England Women’s Under-17s opened their Euro Finals campaign with a 3-2 win over Norway.
John Griffiths’s side, who eased into Belarus 2016 by winning five of their six qualifiers, took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark through Liverpool midfielder Niamh Charles with her sixth goal in seven Euro matches.
Chelsea forward Alessia Russo doubled the lead on 36 minutes. Remarkably, it was her 10th goal in this year’s Euro campaign.
England 3-2 Norway
UEFA Women's U17s Championship
Group A
Wednesday 4 May 2016
Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus
Lena Tyriberget’s side came roaring back to level courtesy of a second-half brace from Sophie Haug.
But the Young Lionesses found another gear and Arsenal’s Anna Filbey won the game with 11 minutes remaining.
Next up is host nation Belarus, who lost 5-1 to Serbia in their opening match, on Saturday afternoon.
The top two teams in each group will make it through to the semi-finals, while the top three teams at the tournament will qualify for the FIFA Women's U17s World Cup which will be held in Jordan in September.
England (4-2-3-1): 1 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City); 15 Lois Joel (Chelsea), 12 Anna Patten (Arsenal), 6 Lotte Wubben-Moy (capt; Arsenal), 3 Taylor Hinds (Arsenal); 4 Hollie Olding (Brighton & Hove Albion), 8 Laura Hooper (Arsenal); 11 Niamh Charles (Liverpool), 18 Anna Filbey (Arsenal), 7 Alessia Russo (Chelsea); 9 Ellie Brazil (Birmingham City).
Substitutes: 5 Grace Smith (Aston Villa) for Wubben-Moy 22.
Substitutes not used: 13 Katie Startup (Gillingham), 2 Flo Allen (Bristol City), 14 Kelsey Pearson (Blackburn Rovers), 16 Ella Toone (Blackburn Rovers).
Goals: Charles 16, Russo 36, Filbey 69.
Head coach: John Griffiths.
Referee: Vera Opeykina (Russia).
