Poland 2-0 England WU17s
England women’s under-17s suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Poland on Sunday.
The fixture was part of a triple header in Poland as the teams took part in a mini qualification group as they look to book their place at the UEFA Under-17 Championship next summer.
England went into the day in third position in League A – Group 5 after a 2-0 defeat to Russia on Monday was followed up by a 1-0 win over Belgium on Thursday.
With Belgium then beating Russia 1-0 this morning, the winner of the match between England and Poland would ultimately top the first qualifying group but the top three would remain in the seven Group As ahead of the second round of qualifying in Spring 2022.
After the second round, the winner of all seven Group A qualifying groups will then reach the eight-team UEFA Under-17 Championship Finals in Bosnia and Herzegovina in May, along with the hosts.
On Sunday goals from Amelia Kowalczyk and Maja Kuleczka secured the win for the hosts and meant they finished top, with England settling for third.
It was an even first half in terms of chances, as both goalkeepers were forced into action.
Reading’s Hannah Poulter denied Poland’s Laura Klebek midway through the half and then both Freya Godfrey and Mia Enderby forced Kinga Seweryn into stops in a matter of minutes as half-time approached.
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But then moments later, the deadlock was broken when Kowalczyk scored after being set up by Emilia Szymczak.
Poulter made a save early in the second period to keep the score at 1-0 but it was Poland’s goalkeeper who was the busier at the start of the second period, as Seweryn denied Keira Flannery and Grace Ede.
Poulter was called into further action in the final quarter of an hour, as she denied Maja Kuleczka and Kowalczyk in quick succession.
And the second goal arrived with eight minutes remaining courtesy of Poland defender Kuleczka.
England: 13 Hannah Poulter (Reading), 4 Aimee Claypole (Chelsea), 6 Ruby Doe (Arsenal), 7 Maddy Earl (Arsenal), 9 Mia Enderby (Sheffield United), 10 Keira Flannery (Arsenal), 11 Freya Godfrey (Arsenal), 12 Shauna Guyatt (Chelsea), 17 Evie Rabjohn (Aston Villa), 19 Jessica Simpson (Manchester United), 20 Mackenzie Smith (Leicester City) ©
Substitutes: 8 Grace Ede (Sunderland & Gateshead College) for Guyatt 60, 14 Ginny Lackey (Manchester City) for Earl 60, 5 Jemima Dahou (Manchester City) for Doe 71, 2 Ella Wilson (Sunderland & Gateshead College) for Simpson 84, 16 Isabel Milne (Chelsea) for Flannery 84
Substitutes not used: 1 Grace Pilling (Manchester City), 15 Daisy Burt (Sunderland & Gateshead College), 18 Katie Ramsden (Leeds United)
Head coach: Lydia Bedford
Goals: Amelia Kowalczyk 42, Maja Kuleczka 83