England U17s secure second win in Elite Qualifying Round against Serbia.

England 2-1 Serbia
UEFA European U17 Championship
Elite Qualifying Round
1.30pm, Friday 27 March 2009
Varosi Stadium, Szombathely, Hungary

England moved a step closer to May's European U17 Championship as a late strike from Benik Afobe secured a 2-1 victory over Serbia in Hungary.

This late winner ensures England maintain top spot in their Elite Qualifying Round, after they beat Portugal 1-0 on Wednesday, and they now find themselves in a good position to qualify for the Finals which will be held in Germany.

Luke Freeman scored his second goal in as many matches, steering home a Luke Garbutt cross on the stroke of half-time. It was the least England deserved in a first-half they completely dominated.

Serbia improved in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser, but Afobe converted with just three minutes remaining to put England within touching distance of the Finals.

The Young Lions conclude their Elite Qualifying Round against the hosts on Monday, knowing that a point will secure their place in Germany.

The Teams

England
1 Jed Steer, 2 James Hurst, 3 Luke Garbutt, 4 Gary Gardner, 5 Louis Laing, 6 Tom Parkes, 7 Jonjo Shelvey, 8 Jose Baxter, 10 Luke Freeman, 14 John Bostock, 16 Lateef Elford-Alliyu

Goals
Freeman 40, Afobe 77

Substitutes
13 Sam Jonhstone, 9 Benik Afobe, 11 Thomas Ince, 12 Josh McEachran, 15 Eddie Oshodi, 17 Jacob Walcott, 18 Sam Habergham

Serbia
1 Dmitrovic Marko, 2 Krneta Jovan, 3 Petkovic Marko, 4 Grumic Nenad, 5 Cosic Uros, 6 Radovanovic Stefan, 7 Markela Andrej, 8 Brasanac Darko, 10 Duricic Filip, 9 Simonvic Aleksandar, 11 Lukic Nenad

Substitutes
12 Dokic Nikola, 13 Rogac Ivan, 14 Trujic Nikola, 15 Nastasic Matija, 16 Lukovic Stevan, 17 Kvacevic Vadimir, 18 Stojiljovic Nikola