Chloe Kelly strike earns England Women's U19s draw in Italy

Wednesday 04 Nov 2015
Chloe Kelly (No11) is congratulated after scoring against Italy

A Chloe Kelly goal just before half-time earned England Women’s Under-19s a creditable 1-1 draw against Italy.

The hosts took the lead on 41 minutes, but Arsenal striker Kelly, who helped the Gunners win the Continental Tyres Cup on Sunday, levelled matters just 60 seconds later.

Head coach Mo Marley made five substitutions in the second half to give game-time to as many players as possible as she continues her preparations for next spring’s Euro qualifiers.

The draw for the qualifiers will take place on Friday 13 November.

England, winners in 2009, are among the top seeds, alongside Spain, Switzerland, Germany, France and Finland.

The Elite Round qualifiers will take place in April 2016.

The Euro finals will be staged in Slovakia in July.

England: 13 Sandy MacIver (Manchester City), 2 Eloise Wilson (Reading), 3 Paula Howells (London Bees), 4 Keira Walsh (C; Manchester City), 5 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 7 Evie Clarke (Arsenal), 8 Sophie Stamp (Doncaster Rovers Belles), 9 Mollie Green (Liverpool), 10 Jenna Legg (Chelsea), 11 Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), 12 Mayumi Pacheco (Liverpool).

Substitutes: 15 Ashleigh Plumptre (Notts County) for Howells HT, 14 Lauren Davies (Everton) for Legg 65, 16 Emma Kelly (Sunderland) for Kelly 65, 17 Lucy Loomes (London Bees) for Clarke 81, 18 Atlanta Primus (Chelsea) for Williamson 81.

Substitutes not used: 1 Sian Rogers (Arsenal), 6 Gabrielle George (Everton).

Goals: Kelly 42

Head coach: Mo Marley

By Glenn Lavery