England Women’s Under-19s were edged out by Norway in the opening match of the Algarve Tournament on Wednesday.
Hannah Griffin opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark, finishing calmly from an angle after being played in by Jessica Park.
Norway levelled courtesy of an elaborate corner routine then went ahead by capitalising when the Young Lionesses lost possession in their own half.
The Scandinavians made it 3-1 early in the second half, but England substitute Ella Rutherford, on for Nicole Douglas, reduced arrears just moments after coming on, finishing off a move which began with goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.
Rehanne Skinner’s charges worked the ball down the left with Jessica Naz finding Rutherford, who slalomed into the Norway box before finishing with aplomb.
England take on the Netherlands on Sunday.
The Algarve Tournament is being used as preparation for the UEFA Women’s U19 Championship elite qualifying round which will take place on home soil between 3-9 April.
England have been drawn in Group 6 alongside Italy, Sweden, Turkey with the top-placed team in the round robin tournament qualifying for the Euro finals which will be staged in Scotland in July.
England: 13 Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), 2 Poppy Pattinson (Bristol City), 3 Shannon Cooke (Louisiana State University), 6 Georgia Eaton-Collins (University of Florida), 7 Lucy Fitzgerald (Millwall Lionesses), 8 Jessica Park (Manchester City), 9 Hannah Griffin (FC Saarbrücken), 10 Aimee Palmer (capt; Manchester United), 14 Amy Rodgers (Liverpool), 15 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 19 Nicole Douglas (Arizona State University).
Substitutes: 1 Emily Ramsey (Manchester United) for Hampton 46, 4 Sophia Pharoah (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Rodgers 51, 5 Niamh Cashin (Rider University) for Eaton-Collins 51, 20 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur) for Griffin 51, 12 Olivia Smith (University of Oklahoma) for Pattinson 63, 17 Sophie Domingo (Leicester City) for Fitzgerald 63, 16 Lauren James (Manchester United) for Park 63, 18 Ella Rutherford (Bristol City) for Douglas 63.
Substitutes not used: 11. Kate Wiseman (University of North Alabama)
Goals: Griffin 16, Rutherford 65.
Head coach: Rehanne Skinner
