Report: China PR 1-2 England WU20s

England women’s under-20s kicked-off their trip to Spain with a 2-1 win against China PR in Murcia.

The Young Lionesses are together for their first preparation camp ahead of the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup next year, with Lauren Smith in charge of the squad.

And they played the first of three games on Wednesday afternoon at the Pinatar Arena, where Lois Shooter put England in front after 17 minutes.

The goal came after Vivienne Lia saw a shot from the edge of the area cannon back off the cross bar, before Shooter was in the right place to control before firing home the rebound.

However, China PR found an equaliser just shy of the hour mark to level things up and it looked as though Smith’s side would have to settle for a draw.

But in the final minute, England won a penalty which substitute Ava Baker duly converted to seal the victory.

England will be back in action on Saturday, when they face the USA (12pm GMT).

England: 1 Eve Annets (Crystal Palace, on loan from Manchester City), Sophie Harwood (Arsenal), Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 4 Laila Harbert (Portland Thorns, on loan from Arsenal), 5 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Leicester City, on loan from Arsenal), 6 Lucy Newell (Birmingham City, on loan from Manchester United), 7 Jessica Anderson (Manchester United), 8 Omotara Junaid (Florida State Seminoles), 9 Lois Shooter (Chelsea), 10 Taylor Warren (Brighton & Hove Albion), 11 Vivienne Lia (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Arsenal)

Substitutes: 12 May Cruft (Rangers) for Harbert 46, 15 Jessica Pegram (Rangers, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) for Newell 46, 18 Chloe Hylton (Carolina Ascent) for Junaid 46, 20 Ava Baker (Birmingham City) for Warren 46, 19 Ria Bose (Sporting CP) for Harwood 62, 16 Jessie Gale (Portsmouth, on loan from Arsenal) for Shooter 62, 21 Damilola Atinaro (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Maltby 75, 23 Jane Oboavwoduo (Manchester City) for Anderson 75

Substitutes not used: 13 Sophie Jackson (Tottenham Hotspur), 14 Princess Ademiluyi (Fort Lauderdale United, on loan from Gotham FC), 17 Nelly Las (Leicester City)

Head coach: Lauren Smith

Goals: Lois Shooter 17, Ava Baker 90 (p)