Ellen White scored twice to earn England a 2-2 draw with Germany at the SheBelieves Cup.
Hasret Kayikci put Germany in front only for White to equalise from the restart.
An own goal by Millie Bright nudged Steffi Jones’s side ahead again before White nabbed the Lionesses a point with a calm, 73rd-minute finish.
England now have four points in this annual round-robin tournament – the most they have amassed in the competition’s three-year existence.
And a victory over USA on Thursday night will win England the SheBelieves Cup for the first time.
There were five changes from the 4-1 win over France with Siobhan Chamberlain, Abbie McManus, Fara Williams, Melissa Lawley and White coming in for Karen Bardsley, Anita Asante, Keira Walsh, Nikita Parris and Jodie Taylor.
England, who were treated to a pre-match pep talk by former Three Lions captain David Beckham, made a blistering start against Les Bleues but they were on the back foot in the opening exchanges in New Jersey and fell behind on 17 minutes.
Chamberlain failed to collect a left-sided cross and after some pinball inside the box, Demi Stokes’s clearance smashed off Kayikci and into the back of the net.
But the Lionesses levelled straight from the kick-off when Williams’s long range effort was deflected home by White, who scored the winner against USA in the same stadium last year.
England almost went ahead a few minutes later following some good build-up play, again involving the spritely Lawley, but Toni Duggan’s side-footer curled just past the far post.
Stokes then hit a shot over the bar and Williams zipped a free-kick narrowly wide as Neville’s side grew in confidence.
Olympic champions Germany bounced back after the break and retook the lead in fortuitous circumstances.
A mix-up between Chamberlain and McManus led to Lina Magull drilling a shot goalwards. Chamberlain attempted to clear with her feet but the ball hit Bright on the heel and bounced into the net.
England responded once more, though.
A long ball forward by Stokes found White, who had sprung the offside trap, in acres of space and the Birmingham City striker kept her cool to beat Almuth Schult with a neat finish from just inside the box.
Alexandra Popp headed over shortly before White almost won the game for the Lionesses – but Schult stood firm at her near post.
There was one more heart-in-your-mouth moment for Bright when her clearance whizzed just wide of Chamberlain’s right-hand upright.
England (4-3-3): 13 Siobhan Chamberlain (Liverpool); 2 Lucy Bronze (capt; Lyon), 15 Abbie McManus (Manchester City), 6 Millie Bright (Chelsea), 3 Demi Stokes (Manchester City); 8 Jill Scott (Manchester City), 4 Fara Williams (Reading), 10 Fran Kirby (Chelsea); 19 Melissa Lawley (Manchester City), 18 Ellen White (Birmingham City), 11 Toni Duggan (Barcelona).
Substitutes: 22 Keira Walsh (Manchester City) for Williams 59, 7 Nikita Parris (Manchester City) for Duggan 67, 16 Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City) for Scott 67, 17 Rachel Daly (Houston Dash) for Lawley 85, 9 Jodie Taylor (Melbourne City) for Kirby 90.
Substitutes not used: 1 Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), 12 Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), 14 Alex Greenwood (Liverpool), 20 Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), 21 Carly Telford (Chelsea), 23 Gabrielle George (Everton).
Goals: White 18, 73
Bookings: Lawley 84
Head coach: Phil Neville
