Swede start for England
Monday, 18 October, 2010
Hallam Hope scores twice in opening Euro qualifying win.
by Glenn Lavery
Two goals from Hallam Hope either side of a Sam Magri strike gave England a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sweden in their opening Euro qualifier in Georgia.
Fresh from their triumph in The FA International Tournament in August, it took John Peacock’s side just eight minutes to take the lead in Tbilisi, Hope notching the first of his double.
Defender Sam Magri fired home the second on 23 minutes after the Swedes failed to clear an England corner and Hope sealed the win just two minutes into the second half with his fifth U17 goal in just four matches, finishing well following some good wing-play by Raheem Sterling.
It gives England the perfect start to their European Championship qualifying campaign, a competition their U17 predecessors won last season, and sets things up nicely for Wednesday’s game against the host nation, who beat Poland 2-1 in their Group 3 opener.