Report: Egypt 0-3 England

Reigan Heskey scored twice as England progressed into the last 32 of the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar with a 3-0 victory over Egypt.

Heskey bagged a brace – and had the chance to add a third from the spot – as the Young Lions advanced, having beaten Haiti last time out to get up and running in the tournament.

Harrison Miles notched a third late on, and from that point onwards, the three points and qualification never looked in doubt.

The Young Lions looked in sync from minute one, cutting out any early advances, with the opening goal arriving on 14 minutes.

Heskey was back on the scoresheet, marking six goal contributions in two matches, when the Manchester City talent struck from a central position to make it 1-0.

England started with purpose, next setting up an opportunity for Chizaram Ezemwata, who took the ball away from Luca Williams-Barnett and played in Heskey, being denied his second in the early throes.

Chances started to dry up, but minutes before the break, the Pharaohs were kept on tenterhooks when their equaliser was pulled back for offside. Jack Porter saved twice, before the third attempt was sent into the top corner, but the Young Lions remained in the lead.

Egypt came on strong in the second half. Belal Attia and Ibrahim El Nagaawy were both denied by the Gunners’ young stopper, who had to be concentrated.

But the Young Lions soaked up the pressure and found themselves two goals to the good when the ball dropped to Heskey on the break, who swept home under Omar Abdel Aziz.

The momentum swung massively in England’s favour, pinning the hosts into their final third, and this time, Williams-Barnett was tugged to the ground by El Nagaawy to give Heskey the chance to add his third from the spot.

City’s youngster had time to steady his attempt towards goal after a long wait, where Abdel Aziz pushed the ball back out towards the sea of white shirts. The ball fell nicely to the number 14, who was unchecked and able to knock the ball back towards Ridgeon, where the Young Lions’ captain spurned the second shot from close range.

With Neil Ryan attempting to stem the flow with a tactical change, Reggie Walsh and Malachi Hardy were introduced as England were made to sit a little deeper and defend their lead.

The switches made by Ryan seemed to have ruffled the opponents, who fell three behind when Miles made his way from deep and finished from a tight angle.

England: 1 Jack Porter (Arsenal), 2 ⁠Dante Headley (Manchester City), 6 ⁠Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 8 ⁠Seth Ridgeon (Fulham), 10 ⁠Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham Hotspur), 12 ⁠Bradley Burrowes (Aston Villa), 14 ⁠Reigan Heskey (Manchester City), 15 ⁠Kaden Braithwaite (Manchester City), 16 ⁠Bendito Mantato (Manchester United), 18 ⁠Chizaram Ezenwata (Chelsea), 20 Louis Page (Leicester City)

Substitutions: 9 ⁠Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais) for Ezenwata, 4 ⁠Harrison Miles (Manchester City) for Williams-Barnett 66’, 19 ⁠Reggie Walsh (Chelsea) for Ridgeon, 3 Malachi Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur) for Simmonds 77’, 17 ⁠Igor Tyjon (Blackburn Rovers) for Heskey 85’

Substitutions not used: 5 Marli Salmon (Arsenal), 7 ⁠Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City), 11 ⁠Jake Evans (Leicester City), 13 ⁠Lanre Awesu (West Ham), 21 ⁠Dylan Moody (Southampton)

Goals: Heskey 14’, 55’, Miles 90’

Head coach: Neil Ryan