Report: England MU18s 3-2 Colombia

England men’s under-18s emerged victorious in the opening game of their UEFA Friendship Cup campaign against Colombia at Centre De Sportif Colovray, ahead of three further fixtures in Switzerland.

An early strike from Michael Mills and a Jashayde Greenwood double aided a confident team display from Will Antwi’s side.

However, the Young Lions found themselves under some early pressure inside the opening five minutes, with goalkeeper Roman Dowell forced into making a couple of saves to prevent a Colombian opener.

England took the lead in the 12th minute, with Mills netting from close-range following a mis-hit shot in his direction from teammate Kyran Thompson.

Greenwood then came close to doubling the lead in sensational style midway through the first half, with the striker’s powerful 25-yard effort on goal rattling the crossbar with England continuing their search for a second goal.

Another superb long-range chance came on the half-hour mark, as Young Lions captain Tyrese Noubissie found himself inches away from nestling a free-kick into the top left-hand corner, with the strike denied by the fingertips of Samuel Martínez.

Colombia equalised through Matías Caicedo in the 31st minute, with a strike from just in front of the halfway line drawing the scores level at 1-1.

England responded strongly by restoring their lead on the stroke of half time, with Greenwood capitalising on the rebound from Erik Farkas’ left-footed effort that was spilled by Martínez, to make it 2-1 at the break.

Mills looked to find the net from range just four minutes into the second half, but was prevented by a diving save with England searching for an early third.

But 17-year-old Greenwood found the net to make it 3-1 with his second goal of the evening in the 54th minute, finishing into the top-right corner after a magnificent driving run into the penalty area.

Antwi’s triple substitution 25 minutes from time looked to provide further experience to Jake Wain, Hugo De Lisle and Sam Alabi- with the trio introduced as England looked to establish further control of the tie.

Miguel Agámez pulled a goal back for Colombia in the 75th minute for 3-2, calmly slotting the ball past Dowell to reduce the Young Lions’ lead before they began to ramp up the pressure on search of an equaliser.

But the Young Lions held firm, with a tremendous diving save from Dowell preventing an 88th minute attempt from Colombia substitute Edward Echeverria to keep the lead in tact and secure the win.

Antwi’s side are back in action against Egypt at 2pm on Sunday 27 September.

England: 1 Roman Dowell (Newcastle United), 2 Oscar Sandiford (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 Calvin Diakite (Chelsea), 4 Freddie Lawrie (Manchester City), 5 Marlow Barrett (Manchester City), 6 Tyrese Noubissie (RC Strasbourg), 8 Max Little (Southampton), 9 Jashayde Greenwood (Chelsea), 10 Erik Farkas (Liverpool), 11 Kyran Thompson (Newcastle United), 14 Michael Mills (Newcastle United).

Substitutes: 12 Jake Wain (Manchester City) for Diakite 64’, 15 Hugo De Lisle (Leicester City) for Little 64’, 20 Sam Alabi (Newcastle United) for Noubissie 64’, 19 Phoenix Offiah (Tottenham Hotspur) for Greenwood 76’, 17 Ajay Tavares (FC Barcelona) for Mills 76’, 18 Samuel Alker (Leeds United) for Farkas 76’, 21 Reon Smith (West Ham United) for Lawrie 86’.

Substitutes not used: 13 Ben Vickery (Manchester City), 7 Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Portsmouth), 16 Gabriel Sambou (Chelsea).

Head coach: Will Antwi

Goals: Mills 12’, Greenwood 45’, 54’.