Layzell starts for Young Lionesses against Spain | OneFootball

City defender Naomi Layzell started for England Under-23s as the Young Lionesses fell to a 2-1 defeat to Spain.

Operating at the heart of defence, the 21-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Murcia, meanwhile Gracie Prior remained an unused substitute on the continent.

The hosts made the perfect start by opening the scoring inside 10 minutes when Lucia Corrales Alvarez found space down the left and saw her cross flick off Teyah Goldie – sending the ball looping into the back of the net.

Spain then doubled their lead with just over 15 minutes remaining of the first half when Maria Vignola drove to the edge of the box, cut onto her left foot and drilled low into the bottom corner.

England’s best chance before the interval fell to the feet of Mia Enderby who broke clear of the hosts’ defence and elected to shoot early, sending her effort wide of the target.

Following the break, Spain continued to enjoy plenty of possession but weren't carving out the clear-cut openings they produced in the first half.

The Young Lionesses on the other hand searched for a way back into the game and halved the deficit with five minutes remaining when a Georgia Mullet cross when headed home at the back post by Isobel Goodwin.

They then pushed for an equaliser but the goal they craved evaded them as they suffered a narrow loss on their first outing this international break.

Next up for Layzell, Prior and .Co is a meeting with either Sweden on Belgium on Sunday 6 April.

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