Report: Mexico 2-4 England WU17s
The Young Lionesses make it two wins from two games at the FIFA Women's U17 World Cup
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England are through to the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup quarter-finals with a game to spare, after a hard-fought 4-2 victory against Mexico despite having to play more than half-an-hour with ten players.
The Young Lionesses made it two wins from two in Dominican Republic, courtesy of goals from Zara Shaw, Nelly Las, Rachel Maltby and substitute Olivia Johnson.
It sets up a Wednesday night showdown with Korea DPR, who also have six points, to decide first place in Group C - although both teams will progress following the opening two games.
What a team performance! 👏
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) October 21, 2024
A hard-fought 4-2 victory against Mexico despite having to play more than half an hour with only ten players.
🏴 🇲🇽 Watch the highlights now: pic.twitter.com/vKxqRiizij
Head coach Natalie Henderson will be delighted with the resilience shown from her squad, especially after a seemingly harsh red card for Omotara Junaid on 57 minutes.
It was to prove a combative encounter from the off in Santiago. Indeed, there were some early scares for England. Mexico’s Abril Fragoso thought she had scored with a free-kick but a video review saw the referee confirm the ball had not crossed the line after a save from Eva Spencer.
England’s breakthrough came on eleven minutes, with a Lola Brown corner finding its way to Shaw to convert from close range after Vera Jones had forced a save from the Mexico goalkeeper Camila Vasquez
Ana Salas restored parity six minutes later, rising unchallenged to head a free-kick beyond Spencer.
Mexico claimed a penalty for an alleged foul on 35 minutes using one of their two coach video challenges – part of a FIFA trial for this tournament - but the referee waved away the appeal. Moments later, Jones set the lively Jane Oboavwoduo free but the forward saw her shot go wide.
It was Mexico who would have the best chance in the closing stages of the half. The ever-alert Cecily Wellesley-Smith having to clear off the line after Spencer had been unable to deal with a dangerous Naomy Vasquez cross into the box.
A minute after the restart, Mexico were awarded a penalty with Las bringing down Vasquez. Spencer initially saved from Alexia Soto but the referee ruled the England keeper had come off her line and ordered a retake. Soto made no mistake at the second time of asking.
Junaid was then dismissed on 57 minutes with the referee producing a red card for a foul on Vasquez after another Mexico review. However, Las was to make up for her own disappointment of giving away a penalty when she met a Thompson cross at the back-post to equalise just after the hour mark.
England felt Mexico should have been down to ten players themselves on 67 minutes when Thompson bore the brunt of a heavy challenge from behind, but the referee rejected Henderson’s coach appeal.
The Young Lionesses kept going and showed real courage in the closing stages, despite the player disadvantage - although Shaw still had to be bright to clear from substitute Ana Torres.
It was all England after that though, with Las claiming two assists to complete a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for her on the night. First, she squared for Maltby to score from close range on 88 minutes, with the referee waving away Mexico claims for a handball.
Las then surged forward to tee up substitute Johnson for the fourth goal of the night during more than ten minutes of added time. It completed a remarkable but fully deserved England victory.
England: 21 Eva Spencer (Liverpool), 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City), 3 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 5 Zara Shaw (Liverpool), 6 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Arsenal/Oxford United), 4 Laila Harbert (Arsenal) (c ), 7 Erica Parkinson (FC Valadares), 8 Omotara Junaid (Arsenal), 10 Vera Jones (Chelsea), 11 Lola Brown (Chelsea), 20 Jane Oboavwoduo (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 7 Lauryn Thompson (Indy Eleven) for Brown 46, 14 Emily Cassap (Sunderland) for Jones 76, 12 Sophie Harwood (Arsenal) for Parkinson 86, 9 Olivia Johnson (Brighton & Hove Albion) 90 for Oboavwoduo 90
Substitutes not used: 1 Hope McSheffrey (Arsenal), 13 Rebekah Dowsett (Leicester City), 15 Niamh Peacock (Arsenal), 16 Simone Sherwood (Leicester City), 18 Isabella Fisher (Arsenal/Ipswich Town), 19 Eva Gray (Arsenal),
Head coach: Natalie Henderson
Goals: Zara Shaw 11, Nelly Las 61, Rachel Maltby 88, Olivia Johnson 90+11
Red card: Omotara Junaid 57