England U20s slipped to a narrow defeat against Portugal in Penafiel on Tuesday evening.
The Young Lions more than matched their hosts, who head to this summer’s U20 World Cup in Poland as one of the favourites, and it was a tight game throughout with no goals by the break.
But an avoidable second-half goal from Pedro Correia proved to be the difference on the night.
It came after a short pass out from England goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe to Ben Godfrey was telegraphed by Gedson Fernandes. He was across in a flash to nick the ball off Godfrey on the edge of the area, before squaring it to an unmarked Correia for a simple finish.
Paul Simpson’s side could’ve drawn themselves level later in the second half, with Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock having a half-chance to equalise, but the hosts held on.
England: 1 Ellery Balcombe (Boreham Wood, loan from Brentford), 2 Reece James (Wigan Athletic, loan from Chelsea), 3 Tom Pearce (Scunthorpe United, loan from Leeds United), 4 Ronaldo Vieira (Sampdoria), 5 Ben Wilmot (Udinese, loan from Watford), 6 Ben Godfrey (Norwich Ciuty), 7 Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers), 8 Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough), 9 George Hirst (OH Leuven), 10 Joe Willock (Arsenal), 11 Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
Substitutes: 16 Flynn Downes (Ipswich Town) for Vieira 65, 14 Dwight McNeil (Burnley) for Hirst 65, 19 Dujon Sterling (Coventry City, loan from Chelsea) for Wilmot 70
Substitutes not used: 12 Grady Diangana (West Ham United), 13 Brandon Austin (Tottenham Hotspur), 15 Sam Field (West Bromwich Albion), , 17 Morgan Feeney (Everton), 18 Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town)
Head coach: Paul Simpson
Goals: N/A
Cautions: Ben Wilmot 28, Joe Willock 45
