England MU17s 1-0 Belarus

 

The Young Lions, who started the first qualifying stage with a resounding 7-0 win over Armenia at the weekend, had to show some resolve in Borisov with the home side pushing them all the way.

 

And after holding firm to keep another clean sheet, Tom Curtis’ side will now go into their final match with Slovakia on Friday looking to round off their trip with a perfect record.

 

England’s winning goal came midway through the first half through Jamie Donley, with the forward getting on the end of a free-kick from his Tottenham Hotspur teammate and captain Rio Kyerematen.

 

Despite opportunities for both sides in the second half, with Belarus showing a threat from set-pieces, England always looked the more likely to score a second.

 

But in the end, they had to settle for a single goal victory to set them up for Friday’s game with second-placed Slovakia. (2pm BST).

England: 1 Tommy Setford (Ajax), 2 Josh Davidson (Liverpool), 3 Oliver Scarles (West Ham United), 4 Rio Kyerematen (Tottenham Hotspur) (c), 5 Tyler Fredricson (Manchester United), 6 Joshua Feeney (Aston Villa), 7 Leo Castledine (Chelsea), 8 Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), 10 Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Kane Taylor (Manchester City), 18  Samuel Rak-Sakyi (Chelsea)

 

Substitutes: 14 Emre Tezgel (Stoke City) for Donley 62, 11 Sonny Finch (Middlesbrough) for Castledine 62, 19 Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) for Rak-Sakyi 71, 12 Amario Cozier-Duberry (Arsenal) for Taylor 71, 9 Jobe Bellingham (Birmingham City) for O’Reilly 90

 

Substitutes not used: 13 Darryl Ombang (Leeds United), 15 Isaac Smith, 17 Habeeb Ogunneye (Manchester United), 20 Travis Patterson (Aston Villa)

 

Goals: Jamie Donley 27

 

Cautions: Joshua Feeney 49, Josh Davidson 82

 

Head coach: Tom Curtis