Report: Portugal 0-2 England WU20s

England women’s under-20s beat Portugal 2-0 in their final preparation camp ahead of the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup.

Goals either side of the break from Ava Baker and Layla Drury sealed the win.

Within three minutes of kick-off, Portugal hit the post from the inside of the box, but England goalkeeper Kaiya Jota pulled off a brilliant save to parry the ball away from close range.

Rachel Maltby showed great play, winning back possession in the Portugal half. She released Chloe Hylton in the middle who had time to shoot from distance. Her effort was on target but the Portuguese keeper saved well.

With just over 15 minutes gone, a great ball from Baker into the box caused all sorts of problems for the Portuguese defence but her teammates couldn’t get the final touch.

There were chances for Portugal, with an effort narrowly missing Jota’s post and a free-kick causing the Young Lionesses issues, only for Lucy Nowell to produce a fantastic block from close range.

But it was Lydia Bedford’s side that struck first through Baker after Vera Jones was brought down. The forward was on target from the spot with around five minutes of the half remaining, slotting into the bottom left-hand corner, to make it 1-0 to England.

Following the restart, the Young Lionesses’ two substitutes combined. Vivienne Lia showed her fancy feet to beat a crowded Portugal defence. She released the ball on the very edge of the byline of the box. Princess Ademiluyi got a clever flick-on which went through the keeper’s gloves and bounced out.

Later in the half, there were chances for both sides. Jones’ effort was saved before Lia saw her effort blocked on the line.

There was more great play from Lia on the right who delivered a dangerous ball into the box. It nearly caught the keeper out who recovered to bat it away.

With time ticking, Bedford’s team spurned a great chance to go 2-0 up. Lily Dent picked the ball off the Portugal defence, playing it to Ademiluyi who shot from outside the box, but the effort just trickled past the post.

Four minutes into added time, a Portugal free-kick was flicked on, looking as though it was destined for the back of the net, only for substitute stopper Eve Annets to pull off an unbelievable save.

And late in the day, second-half substitute Layla Drury finally doubled England’s lead. From the save, it came out to Ademiluyi who knocked it up pitch to Drury. The latter ran the whole length of the half to fire past the keeper and seal the win for England.

England: Kaiya Jota (Stanford University), 2 Ria Bose (West Ham), 3 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 4 May Cruft (Rangers), 5 Zara Shaw (Liverpool), 6 Lucy Newell (Manchester United), 7 Ava Baker (Birmingham City, on loan to Ipswich Town), 8 Chloe Hylton (Carolina Ascent), 9 Jessie Gale (Arsenal), 10 Vera Jones (Chelsea), 11 Eva Hendle (Chelsea, on loan to Rangers)

Substitutes: 14 Princess Ademiluyi (Gotham FC, on loan to Ipswich Town) for Gale 45’, 18 Vivienne Lia (Arsenal) for Baker 45’, 15 Chloe Paxton (Sunderland) for Shaw 62’, 16 Sacha Lewis (Manchester City) for Bose 62’, 20 Lily Dent (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan to Sunderland) for Cruft 62’, 13 Eve Annets (Manchester City) for Jota 75’, 23 Layla Drury (Manchester United) for Hendle 75’

Substitutes not used: 12 Sophie Harwood (Arsenal), 17 Grace McEwen (Brighton & Hove Albion), 19 Jessica Anderson (Manchester United), 21 Lois Shooter (Chelsea, on loan to Nottingham Forest), 22 Sophia Poor (London City Lionesses), 24 Sienna Wareing (West Ham United)

Head coach: Lydia Bedford

Goals: Baker 40’, Drury 94’