Report: England WU17s 2-1 Türkiye

England women’s under-17s beat Türkiye by 2-1 as the Young Lionesses kicked-off the second round of UEFA Women’s U17 European Championship qualifiers in Croatia.

Kerri Welsh’s side went ahead on the stroke of half time through Bryony Brodie to take a slender lead into the break.

Second-half substitute Freya Hirons then doubled England’s lead with around 20 minutes left on the watch.

Türkiye’s Ela Tong pulled a goal back, halving the deficit five minutes later but the Young Lionesses held on for victory.

England are back in action on Monday 16 March (11am GMT kick-off) against hosts Croatia.

The Young Lionesses topped their group in round one of qualifying in October to advance to League A.

However, to claim one of the seven remaining spots in the finals in May, England must finish first in the group.

England: 13 Erin Walker (Manchester City), 4 Romia Gagliano (FC Basel), 5 Lucy Robinson (Manchester United), 6 Emilie Gay (Brighton & Hove Albion), 8 Annabelle Tang (Arsenal), 9 Abbie Jones (Sheffield United), 10 Bryony Brodie (Arsenal), 11 Cairo Antoine (Arsenal), 12 Maisie Brickell (Chelsea), 16 Niobe Mellor-Antill (Manchester City), 18 Aysia Matabaro (Chelsea)

Substitutes: 17 Sophia Burton (Manchester City) for Brodie 46’, 2 Zoe Ciccardini (Cheslea) for Mellor-Antill 64’, 15 Amarachukwu Nwankwo (Manchester City) for Gagliano 64’, 20 Freya Hirons (Manchester City) for Jones 64’, 7 Mia Dixon (Arsenal) for 70’

Substitutes not used: 1 Evie Mitchell (Manchester United), 3 Katie Scott (Aston Villa), 14 Alexandra De Beaulac (Players Development Academy), 19 Chelsea N’Drin (Liverpool)
Head coach: Kerri Welsh

Goals: Brodie 45+1’, Hirons 68’