Pearson said Lionesses can build on World Cup opener

Kelsey Pearson believes England are primed to advance to the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup.

The Blackburn Rovers defender helped John Griffiths’s side earn a 3-3 draw with North Korea at the weekend.

Pearson put in a solid display in a largely unfamiliar right-back role as Alessia Russo’s 94th-minute equaliser earned the Lionesses an opening-day point.

Pearson said her team-mates are ready to build on Saturday’s draw, with Nigeria, who lost their opening match to Brazil, next up on Tuesday.

She explained: “We didn’t want to go into the Nigeria game having lost to North Korea so we are in a good place now.

“That draw has put us in good stead for the next game so hopefully we can go one better and get our first win.

“That was our first World Cup game as a group so now we know what to expect we can keep on improving.”

Pearson helped England finish third at the European Championship in May, a result that allowed them to make it to the World Cup, which is being staged in Jordan.

This is the first England side to qualify outright for the tournament; the 2008 squad of Lucy Bronze, Isobel Christiansen and Jordan Nobbs were invited to take part.

And Pearson was pleased with how England coped with the 2008 winners.

Pearson (No14) celebrates Alessia Russo's equaliser over North Korea

She said: “I thought we dominated the first half and maybe should have had a few more goals at half time. But credit to North Korea after the break, they made us battle to the end.

“As a defender you obviously don’t want to concede three goals but we have learnt from it. Thankfully the attackers did well for us.

“I think a draw was a fair result in the end. I don’t think either side deserved to lose. We went into the game as the underdogs so we’ve got to be happy with a point.”

Pearson added: “Representing your country at a World Cup is amazing and I’m loving every minute.”

England’s final Group C match is against Brazil on Saturday.