Brazil pay the penalty as England progress to World Cup quarter finals

Two penalties from Georgia Stanway helped England reach the knockout stages of the U17 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.

It was a thoroughly deserved success for the young lionesses in a must win game in Jordan, although they had to come from behind to do it.

After draws with North Korea and Nigeria in their first games, both teams knew they had to win this one to progress.

That looked an increasing unlikely scenario for England when Kerolin pounced on a defensive mix-up after 34 minutes to put Brazil ahead.

It was against the run of play but deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half, England were level and it owed a lot to Harpenden’s Anna Patten.

The St George’s youngster was felled by Kemelli in the Brazil goal giving Stanway the chance to slam the ball into the roof of the net.

And it was another penalty on the hour which gave England the lead.

Again it was another clumsy foul, this time by Tainara on Niamh Charles, and the result was an even more powerful and precise spot-kick by Stanway, bouncing in off the crossbar.

Brazil had no answer, and while they threw players forward in the closing stages, England held on comfortably.

They now face Japan in the quarter-finals tomorrow (Thursday) with a 5pm kick-off.