Women

Grace Fisk and Mel Filis feature for England U23s in draw with France

21st February 2022

Four West Ham United players were in action for their countries over the weekend as the international break continues.

With a whole host of competitions and friendly matches taking place over the previous week, more Hammers were in action over the last three days.

Hawa Cissoko started for France in their 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Tournoi de France. The 24-year-old defender started the match at the Stade Michel-d’Ornano in Caen and helped her team fight back from a goal down to turn the game on its head.

Marta scored from penalty spot after 19 minutes to give the away side the lead, but a brace from Paris Saint-Germain forward, Marie-Antoinette Katoto secured the win for Les Bleues – who subsequently move top of the group.

Cissoko was withdrawn after 56 minutes of the match, earning her fifth cap in the process

France’s final match of the group is against the Netherlands on Tuesday evening.

Grace Fisk and Mel Filis played in England U23s second friendly match against France on Sunday,

The French had edged Thursday’s friendly match 3-2 courtesy of a late penalty, so were hoping to improve in the second meeting.

But it wasn’t the start that the young Lionesses would have been hoping for as Naomie Feller raced in behind the defence to slot the ball beyond former West Ham United goalkeeper, Emily Ramsey.

It took only two minutes for England to respond, with Emily Salmon adding her second goal in as many games – scoring the equaliser after working her way into the area to finish.

England were unable to find the winner – but both Fisk and Filis completed their second 90 minutes in as many matches.

Across the pond, Dagný Brynjarsdóttir and Iceland faced off against the Czech Republic in the second match of the SheBelieves Cup, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Los Angeles.

Brynjarsdóttir scored the only goal in Icelands win over New Zealand in the opening game, whilst Kateřina Svitková, who helped her side to a 0-0 draw with the USA in their previous outing – was an unused substitute in this fixture.

And it would be Iceland that would prevail in this one, with early first half goals from Natasha Anasi and Selma Sól Magnüsdóttir putting them firmly in control of the match.

Michaela Khyrova scored a consolation with five minutes remaining, but there wasn’t enough time for the Czechs to find an equaliser.

Iceland will now face the US, knowing that a draw would crown them as champions of the tournament.

Svitkova and the Czech Republic will face New Zealand in their final game to decide who will finsh in third and fourth.