Report: Belgium 1-2 England WU23s

England women’s under-23s rounded off the 2024-25 season with a 2-1 victory over Belgium, coming from behind to seal the win in Spain.

The Young Lionesses started positively, however, with three minutes played, Belgium took the lead. Forward Davinia Vanmechelen took aim from outside the box and superbly curled an effort into the top corner to make it 1-0.

England didn’t have to wait long to get back on level terms. In the 15th minute, Emma Coates’ side were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box and skipper Missy Bo Kearns stepped up to take the spot kick. The midfielder saw her initial effort saved before following up to convert the rebound.

And on 21 minutes, the Young Lionesses turned it around. An inviting ball into the box from Freya Godfrey out on the left was met by the head of Isobel Goodwin who made it three goals in as many games for her country.

After the restart, with Coates’ team in the driving seat and looking to extend their lead, England were awarded a second penalty of the contest after substitute Georgia Mullet was tripped inside the area.

Aston Villa’s Kearns stepped up once again only to see her effort from 12 yards brilliantly saved by opposition keeper Jorijn Covent who guessed correctly and got down to her left to make the stop and deny England a third.

Belgium dialled up the pressure heading into the closing stages of the game as they went in search of an equalised and, after hitting the crossbar in added time to see out a frantic finish, the final whistle eventually signalled a 2-1 win for the Young Lionesses.

England: 1 Kayla Rendell (Manchester United), 2 Ella Morris (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 Anouk Denton (West Ham), 6 Teyah Goldie (London City Lionesses, on loan from Arsenal), 7 Katie Robinson (Aston Villa), 9 Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses), 10 Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), 15 Gracie Prior (Manchester City), 19 Sarah Brasero (G.D. Estoril Praia), 20 Ashanti Akpan (Birmingham City, on loan from Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses, on loan from Arsenal)

Substitutes: 13 Emily Orman (London City Lionesses) for Rendell 45, 17 Lexi Lloyd Smith (Bristol City) for Godfrey 55, 23 Georgia Mullett (Southampton, on loan from Aston Villa) for Goodwin 55, 18 Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur) for Robinson 65, 14 Tara Bourne (Southampton) for Prior 65, 12 Lucy Parry (Liverpool) for Morris 85

Substitutes not used: 22 Eleanor Heeps (Tottenham Hotspur), 4 Ruby Grant (Bayer Leverkusen), 5 Naomi Layzell (Manchester City), 8 Malaika Meena (Bristol City) 11 Mia Enderby (Liverpool)

Head coach: Emma Coates

Goals: Kearns 16, Goodwin 21