Report: Republic of Ireland 3-1 England MU21s

England ended their successful UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign with a 3-1 loss in the Republic of Ireland, despite taking an early lead.

Tyler Dibling’s effort in the seventh minute gave England hope of an eighth win from ten matches in their campaign, but goals from Tommy Lonergan and Conor McManus in the first half turned the tide in the hosts favour, before Lonergan notched again after the break.

Despite the loss, England ensured their passage to the finals in Serbia and Albania with a game to spare, while Ireland’s win saw them reach the play-offs.

Early in the match, Divin Mubama’s shot deflected across the goal face, allowing Dibling to ghost in and tap the ball home with ease.

Rory Finneran dispossessed Sydie Peck in midfield, before slipping in Lonergan, who steadied himself to bury the ball past the diving Tommy Setford from the angle.

On the half-hour mark, Josh King took up the ball and drove towards goal, beating three defenders, but his low shot zipped just past Noah Jauny’s near post.

But Ireland took the lead for the first time with another sharp move. Trent Kone-Doherty drifted inside from the left wing and squeezed a ball through to the marauding McManus, whose expert first-time finish beat Setford at his near post.

After the break, both teams continued to press as Ireland fought for second in the group and the play-off spot that came with it, while England tried to avoid defeat.

Lonergan’s effort was deflected from the edge of the box, then McManus should have done better than skewing his shot wide when he raced onto a layoff from Jacob Devaney.

But Ireland soon capitalised on their chances. A long throw prompted a scramble in the England box, allowing Lonergan to smash the ball through Setford despite missing an overhead kick a few seconds previously.

With a two-goal lead, Ireland allowed themselves to drop further back, but England were unable to break through a stern defensive line and created little in the game’s dying embers.

The result means England finished top of the group with 23 points, to earn direct qualification to next summer’s tournament.

Republic of Ireland: 1 Noah Jauny; 22 Oisin Gallagher, 5 Seán Grehan, 18 Alex Murphy, 12 Cathal McCarthy, 14 Rory Finneran, 6 Jacob Devaney, 3 Conor McManus; 8 Jamie Mullins, 7 Trent Kone-Doherty, 17 Tommy Lonergan

Substitutes: 19 Darius Lipsiuc for McManus 63’, 21 Romeo Akachukwu for Kone-Doherty 75’, 9 Michael Noonan for Mullins 82’, 10 Grady McDonnell for Lonergan 82’

Yellow cards: McCarthy 26’

Substitutes not used: 16 Conor Walsh; 13 Leon Ayinde, 15 Kian McMahon-Brown, 4 David Okagbue, 11 Ikechukwu Orazi,

Goals: Lonergan 22’, 63’, McManus 38’

Head coach: James Crawford

England: 1 Tommy Setford (Stevenage); 14 Archie Gray (Tottenham), 3 Max Alleyne (Burnley, loan from Manchester City), 6 Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (Koln), 15 Stephen Mfuni (Coventry, loan from Manchester City), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Borussia Dortmund, loan from Arsenal), 8 Sydie Peck (Sheffield United), 18 Josh King (Fulham), 20 Tyler Dibling (Everton), 9 Divin Mubama (Southampton, loan from Manchester City), 21 Amario Cozier-Duberry (Middlesbrough, loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)

Substitutes: 11 Divine Mukasa (West Ham) for Nwaneri 46’, 17 Harrison Armstrong (Everton) for King 61’, 19 Tyrique George (Everton) for Cozier-Duberry 61’, 16 Will Lankshear (Middlesbrough) for Peck 68’, 7 Samuel Amo-Ameyaw for Dibling 82’

Substitutes not used: 13 Tommy Simkin (Doncaster); 4 Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), 23 Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), 5 Ashley Phillips (Middlesbrough)

Goals: Dibling 7’

Yellow cards: Mfuni 28’

Head coach: Lee Carsley