Report: England MU21s 0-1 Portugal

England men’s under-21s slipped to a 1-0 friendly defeat against Portugal at Ashton Gate, where Afonso Moreira’s first half strike proved the difference.

In the first of two fixtures during the November international window, the Young Lions were undone when Moreira squeezed a low drive under Tommy Setford in the 28th minute.

It marked a second consecutive defeat for Lee Carsley’s side, who are preparing to defend their back-to-back titles at next summer’s European Under-21 Championships after qualifying as group winners in October.

Both sides created chances in Bristol, where Mezian Mesloub carved out Portugal’s first opportunity, cutting inside on his left foot on the counter-attack but screwing a weak shot directly into Setford’s grasp.

Carsley’s men responded with a free-kick from Ethan Nwaneri after Divin Mubama was bundled over, but his effort flew harmlessly over the bar before Moreira struck.

Let loose down the left flank, the forward pushed the ball beyond Max Alleyne and cracked an effort through Setford, whose strong hand couldn’t stop the ball from squirming into the back of the net.

The visitors might have doubled their lead before half-time when Moreira fired a low ball across to the advancing Mesloub, but a big chance went begging as he sent his shot into the side netting.

Portugal remained dangerous down the left after the break.

Martim Fernandes tried his luck from a tight angle, while Moreira continued to carry a threat as he picked out Sa who fizzed an effort just wide of Setford’s goal. The England goalkeeper would deny Sa again shortly after as he produced a remarkable instinctive save from the midfielder’s deflected effort from distance.

The Young Lions best opportunity came 16 minutes from time when substitute Mikey Moore was set free on the counter-attack, only for Joao Carvalho to get his body in the way as he tried to slip the ball home.

Debutants Trey Nyoni and Max Dowman, who became the youngest player for England at this level, swayed the momentum of the game in the home side’s favour when they were introduced from the bench.

As England went in search of an equaliser, Divine Mukasa fired a late effort over the bar, but there was no way through the resolute Portuguese defence, who earned their 11th clean sheet in 12 games.

England: 1 Tommy Setford (Stevenage); 14 Archie Gray (Tottenham), 5 Ashley Phillips (Sheffield United), 3 Max Alleyne (Burnley), 2 Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 17 Harrison Armstrong (Everton), 18 Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Hull), 11 Amario Cozier-Duberry (Middlesbrough), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Borussia Dortmund), 19 Tyrique George (Everton), 9 Divin Mubama (Southampton)

Substitutes: 21 Max Dowman (Arsenal) for Cozier-Duberry 61’, 20 Mikey Moore (Koln) for George 61’, 6 Trey Nyoni (Liverpool) for Armstrong 61’, 4 Stefi Mfuni (Coventry) for Phillips 61’, 8 Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton) for Norton-Cuffy 61’, 7 Divine Mukasa (West Ham) for Nwaneri 72’, 15 Jovon Makama (Norwich) for Mubama 72’
Substitutes not used: 13 Tommy Simkin (Doncaster Rovers), 23 Sydie Peck (Sheffield United), 16 Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (Koln), 22 Matty Young (Huddersfield)

Manager: Lee Carsley

Yellow cards: Gray 7’, Alleyne 86’

Portugal: 12 Joao Carvalho; 13 Diogo Travassos, 5 Goncalo Oliveira, 4 Tiago Gabriel, 19 Martim Fernandes, 23 Dario Essugo, 14 Mathias de Amorim, 17 Afonso Moreira, 20 Gustavo Sa, 7 Mezian Mesloub, 18 Rodrigo Ribeiro

Substitutes: 21 Mauro Couto for Mesloub 71’, 8 Joao Simoes for Amorim 71’, 6 Gabriel Bras for Gabriel 82’, 10 Joao Rego for Sa 82’, 9 Rafael Nel for Ribeiro 89’, 11 Noah Saviolo for Essugo 89’, 16 Diogo Prioste for Travassos 89’, 2 Francisco Chissumba for Moreira 89’

Substitutes not used: 1 Diogo Ferreira, 24 Afonso Silva, 3 Eduardo Felicissimo, 22 Joao Afonso

Manager: Luis Freire

Goals: Moreira 28’

Yellow cards: Sa 73’