An emphatic second-half display from England ensured qualification to the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup.
The Young Lionesses had trailed going in to the second half thanks to a wonder strike from Jacqueline Ovalle, eight minutes before the half-time whistle.
However, Mo Marley’s side turned on the style and scored five goals in 23 minutes to cement their position at the top of Group B.
Mexico started the game with attacking intent, their slick passing and tireless pressing disrupting England in the opening exchanges.
As the half went on, England slowly grew in to the game with Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp at the heart of it. Her driving runs were too hot for the Mexican defence but her efforts came to nothing.
Despite their growing confidence, Mexico’s dominance proved too much and were rewarded with a stunning strike from their top scorer Ovalle.
The 18-year-old found space on the right-hand side and curled a fantastic effort beyond the outstretched Sandy MacIver, for her fourth goal of the tournament.
But that proved to be the end of Mexican fiesta as the Young Lionesses came roaring out after the break.
England came close three minutes after the restart when Chloe Kelly’s goalbound effort was inadvertently cleared off the line by Megan Finnigan following a goalmouth scramble.
They found the equaliser just a minute later, though, thanks to Alessia Russo. The University of North Carolina scholar latched on to Georgia Stanway’s through ball before rounding the Mexican keeper.
And just two minutes later England completed the turnaround. A mix up between the Mexicans resulted in Kelly sneaking in behind before dispatching her effort in off the post.
England were soon out of sight thanks to Hemp. Russo found Hemp unmarked on the edge of the box and the would-be player of the match caressed a low effort into the bottom corner.
Stanway then further compounded Mexico’s misery with a driving run from her own half before unleashing a fantastic shot in off the post, giving the keeper no chance.
Hemp added her second of the game in the 68th minute, the City striker was quickest to react to Kelly’s parried strike, calmly slotting beyond Emily Alvarado.
Hemp’s hot streak was completed by scoring her third. Rounding the Mexico defenders before being taken down by Alvarado, Hemp fell on to the ball, which squirmed its way in to the net.
The result means England top Group B and progress alongside North Korea, with either France or the Netherlands awaiting them in the next round.
England: 1 Sandy MacIver (Clemson University), 2 Anna Patten (Florida State University), 3 Mayumi Pacheco (Reading), 4 Mollie Rouse (University of Louisville), 5 Grace Frisk (capt; University of South Carolina), 6 Megan Finnigan (Everton), 7 Alessia Russo (University of North Carolina), 9 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), 10 Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), 14 Chloe Peplow (Brighton & Hove Albion), 16 Chloe Kelly (Everton).
Substitutes: 8 Georgia Allen (Syracuse University) for Stanway 71, 11 Niamh Charles (Liverpool) for Peplow 76, 12 Ali Johnson (Unattached) for Russo 81.
Substitutes not used: 13 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), 21 Emily Ramsey (Manchester United), 15 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 17 Rinsola Babajide (Liverpool), 18 Taylor Hinds (Everton), 19 Charlie Wellings (Birmingham City), 20 Zoe Cross (University of Missouri).
