Report: England 8-1 Haiti

Chizaram Ezenwata was at his irresistible best as England beat Haiti 8-1 in the group stage of the FIFA U17 World Cup.

Ezenwata scored three superb goals – all from inside the area – and Luca Williams-Barnett netted twice as England got their tournament up and running.

Reigan Heskey, Reggie Walsh and Alejandro Rodriguez all added to the act as the Young Lions responded well with three points in Qatar.

Franco Celestin did pull a goal back on 17 minutes – the only blot on an otherwise comfortable performance at the Aspire Academy.

England threatened in the early throes and found themselves ahead inside 60 seconds when Heskey created space in a wide area, whipping in a low ball to Luca Williams-Barnett, who got the Young Lions up and running.

His latest duel with Clifford Gene then went in favour of the Haitian keeper, who got down low to keep out an effort towards his left post.

Neil Ryan’s side continued to unpick the Haiti defence at will, and went close once more when Williams-Barnett’s effort was tracked all the way by Gene.

The Young Lions doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Heskey was challenged to the ground, in turn stepping up to the spot and finishing into the bottom corner.

But the two-goal lead came as a false sense of security, as the away team got one back when Celestin forced the ball home three minutes later.

It was then a test of character for Ryan’s side, who had to settle for their longest period out of possession, with the Haitian winger feinting inside and going close to an equaliser in that time.

England soon redressed the balance in their favour, continuing the pick at the Haitian defence. This time, Walsh was teed up by Heskey – who picked up his third goal contribution inside 21 minutes – when the Chelsea youngster unerringly curled one into the far corner.

The Young Lions responded well to their debut in Qatar, keeping their opponents largely at arm’s length with Kaden Braithwaite blocking a sharp effort as the only trouble.

It was so far, so good for the Young Lions at the break. And it pushed on as Rodriguez made his last play count by finishing into the bottom corner, before his replacement, Ezenwata, then added gloss to the scoreline with his only touch three minutes later.

Williams-Barnett was the next source of danger, collecting the ball inside the area before curling a low shot past Gene to make it 6-1. England were chock full of opportunities, and Ezenwata added goal number seven with a classy finish into the bottom corner.

England continued to accelerate past their opponents and it was crowned by the Chelsea talent who scored his third.

England: 1 Jack Porter (Arsenal), 2 ⁠Dante Headley (Manchester City), 6 ⁠Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 7 ⁠Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City), 8 ⁠Seth Ridgeon (Fulham), 9 ⁠Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais), 10 ⁠Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham Hotspur), 14 ⁠Reigan Heskey (Manchester City), 15 ⁠Kaden Braithwaite (Manchester City), 16 ⁠Bendito Mantato (Manchester United), 19 ⁠Reggie Walsh (Chelsea)

Substitutions: 12 ⁠Bradley Burrowes (Aston Villa) for McAidoo 46’, 18 ⁠Chizaram Ezenwata (Chelsea) for Rodriguez 56’, 4 ⁠Harrison Miles (Manchester City) for Ridgeon 61’, 11 ⁠Jake Evans (Leicester City) for Heskey, 17 ⁠Igor Tyjon (Blackburn Rovers) for Williams-Barnett 79’

Substitutions not used: 3 Malachi Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur), 5 Marli Salmon (Arsenal), 13 ⁠Lanre Awesu (West Ham), 20 Louis Page (Leicester City), 21 ⁠Dylan Moody (Southampton)

Goals: Williams-Barnett 1’, 64’, Heskey 14’, Walsh 21’, Rodriguez 55’, Ezenwata 58’, 69’, 80'

Head coach: Neil Ryan