Report: England MU21s 4-2 Kazakhstan

England took another step towards qualification for next summer’s UEFA U21 European Championship after a thrilling 4-2 win over Kazakhstan at Molineux.

Max Alleyne’s thunderous volley and Will Lankshear’s smart finish settled the Group D clash to give Lee Carsley’s side the chance to book their place in Serbia and Albania with a match to spare when they take on Slovakia on Friday 2 October.

Artem Litosh had given Kazakhstan an early lead, but Ali Turganov’s own goal and Josh Acheampong’s effort turned the game on its head during a frenetic first half.

But Saif Popov drew the visitors level just before the break, before England went through the gears in the second half to grind out the victory.

England looked to start the brighter of the two teams, but an early defensive error led to Kazakhstan winning the first corner of the game.

And from that set piece, the visitors took a third-minute lead as Miras Omatay’s delivery was met by Litosh on the edge of the six-yard box, who guided the ball home.

The opening ten minutes proved lively as Lee Carsley’s men looked to draw level with Jamie Gittens, who later went off injured at the end of the first half, proving to be a constant thorn in the side of Kazakhstan with many surging runs down the left wing.

Divin Mubama forced Miras Rikhard into a smart save low down soon after before a stroke of good fortune had the Young Lions level in the 26th minute.

After the Kazakh shot stopper kept out Josh King’s drive, the ball then ricocheted around the box before hitting Turganov and finding its way into the net.

The Young Hawks had a golden chance to retake the lead just moments after being pegged back, but Popov lashed his effort wide after collecting Omatay’s cross.

But England, who enjoyed large swathes of the possession during the first half, found themselves ahead just after the half-hour mark through Acheampong, who expertly threaded the ball into the bottom corner with a sweetly struck low shot.

That lead was nearly extended, but Stephen Mfuni’s effort, which had Rikhard beaten, was kept out by the bar before Ethan Nwaneri’s low drive was smartly stopped by the Kazakh No.1.

Kazakhstan continued to battle and found parity going into half-time after Popov poked the ball home after seeing his original shot saved by James Beadle following a long throw that the hosts failed to clear.

England came out of the blocks fast upon the restart as King and Tyrique George both tested Rikhard in quick succession, while Mubama fired straight at him in the 55th minute.

Alleyne joined his fellow centre-half on the scoresheet, giving England the lead for a second time, on the hour as he volleyed home Acheampong’s cushioned header from Nwaneri’s dinked free-kick.

Beadle ensured the newfound advantage was maintained with a strong stop just moments later, with Jobe Bellingham’s curling effort just inches away from finding its intended target.

A late double save from Beadle kept England’s noses in front before Lankshear completed the scoring.

England: 1 James Beadle (Birmingham City), 2 Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 3 Max Alleyne (Burnley), 4 Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), 15 Stephen Mfuni (Coventry City), 18 Joshua King (Fulham), 7 Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), 14 Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Borussia Dortmund), 9 Divin Mubama (Southampton), 11 Jamie Gittens (Chelsea)

Substitutes: 19 Tyrique George (Everton) for Gittens 39’, 23 Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) for Gray 69’, 17 Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Strasbourg) for Nwaneri 69’, 16 Will Lankshear (Middlesbrough) for Mubama 69’, 20 Tyler Dibling (Everton) for King 79’

Substitutes not used: 22 Tommy Setford (Stevenage), 5 Ashley Phillips (Middlesbrough), 21 Amario Cozier-Duberry (Middlesbrough), 8 Lewis Miley (Newcastle United)

Goals: Ali Turganov OG 26’, Josh Acheampong 32’, Max Alleyne 60’, Will Lankshear 90+1’

Head coach: Lee Carsley

Kazakhstan: 1 Miras Rikhard, 22 Ramazan Karimov, 3 Ali Turganov, 4 Sultan Askarov, 13 Sagi Malikaidar, 8 Olzhas Baibek, 7 Abinur Nurymbet, 20 Miras Omatay, 10 Yan Trufanov, 9 Artem Litosh, 11 Saif Popov

Substitutes: 23 Mansur Birkurmanov for Litosh 65’, 6 Zhansultan Mukhametkhanov for Baybek 65’, 17 Magzhan Toktybay for Popov 71’, 19 Maksat Abraev for Trufanov 71’, 5 Salamat Zhumabekov for Omatay 75’

Substitutes not used: 12 Sherkhan Kalmurza, 21 Mukhamedali Abish, 2 Nikita Gubarev, 15 Sergey Ivanov

Goals: Artem Litosh 3’, Saif Popov 43’

Head coach: Vladimir Cheburin