Report: Mexico 2-3 England WU20s

England women’s under-20s shared an entertaining clash with Mexico in their final match of three games at the Pinatar Arena in Spain.

Lauren Smith’s Young Lionesses, in their first preparation camp for next year’s FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup, went into Tuesday’s game on the back of a 4-1 defeat against USA at the weekend which was preceded by a win over China PR last week.

And they had to show their character too, after slipping behind to a goal from Mexico captain Vareli Valadez in the fourth minute.

They quickly levelled things up with a minute though, when Jess Anderson’s cross was converted with a neat near-post finish from Vivienne Lia.

England went in front just before the half-hour mark when May Cruft fired home from just inside the area to give Smith’s team the edge at the break.

And the second half was only a few minutes old when England made it 3-1 with a flowing move from back to front saw Anderson produce another cross for substitute Ava Baker to finish off at the far post.

It was then Mexico’s turn to hit back, and they made it 3-2 just two minutes later to give themselves a lifeline.

Ultimately, England were strong enough to hold out and manage the game to ensure they ended 2025 on a high.

England: 1 Kaiya Jota (Stanford University), 2 Ria Bose (Sporting CP), 3 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa) (c), 4 May Cruft (Rangers), 5 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Leicester City, on loan from Arsenal), 6 Lucy Newell (Birmingham City, on loan from Manchester United), 7 Jessica Anderson (Manchester United), 8 Chloe Hylton (Carolina Ascent), 9 Jessie Gale (Portsmouth, on loan from Arsenal), 10 Omotara Junaid (Florida State Seminoles), 11 Vivienne Lia (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Arsenal)

Substitutes: 16 Laila Harbert (Portland Thorns, on loan from Arsenal) for Junaid 46, 12 Ava Baker (Birmingham City) for Lia 46, 15 Jessica Pegram (Rangers, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) for Wellesley-Smith 76, 18 Taylor Warren (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Hylton 76

Substitutes not used: 13 Eve Annets (Crystal Palace, loan from Manchester City), 14 Princess Ademiluyi (Fort Lauderdale United, on loan from Gotham FC), 17 Nelly Las (Leicester City), 19 Sophie Harwood (Arsenal), 20 Lois Shooter (Chelsea), 21 Damilola Atinaro (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Head coach: Lauren Smith

Goals: Vivienne Lia 5, May Cruft 28, Ava Baker 48