VIDEO: Second-half show for Lions
Friday, 31 August, 2012
England U17s cruise to 4-1 win over Turkey
By James Marshall
Goals from Jerome Sinclair, Reece Brown, Kean Bryan and Connor Ogilvie gave England U17s a well deserved 4-1 win against Turkey in the U17 St. George's Park International Tournament in Northampton.
John Peacock's side started the better of the two sides with some slick passing in the opening ten minutes but couldn't find a way past the dogged Turkish defence.
It wasn't until the 22nd minute that England made the breakthrough. After some neat passing in midfield, the ball fell to Sinclair, whose deflected shot from outside the box was enough to take it past Akdag in the Turkish goal.
Chances were few and far between in the first-half, but it was the home side who deserved to be in front at the break.
Turkey made a frantic start to the second half as they pushed England back into their own half, putting the Young Lions on the back foot for the first time in the game. However, it was to no avail as England scored two goals in three minutes.
The first came from Brown who broke through the heart of midfield with his electric pace, unleashing a thunderous shot into the bottom left hand corner leaving Akdag with no chance. It was a magnificent goal by the young speedster who produced a fantastic display all evening.
Three minutes later it was his midfield partner Bryan who got in on the act, hitting a well executed volley into an empty net after an error by Akdag.
And England weren't finished there as Turkey couldn't cope with the quality of the home side's counter attacks and Ogilvie got in on the goalscoring act with a simple tap in from four yards out.
Having gone four goals to the good John Peacock's young side had to keep their concentration as Turkey pressed Callum Burton's goal for a consolation. The Shrewsbury Town youngster was excellent all night, producing two fantastic saves to keep the visitors at bay.
However, he was very unlucky not to keep a clean sheet as Turkey got their consolation from a corner England didn't clear, the ball fell to striker Aziz Ceylan who struck home from ten yards out.
Peacock made some changes towards the end of the game with all his outfield players getting a run out. Substitute Conor Hunte nearly made it five in the last kick of the game racing clear of the Turkish goal but he struck wide.
England play their final game of the Tournament on Sunday against Portugal.