Israel 1-2 England

UEFA Under 17 Championship, Group B
Wednesday 7th May 2003
Municipal Stadium, Santa Marta de Penaguião
3pm kick off

England's Under 17s got their Euro Championship off to the perfect start by overcoming a tricky test from Israel.

After going a goal down against the run of play, Dean Bowditch and James Milner restored normality to hand John Peacock's boys the three points.

In the first half England were in control and made use of their balance of possession finding a number of great openings, but, for now, the finish was missing. England were dealt a blow on 20 minutes when an injury to Luke Moore ended the Aston Villa striker's match, but an extremely able replacement in Milner was there to enter the fray in his place as England continued to press but failed to find the net before the half.

The lack of potency could well have cost the Three Lions as, shortly after the break Israel midfielder Mesaye Degu sent in a cross from the right which struck a defender's hand and the referee had no option but to award a penalty. Lior Rafaelov stepped forward to send the ball just out of the reach of the despairing dive from Manchester United 'keeper Thomas Heaton to make it 1-0.

However, within four-minutes England were on level terms. A neat passing move on the right allowed Philip Ifil to deliver a clever cross for Dean Bowditch and the young Ipswich star made no mistake with his precise volley past Guy Haimov.

England now sought the crucial winner and in the 54th minute it arrived. Middlesbrough midfielder James Morrison supplied a tidy pass to Milner with his first touch since coming off the bench and the Premiership's youngest ever player made no mistake to give England an important win, and the confidence boost that will accompany it, before they take on Italy in Municipal de Chaves on Friday.

Israel: Haimov, Ben-shimon, Shi Trit, Mamam, Jan, Maymon, Gilbert, Lousky, Salami, Rafaelov, Degu
Subs: Peretz, Ifragan, Warvick, Kim, Ben-basat, Chachamov

Goals: Rafaelov 47

England: Heaton, Ifil, Giddings, Huddlestone (Morrison 53), Cranie, S. Taylor, Leadbitter, Moore (Milner 20), Bowditch (Lennon 76), Doyle, Jarvis
Subs: Lennon, Morrison, McMahon, Martin, Milner, Forte, A. Taylor

Goals: Bowditch 51, Milner 54

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