Youth Teams
Youth Teams

Young Lions stage second-half comeback in Chester to beat USA in tournament opener

Friday 12 Oct 2018
The Young Lions celebrate Morgan Rogers' goal against USA at Chester

England U17s kicked-off their mini-tournament with a 3-1 win over USA in Chester on Friday evening.

Steve Cooper’s side will face three games this week on home turf and got off to a winning start against the States.

They had to come from behind too, as USA took a 16th minute lead through Griffin Yow, who picked out the bottom corner of the goal from just inside the area.

The Young Lions were left chasing an equaliser for the remainder of the first half, with Taylor Harwood Bellis coming closest only to see his header bounce back off the post.

Sam Greenwood celebrates his equalising goal against USA

But they found a leveller early in the second half when Arsenal striker Sam Greenwood embarked on a fine run past three defenders before firing home in fine style.

England had their tails up now and Fabio Carvalho came close twice before his side took the lead in the 71st minute when Morgan Rogers of West Bromwich Albion found the top corner from just outside the area.

And they added a third goal a minute from time when substitute Joseph Gelhardt rounded off a good team move to complete the scoring.

The Young Lions will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Russia at Shrewsbury Town FC (1pm).

The England U17s line-up to face USA in Chester

England: 1 Louie Moulden (Manchester City), 2 Valentino Livramento (Chelsea), 4 Miguel Azeez (Arsenal), 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City) (c), 6 Teden Mengi (Manchester United), 7 Alexander Mighten (Nottingham Forest), 8 Yunus Musah (Arsenal), 9 Sam Greenwood (Arsenal), 10 Fabio Carvalho (Fulham), 11 Morgan Rogers (West Bromwich Albion), 19 Dennis Cirkin (Tottenham Hotspur)

Substitutes: 3 Haydon Roberts for Cirkin 62, 12 Ben Knight for Carvalho 62, 20 Harvey Elliot for Livramento 62, 15 Joseph Hodge for Mighten 70, 14 Joseph Gelhardt for Greenwood 81

Substitutes not used: 13 James Trafford (Manchester City), 16 Jensen Weir (Wigan Athletic), 17 Nathan Wood-Gordon (Middlesbrough), 18 Armstrong Oko-Flex (Celtic), 22 Serine Sanneh (West Ham United)

Head coach: Steve Cooper

Goals: Sam Greenwood 47, Morgan Rogers 71, 14 Joseph Gelhardt 89

Bookings: Harvey Elliot, Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Attendance: 1,035

By Callum Davies at Swansway Chester Stadium