Report: Slovakia 0-4 England MU21s

Divin Mubama’s brace helped England men’s under-21s move top of Group D in EURO U21 qualifying as they remained perfect with a 4-0 victory over Slovakia at the Futbal Tatran Arena.

Mubama settled any early nerves as he completed a flowing move that started in the England defence by nodding home inside 20 minutes.

The Young Lions had to be patient for their second but Ethan Nwaneri made the wait worth it with a delightful dink over the Slovakia goalkeeper in the second half.

And from there, the floodgates opened as Josh King added a third with a low strike before Mubama bagged his fifth goal in five games for the MU21s to complete the rout.

England started the more positive of the two sides and duly got their reward for the early pressure as Mubama nodded home to provide the lead.

In a well-worked team move, Jamie Gittens delivered a brilliant ball to the back post off the left wing where Tyrique George did well to flick back across goal, leaving Mubama little work to do to head into the net.

Slovakia could have had the equaliser seven minutes later as Timotej Hranica delivered a brilliant ball in behind the England defence but Matej Riznic’s first-time effort flew over from close-range.

But England continued their pressure after the break as Jobe Bellingham headed just over from Nwaneri’s corner following the restart.

And Nwaneri ensured the Young Lions sealed their two-goal cushion after 60 minutes as he latched onto Sydie Peck’s lofted ball over the top to cushion the ball over Adam Hrdina and into the net.

England nearly allowed Slovakia back into the game with just under 20 minutes left when Bellingham got caught in possession by Samuel Gidi as he attempted to play out from the back.

Picking up possession at the edge of the box, the Slovakian midfielder duly attempted to lob Tommy Setford, who was off his line, but sent the effort wide.

And England ensured there would be no tense finish as they flew up the other end where Rico Lewis’ cutback off the right for King to fire a powerful low shot beyond the reach of Hrdina.

From there it was all England, with Mubama coming close with just over ten minutes left as he opened his body to shoot across goal from the right of the box but saw Hrdina just manage to tip the shot wide.

He would have his second minutes later, however, as King turned over possession high up the pitch for Mubama to run through a strike with aplomb for England’s fourth.

England: 1 Tommy Setford (Arsenal); 15 Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Genoa), 2 Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 4 Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), 6 Max Alleyne (Watford on loan from Manchester City); 7 Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), 14 Sydie Peck (Sheffield United); 19 Tyrique George (Chelsea), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), 11 Jamie Gittens (Chelsea); 9 Divin Mubama (Stoke City on loan from Manchester City)

Substitutes: 3 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) for George 61, 8 Lewis Miley (Newcastle United) for Peck 68, 18 Josh King (Fulham) for Nwaneri 68, 12 Kellen Fisher (Norwich City) for Lewis 78, 5 Ashley Phillips (Stoke City on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) for Alleyne 78

Subs not used: 13 Tommy Simkin (Leyton Orient on loan from Stoke City), 16 Thierry Small (Preston North End), 17 Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Strasbourg), 20 Tyler Dibling (Everton)

Head coach: Lee Carsley

Goals: Mubama 18, 87, Nwaneri 60, King 73

Yellow cards: Peck 45, Lewis 55

Slovakia: 1 Adam Hrdina; 21 Timotej Hranica, 2 Tobias Paliscak, 5 Jakub Jakubko, 15 Daniel Danihel; 19 Vincent Chyla, 22 Samuel Gidi, 8 Artur Gajdos; 10 Nino Marcelli, 13 Kaub Pira, 7 Matej Riznic

Substitutes: 3 Filip Mielke for Danihel 27, 11 Adam Griger for Pira 64, 16 Adrian Fiala for Gajdos 64

Subs not used: 4 Samuel Bagin, 9 Lukas Prokop, 12 Dominik Tapaj, 14 Tadeas Hajovsky, 17 Jan Murgas, 20 Patrik Dulay

Head coach: Jaroslav Kentos

Yellow cards: Fiala 70