CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - Beth Mead scored the go-ahead goal in the 75th minute and England defeated Brazil 2-1 Wednesday in the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup tournament.
Andressa Alves converted a penalty kick in the 16th minute to give Brazil the early lead before Ellen White equalized with a shot to the bottom right corner early in the second half. It was White’s fourth goal in SheBelieves Cup games.
England and Brazil are bound for the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off June 7 in France.
England, which finished third at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, is ranked No. 4 in the world, while Brazil is No. 10.
The United States was set to play Japan in Wednesday’s late match.
This was the third international goal for Mead, who came into the game as a sub.
England was without midfielder Jill Scott, who withdrew from the competition in an effort to be fully fit for the World Cup.
Brazil’s Ludmila was stretchered off in the 35th minute with what appeared to be a knee injury.
England was runner-up in last year’s SheBelieves Cup. The Lionesses will play the U.S. on Saturday as the four-team round-robin tournament shifts to Nashville. Brazil faces Japan.
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