Slovenia 3-1 England

U16 International Friendly
2pm, Tuesday 27 February 2007
FC Koper, Slovenia

Kenny Swain's U16s went down to a powerful Slovenian side in Koper, eventually losing out thanks to two goals in the last nine minutes for the home side.

The Young Lions, playing their first match of 2007, conceded an early goal due to a mix up in the defence and a poorly executed back pass that Adnan Besic took full advantage of to open the scoring.

Seizing on the loose ball Besic took the ball towards Declan Rudd's goal and finished clinically from the edge of the area.

England got back on level terms 17 minutes later through Dean Parrett, the 15-year-old midfielder who recently joined Tottenham Hotspur.

When Harry Forrester fired in a powerful effort from the edge of the area, Parrett was quickest to react to a fumble from the Slovenian keeper and stabbed home the equaliser.

Despite restoring parity in the scoreline, the visitors were unable to wrest control of the game and Slovenia continued to dominate the posession and scoring chances. Despite their dominance, Slovenia were forced to wait until nine minutes to go before they took the lead once more.

Antonio Delamea Mlimar reacted quickest to an inswinging corner and headed home from close range giving the home side sight of victory.

The win was assured when Robert Beric grabbed the third goal of the game just two minutes from time, as he latched on to a defence-splitting pass and finished with aplomb.

England: 1 Declan Rudd (Norwich City) (13 Dean Lyness (Birmingham City) 40), 2 Chris Solly (Charlton Athletic) (16 Adam Smith (Tottenham Hotspur) 58), 3 Ben Gordon (Leeds United) (17 Kyle Bartley (Bolton Wanderers) 50), 4 Oliver Norwood (Manchester United), 5 Jack Rodwell (Everton) (c), 6 Thomas Cruise (Arsenal), 7 Dean Parrett (Tottenham Hotspur), 8 Mitchell McPike (Birmingham City) (8 Jacob Mellis (Birmingham City) 40), 9 Harry Forrester (Watford) (14 Andros Townesend (Tottenham Hotspur) 58), 10 Jack Wiltshire (Arsenal) (15 Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur) 50), 11 Sanchez Watt (Arsenal) (12 Nicky Ajose (Manchester United) 40)

Goals: Parrett 19

Slovenia: 1 Jure Ikic 2 Boban Jovic 3 Miha Korosec (13 Rok Tribuson 47) 4 Antonio Delamea Mlinar 5 Danijel Stanarevic (18 Matija Suligoj 40) 6 Nik Cimpric (20 Denis Dzaferovic 20) 7 Mitja Novinic 8 Martin Milec (14 Bojan Zecevic 74) 9 Robert Beric (15 Denis Kramer 80) 10 Jure Bracko (19 Robert Kurez 50) 11 Adnan Besic (17 Damir Cehic 62)
Subs Not Used: 12 Nace Erzen 16 Denis Catic

Goals: Besic 2, Mlinar 71, Beric 78