England 3-1 Portugal

U17 Pepsi International Tournament
Bristol City
31 August 2005, 7pm

England started the Pepsi U17 International Youth Tournament in style, beating traditional powerhouses of European youth football, Portugal, by a scoreline of 3-1.

A brace from Manchester City's Daniel Sturridge and a Nathan Porritt strike were enough to put England top of the tournament group as the Three Lions ran out comfortable winners.

After West Ham's James Tomkins had an effort cleared off the line early in the first half, Nathan Porritt, a late replacement in the squad for Sone Aluko, fired home from on 13 minutes.

Having received the ball under pressure in the box, Porritt manipulated a yard of space and slotted home to put England in front.

The Middlesbrough wide man then had a golden opportunity to double the lead four minutes later but headed against the bar with the goal at his mercy.

England continued to surge forward but went into the break only one goal up as first Theo Walcott and then Daniel Sturridge couldn't quite capitalise on good chances.

After the break England doubled their lead though as a ball from Tomkins to Porritt allowed the winger to cross to Sturridge who skipped around Boavista's Ricardo Neves to score his first goal at U17 level.

Portugal pushed to get a foothold in the game, and came close when Pedro Moreira's free-kick flew inches wide of the England goal, but the Three Lions sealed victory with another Sturridge goal.

Porritt's cross was expertly brought under control by Sturridge, who again rounded Neves to score.

With six minutes left Bruno Matias scored for Portugal from close range, but it was no more than a consolation as England ran out deserved winners.

England will now face the USA in Swindon on Friday, who played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Italy in their opening fixture.

England: Button, Rodgers, Tomkins, Walker, Molyneux, Walcott, Wright (Thompson 62), Kissock (Randall 67), Chandler, Porritt (Nardiello 72), Sturridge

Goals: Porritt 13, Sturridge 47,62

Portugal: Neves, Sa, Abreu, Santos, Moriera, Silva, Lopes, Fernandes, Carvalhas, Hugo, Ferreira.

Goals: Matias 73

Attendance: 3370