Report: Spain 3-1 England WU20s

England women’s under-20s were beaten by 3-1 against host nation Spain on Saturday, in their first game of three in Alicante this week.

John Salomon’s Young Lionesses found themselves up against a formidable Spanish team, in what will prove to be further valuable experience as they continue to prepare for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland later this year.

Spain started the game well and took an early lead in the third minute following a period of pressure. Young Lionesses keeper Kaiya Joto, fresh from making a first smart save, then had to parry a low cross-shot into the box which fell straight to the feet of Marisa, and the Spanish striker made no mistake by tucking home from close range.

And Spain doubled their lead ten minutes before half time, when Arques fired home a free-kick from 25 yards to put them in control at the break.

The hosts hit England early again in the second half, when substitute Celia latched onto a pass down the right channel before cutting inside and curling a clinical finish into the bottom corner with her left foot.

But England showed real spirit, and gave themselves a lifeline just after the hour mark when they reduced the deficit. Ria Bose did well to reach a raking diagonal pass from Cecily Wellesley-Smith on the right flank, before whipping a low cross into the box for substitute Vera Jones to slide home and finish at the far post.

The Young Lionesses continued to press for a way back into the match and ended the game firmly on the front foot, with Jones unfortunate not to win her side a penalty after she was felled in the box.

But Spain did enough to keep England at bay, and Salomon’s team will now turn their attention to the next game which sees them face the Netherlands on Tuesday 3 March (2pm GMT).

England: 1 Kaiya Jota (Stanford University), 2 Ria Bose (West Ham), 3 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa) ©, 4 Laila Harbert (Everton, on loan from Arsenal), 5 Lucy Newell (Crystal Palace, on loan from Manchester United), 6 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (FC Rosengård, on loan from Arsenal), 7 Ava Baker (Ipswich Town, on loan from Birmingham City), 8 Omotara Junaid (Florida State Seminoles), 9 Princess Ademiluyi (Ipswich Town, loan from Gotham City), 10 Lola Brown (Crystal Palace, on loan from Chelsea), 11 Vivienne Lia (Hammarby, on loan from Arsenal)

Substitutes: 16 Vera Jones (Bristol City, on loan from Chelsea) for Brown, 17 May Cruft (Rangers) for Junaid, 15 Layla Drury (Manchester United) for Ademuluyi, 12 Jessica Anderson (Manchester United) for Baker, 20 Sacha Lewis (Manchester City) for Bose, 21 Lily Murphy (Manchester City) for Lia, 18 Chloe Hylton (Carolina Ascent) for Harber

Substitutes not used: 13 Eve Annets (Crystal Palace, on loan from Manchester City), 14 Lois Shooter (Chelsea), 19 Nelly Las (Ipswich Town, on loan from Leicester City), 22 Lily Clark (Aston Villa), 23 Niamh Peacock (Arsenal, Academy Development Registration with Portsmouth)

Head coach: John Salomon

Goals: Vera Jones 63