Report: England WU17s 2-0 Philippines

England women’s under-17s reached the final of the MIMA Cup with a 2-0 win over the Philippines in Spain.

The Young Lionesses faced the Philippines in their first game of the friendly tournament at the Pinatar Arena on Monday afternoon to set up Thursday’s final against neighbours Scotland.

England were comfortable winners and secured victory courtesy of goals from Isabella Fisher and Emily Cassap.

Natalie Henderson made ten changes to the starting XI which beat the Netherlands 3-1 in Saturday’s friendly, with Laila Harbert the only player to retain her place.

The Young Lionesses dominated possession throughout and could have gone ahead a few times before they did finally break the deadlock.

Around the half-hour mark, Sophie Harrison curled a 20-yard shot on to the bar and Mia Endacott arguably should have scored when she flashed her effort wide of the far post from close range.

But a minute later Endacott played a crucial role in England taking the lead as it was the Plymouth Argyle player’s right-footed cross which was met by Fisher – just before the on-rushing goalkeeper – to head into the bottom corner.

Tamira Livingston should have added her name on the scoresheet too when she blazed over the bar from close range as the Philippines failed to clear a cross from the right and she was left unmarked at the back post.

England almost added a classy second shortly before half-time as the impressive Eva Gray played a neat one-two with Fisher before rattling the crossbar with a long-range strike.

Endacott also hit the crossbar in first-half injury-time with a cross-shot which beat the goalkeeper and the rebound by Livingston from a tight angle also struck the post.

England did double their advantage 11 minutes into the second half though when Harrison delivered a lovely cross from the right-hand side and Cassap headed powerfully past the goalkeeper.

Abby Kay forced a save with a long-range shot and England continued to push for more goals but the Philippines made it harder in the second half and Henderson’s side had to settle for 2-0.

The Young Lionesses will now face neighbours Scotland in the MIMA Cup final at 10am GMT (11am local) on Thursday, once again at the Pinatar Arena.

England: 13 Rebekah Dowsett (Watford/Leicester City), 4 Laila Harbert (Arsenal/Watford) ©, 7 Erica Parkinson (FC Valadares), 8 Emily Cassap (Sunderland), 12 Sophie Harrison (Arsenal), 16 Issy Hobson (Everton), 17 Tamira Livingston (Manchester United), 19 Isabella Fisher (Arsenal), 20 Mia Endacott (Plymouth Argyle), 21 Eva Gray (Arsenal), 24 Grace McEwen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Substitutes: 15 Niamh Peacock (Arsenal) for Hobson 29, 22 Eva Spencer (Liverpool) for Dowsett 45, 11 Lola Brown (Chelsea) for Endacott 45, 23 Abby Kay (Chelsea) for Harbert 45, 10 Vera Jones (Barry Town) for Livingston 66

Substitutes not used: 1 Hope McSheffrey (Arsenal), 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City), 3 Sophie Harwood (Southampton), 5 Simone Sherwood (Leicester City), 6 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Oxford United), 9 Denny Draper (Leicester City), 14 Omotara Junaid (Arsenal)

Head coach: Natalie Henderson

Goals: Isabella Fisher 35, Emily Cassap 56