Report: Malta 0-4 England MU17s

Written by:

Hannah Walker

The Young Lions kick-off their UEFA U17 EURO first qualifying round with a victory

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England men’s under-17s kicked-off their UEFA U17 EURO campaign with a 4-0 victory over group hosts Malta on Thursday morning.

Neil Ryan’s team are in T'Qali for three games as they look to secure a spot in the elite qualifying round next spring, and they made a perfect start to their trip.

The Young Lions began on the front foot, and were rewarded when Chizzy Ezenwata put them ahead after 12 minutes. The Chelsea striker finished well in the box, striking home with the outside of his boot after a ball in from his club-mate Landon Emenalo was only half cleared.

There were no more goals in the first half, but Ryan’s side found their rhythm after the break, when Ezenwata added his second of the game just eight minutes after the restart, scrambling home from close range to double the advantage.

Izzy Ezenwata is congratulated after opening the scoring against Malta in Ta'Qali

A third goal arrived when substitute Max Dowman of Arsenal made an impact off the bench to all but seal the three points, following a mazy run which was topped off by a curled finish into the bottom corner.

And the fourth goal arrived in stoppage time courtesy of another replacement as Igor Tyjon's well-hit shot had just too much for the Maltese 'keeper in the last few seconds.

Ryan’s squad face will face Latvia in their second qualifying game on Sunday (10am GMT).

England: 1 Jack Porter (Arsenal), 2 Jun’ai Byfield (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 ), Bendito Mantato (Manchester United), 4 Chinaza Nwosu (West Ham United), 5 Malachi Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur) (c), 6 Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 7 Harry Howell (Brighton & Hove Albion), 8 Landon Emenalo (Chelsea), 9 Chizaram Ezenwata (Chelsea), 10 Finlay Gorman (Manchester City), 11 Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)

Substitutes: 14 Max Dowman (Arsenal) for Howell 56, 18 Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham Hotspur) for Ngumoha 56, 20 Igor Tyjon (Blackburn Rovers) for Ezenwata 71, 12 Lewi Richards (Chelsea) for Byfield 71, 17 Andre Dike (West Ham United) for Mantato 79

Substitutes not used: 13 Owen Asemota (Aston Villa), 15 Luke Rawlings (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 16 Anton Palmer (Middlesbrough), 19 Reggie Walsh (Chelsea)

Head coach: Neil Ryan

Goals: Chizzy Ezenwata 12, 53, Max Dowman 68, Igor Tyjon 90+4