City stars Steph Houghton, Keira Walsh, Demi Stokes and Georgia Stanway lined up for Phil Neville’s side, with striker Tessa Wullaert starting for Belgium fresh from our summer tour of the US.
Houghton hit the post with an early effort for the Lionesses before Stanway played a delightful through-ball for Jodie Taylor to break the deadlock.
Beth Mead then doubled the lead for England, who looked to be in the driving seat at Den Dreef Stadium.
But the hosts found a foothold in the game thanks to a fortuitous goal that cannoned in off the back of goalkeeper Carly Telford, before Ella van Kerkhoven twice profited from defensive slips to fire Belgium in front.
England looked shell-shocked by the reversal but were handed a lifeline with a late penalty for handball that was expertly dispatched by former City winger Nikita Parris late on.
City face Manchester United at the Etihad on September 7 in the inaugural Manchester Derby.
Tickets £7 adults and three under-16s go free!
Buy your tickets here.
