Report: Canada 0-2 England WU17s

England women’s under-17s kicked off the calendar year with a victory, beating Canada in the MIMA Cup in Spain.

Natalie Henderson’s team are gearing up for the final stage of qualification for the 2025 UEFA Women's U17 Championship, with the last qualifying round taking place in Finland in March.

The Young Lionesses struck either side of the break to run out 2-0 winners at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia. 

Aston Villa’s Freya Hirons opened the scoring in the first half with 24 minutes played before Chelsea’s Vera Jones doubled England’s advantage after the restart with 55 minutes on the clock.

The Young Lionesses return to action on Thursday 13 February when they face Czechia, before rounding off the international window with a game against Mexico on Saturday 15 February.

England: Silvana Marshall Miranda (Brighton & Hove Albion), Sacha Lewis (Manchester City), Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea), May Cruft (Rangers), Niamh Peacock (Arsenal), Zara Bailey (Tottenham Hotspur), Isabel Hebard (Bristol City), Eva Forster (North Carolina Courage), Freya Hirons (Aston Villa), Vera Jones (Chelsea), Jane Oboavwoduo (Manchester City)

Substitutes: Natasha Udebhulu (Southampton) for Hirons, Jhanaie Pierre (Tottenham Hotspur) for Oboavwoduo, Isabelle Sullivan (Chelsea) for Forster, Isla Law (Bristol City) for Sarwie, Elise Christian (Chelsea) for Lewis, Beau King (Leicester City) for Hebard

Substitutes not used: Hope McSheffrey (Arsenal), Issabella Gurling (Aston Villa), Isabella Cowley (Chelsea), (Manchester City/Derby County), Eva Hendle (Chelsea), Kyri Teer-Hutchins (Arsenal), Grace Collinson (Durham)

Head coach: Natalie Henderson

Goals: Hirons 24, Jones 55