Report: England WU17s 3-1 Czechia

England women’s under-17s made it back-to-back victories to kick-off 2025, seeing off Czechia a 3-1 win in the MIMA Cup.

The Young Lionesses came from behind late in the day, scoring three goals in the final four minutes of the game to build on Tuesday’s 2-0 triumph against Canada in the tournament which is being staged at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, Spain.

Following a goalless first half, Stella Balázsová opened the scoring for Czechia ten minutes after the restart and it was a lead England’s opponents held right up until the final five minutes when Natalie Henderson’s side hit back.

With 86 minutes on the watch, Chelsea’s Eva Hendle equalised for the Young Lionesses and they weren’t finished there.

In quick succession, Tottenham Hotspur’s Jhanaie Pierre turned it around, finding the back of the net just a minute later to make it 2-1 to England with the clock ticking and the full time whistle looming.

And just to make sure, her Spurs team-mate Zara Bailey made it 3-1 in the 90th minute to seal victory for Henderson’s side – who are gearing up for the final stage of qualification for the 2025 UEFA Women's U17 Championship – as their unbeaten start to the calendar year continues.

England: Hope McSheffrey (Arsenal), Elise Christian (Chelsea), Niamh Peacock (Arsenal), Isla Law (Bristol City), Zara Bailey (Tottenham Hotspur), Isabelle Sullivan (Chelsea), Evie McCaffrey (Manchester City/Derby County), Vera Jones (Chelsea), Isabel Hebard (Bristol City), Natasha Udebhulu (Southampton), Jhanaie Pierre (Tottenham Hotspur)

Substitutes: Eva Hendle (Chelsea) for Hebard, May Cruft (Rangers) for McCaffrey, Kyri Teer-Hutchins (Arsenal) for Jones, Eva Forster (North Carolina Courage) for Sullivan, Isabella Cowley (Chelsea) for Peacock, Sacha Lewis (Manchester City) for Christian, Freya Hirons (Aston Villa) for Udebhulu

Substitutes not used: Silvana Marshall Miranda (Brighton & Hove Albion), Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea), Jane Oboavwoduo (Manchester City), Issabella Gurling (Aston Villa) , Beau King (Leicester City), Grace Collinson (Durham)

Head coach: Natalie Henderson

Goals: Hendle 86, Pierre 87, Bailey 90