Report: England WU19s 6-0 Belgium

England women’s under-19s put in a dominant display as they got off to a flying start in their EURO qualification quest with a 6-0 victory over Belgium at St. George’s Park.

Two first-half goals from Vivienne Lia and a converted penalty from Ava Baker gave Lauren Smith’s side a cushion before Baker’s second, Laila Harbert and Jessie Gale wrapped up all three points with Sarina Wiegman and some of her senior squad watching on.

The Young Lionesses broke the deadlock in the third minute when Vivienne Lia headed the hosts in front. Lucy Newell’s initial header reverberated off the crossbar before it fell into the path of Lia, who nodded the ball into an unguarded net.

And Lia was heavily involved once again for the second. The 18 year old was brought down inside the area before Baker stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner from the spot.

Mari Ward was next to warm the palms of Louise Vervoort when her effort forced the goalkeeper into a low diving save.

Later in the half, Alexia Potter’s pass released Lia who raced through on goal. The Southampton forward beat three players before beating Vervoort to make it 3-0.

After the restart, Katie Reid proved to be a pivotal figure in the Young Lionesses’ defensive line, averting the danger in and around the defensive third. And England were in full control and were inches away from a fourth when Princess Ademiluyi fired over from close range.

Baker was denied her second of the afternoon moments later. Her strike beat Vervoot but Chionne Bonny’s goal-line clearance saved the visitors.

However, with just over ten minutes to play, Baker eventually got her second when she guided her half-volley calmy into the far corner.

Harbert’s long-range strike make it five for England. Her effort from 25 yards dipped up and over Vervoort, who was rooted to the spot.

And Gale capped off an emphatic victory when she latched on the end of a cross from Rachel Maltby to make it 6-0 which was how it finished in Staffordshire.

England: 1 Katie Cox (Chelsea), 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City), 3 Mari Ward (Bristol City), 4 Laila Harbert (Southampton), 5 Lucy Newell (Blackburn Rovers), 6 Katie Reid (Arsenal), 7 Ava Baker (Birmingham City), 8 Alexia Potter (Crystal Palace), 10 Lola Brown (Chelsea), 11 Vivienne Lia (Southampton), 14 Princess Ademiluyi (West Ham)

Substitutes: Jessie Gale (Arsenal & Watford) for Brown 60, 12 Erica Parkinson (Valadares Gaia) for Ademiluyi 60, 17 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa) for Ward 74, 20 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Oxford United) for Harbert 87, 16 Lauryn Thompson (Indy Eleven) for 7 Baker 87

Substitutes not used: 13 Eve Annets (Manchester City), 18 Zara Shaw (Liverpool)

Goals: Lia 3, 25, Baker 18, 77, Harbert 83, Gale 90

Head coach: Lauren Smith