Report: England MU21s 4-1 Andorra

 

Goals from Folarin Balogun, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Gordon helped the Young Lions to a comfortable victory that puts them just three points behind group leaders Czech Republic. 

 

Strikes from Balogun and Ramsey put England two goals to the good at the break before Gibbs-White and Gordon struck in the second half either side of a terrific solo strike from Albert Rosas for the visitors 

 

England started brightly and found themselves in front after just five minutes. 

 

Harvey Elliott and Valentino Livramento had already created a number of chances down the right-hand side and were rewarded after just six minutes as Livramento crossed low into the six-yard box for Balogun to flick home. 

 

The Young Lions continued to see most of the ball and were nearly two ahead after 12 minutes, Noni Madueke driving inside from the left wing and firing a shot low that was well-saved by Ion Rodriguez.  

 

The chances continued to come for England, Luke Thomas heading straight at the ‘keeper from an Elliott cross after a lovely, lofted pass from Tommy Doyle who was superb at the heart of England’s midfield throughout the evening. 

 

Gibbs-White also starred in a more advanced role and had a chance to extend England’s lead after being played in by Balogun but could only fire over from close-range. 

England went two ahead through a stunning Ramsey strike just after the half hour.  

 

Gibbs-White was denied from close-range after good work down the left before the ball fell to Ramsey on the edge of the box who rifled home into the bottom corner.

 

Carsley's side found their third goal soon after in the second-half. Madueke, a livewire throughout the game, cut in from the left and fed Balogun whose shot was saved before Gibbs-White slotted home the rebound. 

 

Andorra then got themselves back into the game with a terrific goal from Albert Rosas. The forward surged forward with the ball from halfway after pinching the ball off Livramento, striding forward and inside a defender before firing past Josef Bursik to reduce the deficit with 25 minutes to play. 

 

England continued to dominate play despite conceding, but the Andorra defence remained stubborn throughout the tie at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. 

It took a piece of brilliance from Anthony Gordon to break them open again with ten minutes to play as the Everton man fired home an outstanding volley from Livramento’s cross, picking out the bottom corner with precision to restore England’s three-goal lead. 

 

England continued to search for more goals despite their lead, with substitute Angel Gomes coming closest with a free-kick that edged just past the post. 

 

The Young Lions now travel to Albania in search of another three points next Tuesday as they look to qualify for UEFA U21 EURO. 

 

England: 1 Josef Bursik (Stoke City), 3 Luke Thomas (Leicester City), 4 Levi Colwill (Huddersfield Town, loan from Chelsea), 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Stoke City, loan from Manchester City) (c), 6 Thomas Doyle (Cardiff City, loan from Manchester City), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), 8 Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), 9 Folarin Balogun (Middlesbrough, loan from Arsenal), 10 Morgan Gibbs-White (Sheffield United, loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), 20 Noni Madueke (PSV Eindhoven), 21 Valentino Livramento (Southampton) 

 

Substitutes: 17 Curtis Jones (Liverpool) for Gibbs-White 62, 11 Anthony Gordon (Everton) for Madueke 71, 19 Angel Gomes (Lille) for Ramsey 82 

 

Substitutes not used: 12 Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest, loan from Middlesbrough) 15 Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United), 16 Ben Johnson (West Ham United), 18 James Garner (Nottingham Forest, loan from Manchester United), Carl Rushworth (Walsall, loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), 23 Keane Lewis-Potter (Hull City) 

 

Head coach: Lee Carsley 

 

Goals: Folarin Balogun 6, Jacob Ramsey 34, Morgan Gibbs-White 54, Anthony Gordon 80