19Russo20Robinson21MacIver22GeorgeNorway
Formation 3-4-3
23Mikalsen
10Bjelde5Bergsvand16Harviken
7Engen9Naalsund11Reiten2Sønstevold
14Eikeland22Haug25Haavi
23Mikalsen10BjeldeSubstituted forThorisdóttirat 73'minutes5Bergsvand16Harviken7Engen9NaalsundSubstituted forMaanumat 61'minutes11Reiten2SønstevoldBooked at 72mins14EikelandSubstituted forBøe Risaat 73'minutes22Haug25HaaviSubstituted forBlakstadat 45'minutesSubstitutes
1Pettersen3Thorisdóttir4Sørbo6Bragstad8Bøe Risa12Skoglund13Ildhusøy15Hørte17Blakstad18Maanum19Terland20Bratberg Lund21Jøsendal24SævikReferee:Zuzana ValentováAttendance:3,000Live Text
Match ends, England 1, Norway 1.
Second Half ends, England 1, Norway 1.
Attempt missed. Alessia Russo (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ella Toone with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Chloe Kelly (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alessia Russo.
Katie Zelem (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Guro Reiten (Norway).
Attempt blocked. Chloe Kelly (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Georgia Stanway.
Foul by Chloe Kelly (England).
Maria Thorisdóttir (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, England. Chloe Kelly tries a through ball, but Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Substitution, England. Katie Robinson replaces Nikita Parris.
Niamh Charles (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Maria Thorisdóttir (Norway).
Attempt blocked. Katie Zelem (England) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal! England 1, Norway 1. Frida Maanum (Norway) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal.
Attempt missed. Georgia Stanway (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, England. Conceded by Maria Thorisdóttir.
Attempt blocked. Chloe Kelly (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alessia Russo.
Attempt blocked. Frida Maanum (Norway) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Maya Le Tissier (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
