England moved one step closer to the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup following a well contested 1-1 draw with Brazil.
Georgia Stanway opened the scoring from the spot in the 11th minute after Chloe Peplow was held back by Brazilian centre back Tainara.
The forward’s assertive penalty into the top corner was her second goal in consecutive games following her strike in the 3-1 win over North Korea on Sunday.
But Brazil levelled with only moments to go as substitute Ariadina Borges strike from the edge of the box zipped past Sandy MacIver and nestled in the bottom corner.
Anna Patten thought she had doubled the Young Lionesses’ lead 25 minutes from time after her header found the bottom corner only to be denied by the officials for a suspected foul.
Brazil created several chances in the second half, the best of the bunch falling to Geyse Ferreira whose poked effort was expertly handled by MacIver.
England’s backline were tested throughout but captain Grace Fisk and co. stood firm and were agonisingly close to keeping a clean sheet their resolute performance merited.
Mo Marley’s side face Mexico in their final group game on Sunday.
England: 1 Sandy MacIver (Clemson University), 2 Anna Patten (Florida State University), 3 Mayumi Pacheco (Reading), 4 Mollie Rouse University of Louisville), 5 Grace Fisk (capt; University of South Carolina), 6 Megan Finnigan (Everton), 7 Alessia Russo (University of North Carolina), 10 Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), 14 Chloe Peplow (Brighton & Hove Albion), 16 Chloe Kelly (Everton), 19 Charlie Wellings (Birmingham City).
Substitutes: 9 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) for Wellings 52, 8 Georgia Allen (Syracuse University) for Rouse 65, 18 Taylor Hinds (Everton) for Russo 83.
Substitutes not used: 11 Niamh Charles (Liverpool), Ali Johnson (Unattached), 13 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), 15 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 17 Rinsola Babajide (Liverpool), 20 Zoe Cross (University of Missouri), 21 Emily Ramsey (Manchester United).
Goal: Stanway (pen) 11
Bookings: Rouse, Finnigan, Stanway
Head coach: Mo Marley
