Jordi gets England started
Wednesday, 26 September, 2012
Jordi Hiwula, Blair Turgott and Chuba Akpom score as young Lions win in Estonia.
England U19s launched their European Championship campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win in Estonia.
In a largely one-sided affair against the qualifying group hosts in Tallinn, Noel Blake's side were rarely troubled as Jordi Hiwula-Mayifuila edged them into a first half lead.
Blair Turgott and Chuba Akpom bagged a goal apiece in the second half for the Three Lions. The win puts them level at the top of the table with Ukraine, who demolished Faroe Islands 6-0 earlier in the afternoon.
Returning to the scene where Blake's last group of U19s saw their Euro hopes end in a semi-final defeat to Greece in July, it was a different story in match number one on the long route to Lithuania next summer.
After seeing chances from Everton's Hallam Hope and Manchester United's Jack Barmby go off target, Manchester City youngster Hiwula put England on their way finishing off a great delivery from Turgott. It was his first goal on his U19s debut after scoring one in two at U18s level.
Turgott, Barmby and Hope all had opportunities to extend their advantage before the break, but failed to really trouble Riido Reiman in the home side's goal.
And they were almost made to pay when Marten Saarlas' effort smashed the woodwork. Fortunately for England the ball was cleared to safety.
Hope was unlucky not to have got his name on the score sheet early in the second half. First he forced a save from Reiman, then sent another strike against the post, but you could sense a second was coming.
And on 56 minutes they finally doubled their score, West Ham United's Turgott with the finish.
The game was wrapped up seven minutes from time when Arsenal striker Akpom, on as a sub for Barmby 15 minutes earlier, tucked home after being set up by Nottingham Forest defender Kieran Fenton.
England are back in action on Friday as they take on Faroe Islands in their second Euro qualifier.