Report: England WU23s 1-0 Netherlands

England women’s under-23s beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the semi-final of the WU23 European Competition at the Murcia Stadium.

New WU23s head coach Lydia Bedford secured qualification to the WU23 European Competition Final in her first game in charge of the Young Lionesses at this level.

Isobel Goodwin got the crucial opener with a low shot following Lenna Gunning-Williams’ work down the right, with Gunning-Williams recording another contribution against the Oranje following her goal in the 1-1 draw last month. And only a late Khiara Keating save went in the way of denying England's opponents a route back into the game.

England had the better chances, although not the possession, in the opening minutes.

Gunning-Williams played a ball across to Goodwin who could have made it 1-0, before the former missed a chance of her own.

The Netherlands offered little in the way of a threat in the first 45 minutes, though there was a moment where Eva Oude Elberink’s ranged attempt gave Keating something to think about.

Teya Goldie was up from the back and headed over as England continued to keep up the pace, and Bedford’s side went close again when Eleanor Klinger caught the crossbar.

Only a mixture of the woodwork, for the third time, and Regina Van Eijk prevented the Young Lionesses from taking the lead in Spain, to the disappointment of Mia Enderby and Gunning-Williams.

While at the other end, there wasn’t much for England's opponents to shout about in attack, Goodwin looked to force the breakthrough in white but couldn’t find the end product.

Fortunately, Jade Van Hensbergen’s attempt had too much on it as the Oranje looked to apply a response late into the first half.

England’s persistence and patience were rewarded within 60 seconds of the restart when Goodwin’s low shot found its way into the bottom corner.

Sarwie recovered well into shape on the hour, denying the Netherlands’ attacker a route towards goal.

The Londoner then worked her way forward and had her effort matched, a precursor to Enderby’s attempt which went just the wrong side of the post from a similar area.

Netherlands bayed for a way back into the game, but a lack of chances at either end suited the Young Lionesses who now look forward to Friday’s final in only the competition's second time running. They will face either Sweden or Norway in the showpiece.

England: 1 Khiara Keating (Manchester City), 2 Anouk Denton (Bay FC), 3 Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea), 4 Ruby Mace (Everton), 5 Hannah Silcock (Birmingham City, on loan from Liverpool), 6 Teyah Goldie (London City Lionesses), 7 Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur), 8 Lexi Potter (Chelsea), 9 Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses), 10 Eleanor Klinger (Stanford University), 11 Mia Enderby (Liverpool)

Substitutions: 21 Laila Harbert (Everton, on loan from Arsenal) for Potter, 19 Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City) for Gunning-Williams 74’, 20 Jessie Gale (Bristol City, on loan from Arsenal) for Goodwin, 12 Olivia McLoughlin (Leicester City) for Klinger 82’, 23 Vivienne Lia (Hammarby, on loan from Arsenal) for Enderby 93’

Substitutions not used: 13 Katie Cox (Aberdeen, on loan from Chelsea), 22 Natalia Negri (Ipswich Town), 14 Sarah Brasero (West Ham), 15 Gracie Prior (Manchester City), 16 Jess Simpson (Southampton, on loan from Manchester United), 17 Megan Collett (Southampton), 18 Neve Herron (Birmingham City)

Goals: Goodwin 46’

Head coach: Lydia Bedford