Alessia Russo scored twice to lead England past reigning champions Korea DPR 3-1 in their opening Group B match at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 in Dinan-Lehon on Sunday afternoon.

In sunny and hot conditions at the Stade du Clos Gastel, the first half saw the Young Lionesses make the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark, as Russo took a pass from Lauren Hemp before side-stepping left-back An Kuk-Hyang in the Korea DPR box and driving a low shot past goalkeeper Kim Yong-Sun.

England were a threat going forward at every opportunity, and they underlined their potency with a second goal from Georgia Stanway on the hour mark, as she struck home a fortuitous first-time finish from the edge of the Korea DPR box.

The holders then pulled a goal back through a close-range header from substitute Ja Un-Yong on 71 minutes, but Russo completed a fine day’s work with her second goal of France 2018, as she converted Hemp’s fine cross from the left for a deserved England victory.