City duo suffer narrow defeat with England U23 | OneFootball

City duo Khiara Keating and Naomi Layzell both started in England U23s 3-2 friendly defeat to Germany on Thursday night.

The Blues goalkeeping played the full 90 and our defender was substituted in the 82nd minute at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium as the young Lionesses were unfortunately edged out by Kathrin Peter’s side.

England started brightly and were rewarded for their early attacking play when Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang, who is currently on loan at Brighton, collected the ball on the edge of the area and slammed into the top corner.

Keating was then called into action twice in quick succession when she excellently caught Cora Zicai’s header at the back post before adjusting well to acrobatically tip a goalbound cross away from the top corner.

However, Germany’s pressure paid dividends when Shekiera Martinez’s cross found Alara Sehitler who produced a neat half-volley into the back of the net.

OMCP | NAOMI LAYZELL

The visitors then took the lead when Sehitler slotted into the top corner following an in-direct free-kick after Ruby Grant was adjudged to have obstructed the ball inside the area.

In a first half that ebbed and flowed, England equalised five minutes before half-time when, on the stretch, Agyemang tucked home an accurate cross at the far, left post.

The pendulum swung once again shortly after the interval, though, when Sophie Weidauer collected the ball and fired an unstoppable effort past Keating to regain Germany’s lead.

That represented the game’s last goal as the visitors collected the victory.

Next up for Keating and Layzell’s England Under-23s is a friendly meeting with France on Tuesday 26 February at 19:30 (UK).