Report: Romania 2-0 England's Elite League squad
Young Lions dominate in Bucharest but can't overturn first-half deficit
England’s Elite League squad dominated much of their game with Romania but found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-0 defeat at Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest.
Formerly known as the MU20s, the England Elite League squad is open to players born between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2004 and will see them in action against Romania, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Czechia, Poland and Netherlands across the rest of the season.
Romania took the lead after just five minutes on Thursday afternoon when Cristian Mihai scored with a shot from 20 yards out.
The hosts then doubled their advantage ten minutes later when Alexandru Musi was brought down in the box and Atanas Trică converted the spot kick.
England dominated much of the possession and created several good chances but were unable to find the net.
England’s Elite League squad, who are led by interim head coach Joe Edwards, will now return home to face Portugal at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes on Tuesday 17 October (7pm BST), with tickets on sale now.
England starting XI: 1 Owen Goodman (Colchester United, loan from Crystal Palace), 2 Ryan Andrews (Watford), 3 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United (loan from Chelsea), 4 Jadel Katongo (Peterborough United, loan from Manchester City), 5 Ronnie Edwards (Peterborough United), 6 Darko Gyabi (Leeds United), 7 Omari Forson (Manchester United), 8 Daniel Gore (Manchester United), 9 Dane Scarlett (Ipswich Town, loan from Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Mason Burstow (Sunderland, loan from Chelsea), 11 Alfie Devine (Port Vale, loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Substitutes made: 14 Divin Mubama (West Ham United) for Burstow 60, 16 Oliver Arblaster (Port Vale, loan from Sheffield United) for Gyabi 60, 12 Nelson Abbey (Reading) for Katongo 69, 15 Mateo Joseph (Leeds United) for Scarlett 69, 17 Charlie Webster (Heerenveen, loan from Chelsea) for Gore 69, 19 Michael Olakigbe (Brentford) for Forson 69, 18 Emran Soglo (Olympique Marseille) for Devine 79
Substitutes: 13 Joseph Whitworth (Crystal Palace), 20 Luke Chambers (Liverpool), 22 Charlie Setford (Ajax)
Interim head coach: Joe Edwards