England WU23s suffer narrow defeat in opening match of double-header with France

A late penalty ensured France beat England women’s under-23s 3-2 in the first game of their double-header this week.

The two sides met in Lisieux in France at the Stade Pole de Normandie on Thursday afternoon and will face off once again at 2pm on Sunday at Stade Louis Bielman.

France took an early lead this afternoon through Naomie Feller but the Young Lionesses equalised midway through the half when Charlton Athletic’s Katie Robinson crossed from the left-hand side and Racing Louisville striker Ebony Salmon scored with a low strike.

The home side regained their lead minutes later though, as Ella Pallis ensured the French went into the break with a narrow advantage.

Three minutes after half-time, England equalised once more when Salmon turned provider inside the penalty box to assist Liverpool’s Missy Bo Kearns.

But seven minutes before the end, France secured what would prove to be the decider from the penalty spot.

England goalkeeper Sandy MacIver was able to get a hand to substitute Manon Revelli’s spot-kick but the ball rebounded off the inside of the post to make it 3-2.

England: 1 Sandy MacIver (Everton), 2 Maya Le Tissier (Brighton & Hove Albion), 3 Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa), 4 Melisa Filis (West Ham United), 5 Grace Fisk (West Ham United), 6 Megan Finnigan (Everton), 7 Emma Harries (Reading), 8 Ruby Grant (University of North Carolina), 9 Ebony Salmon (Racing Louisville), 10 Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool), 11 Katie Robinson (Charlton Athletic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)

Substitutes: 17 Jessica Park (Manchester City) for Harries HT, 19 Poppy Pattinson (Everton) for Pacheco HT, 18 Molly Pike (Leicester City) for Grant HT, 14 Shannon O’Brien (Leicester City) for Felis 60’, 21 Asmita Ale (Tottenham Hotspur) for Le Tissier 60’, 12 Taylor Hinds (Liverpool) for Robinson 80’

Substitutes not used: 13 Fran Bentley (Bristol City, on loan from Manchester United), 15 Anna Patten (Aston Villa, on loan from Arsenal), 16 Gabrielle George (Everton), 20 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 22 Emily Ramsey (Birmingham City, on loan from Manchester United)

Head coach: Mo Marley

Goals: Ebony Salmon 20’, Missy Bo Kearns 48’

Bookings: Ruby Grant 37’