England’s U19s enjoyed a stunning start at this season’s European Championships against Lithuania. The Young Lionesses put 10 past the hosts to no reply as Poppy Pritchard and Michelle Agyemang both registered hat-tricks. There were also goals from Katy Watson, Vivienne Lia, Lexi Potter + Maddy Earl.
The Action
John Griffiths’ side were arguably the favourites coming into this opening encounter at the Darius & Girenas Stadium in Kaunas.
They got off to the perfect start in the sizzling heat when Darija Mikuckytė parried a long-distance shot from Ria Bose. Poppy Pritchard reacted quickest to the rebound to put England ahead in the fifth minute.
Maintaining their dominance on the ball against an inexperienced Lithuanian team, Sunderland’s Katy Watson broke through to double the score before Michelle Agyemang opened her account for the afternoon, turning it home at the back post. The Arsenal forward scored her second just ten minutes later when she reacted quickest to some inefficient Lithuanian defending before Pritchard matched her tally. The Young Lionesses went in in full control at half-time, 5-0 to the good.
They did not let up in the second. Pritchard sealed her hat-trick just a minute after the restart. The match ball would have to be shared, however, when Agyemang converted a sumptious free-kick for her third of the afternoon. Vivienne Lia and Lexi Potter demonstrated their clinical finishing before Maddy Earl rounded off the scoring, bundling it home deep into injury time.
Photo credit: Tyler Miller | Sportsfile
Stand Out Moment
When Michelle Agyemang stood over the ball 25 yards from goal, there was little doubt where it was ending up. The England forward sealed her hat-trick with a terrific curling free kick that beat a helpless Darija Mikuckytė in the Lithuania goal.
• Lituania 🇱🇹 0⃣-7⃣ 🏴 Inglaterra
• Michelle Agyemang ( 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝟓𝟒 )
• #𝐔𝟏𝟗𝐖𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎 | #𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐞𝐦 pic.twitter.com/ki5CHCekIn
— ᴊ ᴜ ᴀ ɴ ɪ ᴛ ᴏ (@Juanito__91) July 14, 2024
England’s Stand Out Performer
It is hard to choose between the Young Lionesses’ two hat-trick heroes. Both Poppy Pritchard and Michelle Agyemang got their European campaign off to a stunning start to take the headlines straightaway. Pritchard provided a great direct threat, running through the lines while Agyemang was as much a threat as a provider as she was in front of goal.
Quote of the Day
“This group are really focused in what they’re doing, what their strengths are and what they are wanting to achieve. Just asking them to reference that back is important. They showed that [character] in the Elite Round to in arguably one of the toughest groups and their focus across the games, particularly after they had qualified by the second match. They’re used to being really applied and focused and they showed that again today.”
John Griffiths, England U19s’ Manager
Teams
LITHUANIA
Darija Mikuckytė; Agnieška Kazarina, Karolina Jasaitytė (c), Atėnė Streckytė, Vanesa Vasiliauskaitė; Santa Lichareva, Aivė Andriuškeviči, Viltė Švarcaitė, Ema Kriaučiūnaitė; Karina Klevinskaitė, Gabriele Skurdenyte
Subs: Erneta Rinkevičiūtė; Rusnė Šešplaukytė; Meida Proscevičiūtė; Saulė Uždavinytė; Ineta Šukštulytė; Kotryna Maželytė; Žemyna Lekavičiūtė; Patricija Penkauskaitė; Austėja Petkevičiūtė
Manager: Cederique Tulleners
ENGLAND
Katie Cox; Ria Bose, Brooke Aspin (c), Katie Reid, Cerys Brown; Vivienne Lia, Alexia Potter, Maddy Earl; Katy Watson, Poppy Pritchard, Michelle Agyemang
Subs: Hannah Poulter; Evie Rabjohn; Ashanti Akpan; Lucy Newell; Mia Enderby; Freya Godfry; Louanne Worsey; Georgia Mullett; Araya Dennis
Manager: John Griffiths
