Report: Korea Republic 1-2 England MU18s

England men’s under-18s capped off their UEFA Friendship Cup group stage with a 2-1 victory over Korea Republic.

The Young Lions, who were already guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, maintained their 100 per cent record thanks to a late Ryan Kavuma-McQueen strike, which followed Sam Alabi’s long-range goal either side of a Korea Republic equaliser.

Both sides jostled for possession in the early stages, but Korea Republic fashioned the best chance of the opening ten minutes. A well-worked move resulted in In-woo Lee curling an effort straight at Roman Dowell.

Ji-woo Kim, who scored in Korea Republic’s opening Friendship Cup game against Egypt, tested Dowell three minutes later, but again, his effort was straight at the Newcastle United stopper.

England began creating chances of their own, with Kyran Thompson going close soon after. Also of Newcastle, the winger cut inside from the right wing before curling a shot just over Jun-yeong Jang’s crossbar.

Both wings looked to be the Young Lions’ most likely route to breaking the deadlock as the first half reached the midway point. Michael Mills made an incisive run off the left flank, but his powerful strike was wayward of goal from a tight angle.

However, despite the growing dominance of Will Antwi’s side, it was Korea Republic who forged a golden opportunity in the 32nd minute.

England lost the ball high up the pitch, allowing Lee to thread a perfectly weighted through ball to Kim. But the striker was denied by an outstanding Dowell save, denying an almost certain goal as he ran uncontested towards the Young Lions’ goal.

Korea continued to test their opponents as Dowell made another stop, preventing Kim once more. The power of Kim’s shot was greatly reduced after a great piece of tracking back from Max Little to get a touch on the ball.

And the Young Lions went into the interval level thanks to some fine goalkeeping from Dowell.

England made a quick start to the second half as they upped the tempo of their attacking play. A whipped delivery into the penalty area by Oscar Sandiford evaded those in the box but offered promising signs to the Young Lions.

In the 57th minute, England took the lead after Alabi’s powerful strike from 25 yards. The midfielder found the back of the net following a period of sustained pressure.

However, Korea Republic found an equaliser through substitute Ji-Seong Lim in the 70th minute.

Antwi’s substitutions soon gathered their rhythm with Kavuma-McQueen going close. The winger saw his chipped effort rise over the crossbar.

Korea Republic were in the ascendancy as they looked for a late winner, but it was England who won the game through Kavuma-McQueen.

The on-loan Chelsea winger looped a shot into the top corner to maintain the Young Lions’ perfect record in the Friendship Cup.

England top group A and will now face the winner of group B on Saturday 3 October.

England: 1 Roman Dowell (Newcastle United), 2 Oscar Sandiford (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Gabriel Sambou (Chelsea), 23 Oliver Wilkinson (Ipswich Town), 3 Calvin Diakite (Chelsea), 20 Sam Alabi (Newcastle United), 11 Kyran Thompson (Newcastle United), 10 Erik Farkas (Liverpool), 8 Max Little (Southampton), 14 Michael Mills (Newcastle United), 9 Jashayde Greenwood (Chelsea)

Substitutions: 15 Hugo De Lisle (Leicester City) for Little 46’, 7 Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Portsmouth, loan from Chelsea) for Mills 60’, 18 Samuel Alker (Leeds United) for Farkas 60’, 12 Jake Wain (Manchester City) for Diakite 60’, Phoenix Offiah (Tottenham Hotspur) for Greenwood 60’, 21 Reon Smith (West Ham United) for Wilkinson 60’, 17 Ajay Tavares (FC Barcelona) for Thompson 72’, 4 Freddie Lawrie (Manchester City) for Sambou 72’

Substitutes not used: 13 Ben Vickery (Manchester City, 5 Marlow Barrett (Manchester City), 6 Tyrese Noubissie (RC Strasbourg)

Head coach: Will Antwi

Goals: Alabi 57’, Kavuma-McQueen 90’