Natasha Flint scored the only goal as England Under-23s edged host nation Norway in the opening match of the annual Nordic Tournament.
Some patient build-up play led to Jodie Brett playing in the Blackburn Rovers striker who calmly rounded the keeper and chipped an angled shot into the empty net.
Melanie Raey’s side face USA on Friday before finishing the round-robin competition against Sweden on Monday.
Nine members of this year’s squad, including captain Aoife Mannion, helped the Young Lionesses win the Nordic Tournament in 2017.
England: 1 Sophie Baggaley (Bristol City), 2 Molly Bartrip (Reading), 3 Paige Williams (Birmingham City), 4 Jenna Dear (Valerenga Damer), 5 Aoife Mannion (capt; Birmingham City), 6 Millie Turner (Manchester United), 8 Jodie Brett (Brighton & Hove Albion), 10 Katie Zelem (Manchester United), 14 Sarah Mayling (Birmingham City), 16 Natasha Flint (Blackburn Rovers), 17 Jemma Purfield (Arizona State University).
Substitutes: 7 Ella Toone (Manchester United) for Mayling 78, 19 Paula Howells for Purfield 78, 9 Claudia Walker (Everton) for Dear 83.
Substitutes not used: 11 Olivia Fergusson (Yeovil Town), 12 Georgia Brougham (Everton), 13 Anna Moorhouse (West Ham United), 15 Carla Humphrey (Bristol City), 18 Ellie Wilson (London Bees), 20 Abbey-Leigh Stringer (Everton).
Goals: Flint 35
Bookings: Baggaley 90+2, Howells 90+3
Head coach: Melanie Raey
