England kick off U-17 Women’s World Cup with win over Kenya | OneFootball

Cecily Wellesley-Smith survived a Kenya VAR appeal for penalty under a FIFA trial of two per team at each match in the finals. (Sean Chandler / SPP)

England beat Kenya 2-0 in their opening FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup group stage game in the Dominican Republic.

Group C – North Korea 4-1 Mexico, Kenya 0-2 England Group D – Japan 0-0 Poland, Brazil 1-0 Zambia

The breakthrough came just before the half-hour mark, Omotara Junaid’s cross was handled in the box and Lola Brown converted the resulting penalty.

Head coach Natalie Henderson used one of her two VAR appeals – permitted as part of a FIFA trial for the finals – but the referee stuck with the on-field decision of a yellow for Rebecca Odato’s challenge on Junaid.

Vera Jones created chances for Junaid and Nelly Las but both were denied by Kenya keeper Velma Abwire, who also saved a Laila Harbert effort on the line.

Lauryn Thompson came on in the 84th-minute and made an instant impact, surging forward to fire home via the post.

England next face Mexico on Sunday, who were beaten 4-1 by North Korea for whom Choe Rin-jong hit a hat-trick.

Juju’s 19th-minute goal was enough for Brazil to beat Zambia, while Japan and Poland played out a goalless draw.

Next matches are on Saturday night (UK times, live on FIFA+)

9pm – Nigeria v Ecuador, Spain v South Korea Midnight – Colombia v USA, Dominican Republic v New Zealand

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