Two goals from Kaylen Hinds secured the victory for England at St. George's Park - but it did not come easy against a tough Belgium team.
England U16s 3-2 Belgium
UEFA Development Tournament
St. George's Park
The hosts started well, attacking straight from kick-off, as they looked to end the UEFA Development Tournament with a win.
Prior to the game head coach Kenny Swain had spoken about his side maintaining their standard of performance, and he must have been pleased with the start they made.
Although they struggled to create a clear opening, they had the better of the first 15 minutes, stroking the ball around the indoor pitch with confidence.
Belgium gave an early indication of what was in their armoury, right-winger Joel Kalonji Kalonji unleashing his electric pace down the flank, but left back Hayden Coulson coped well with the threat.
The Young Lions were starting to gain control, and they found a breakthrough when Hinds won possession inside the centre circle from Matisse Thuys.
The Arsenal striker ploughed forward as his team-mates offered support. Without a clear route through, the hosts held the ball until it found it's back to the architect of the attack Hinds, and he drilled a low right-footed strike in off the left-hand post from 18 yards.
England looked to have completely settled into the game for the minutes following the goal, but they allowed Belgium to regroup as they came close to an equaliser.
Orel Mangala hit an air shot when in clear sight of goal and Dante Rigo volleyed just wide - but it would be England who would find the net before the break.
Jahmal Hector Ingram scores for England
Andre Green delivered an exquisite dinked pass for Jahmal Hector Ingram to race on to and round the keeper to make it 2-0.
A host of changes were made at the break, five of which came from England, and this may well have been the reason for their slow start as the visitors hit back.
Danger man Kalonji Kalonji picked out sub Ismail Azzaoui inside the area, and he coolly pulled the ball away from the defender on to his right foot before finishing past Sandford.
All their hard work in getting back into it looked to have gone to waste just four minutes later as Hinds restored the two-goal advantage. Belgium defender Steve Ryckaert failed to clear a cross on the edge of the six-yard box, and the ball fell perfectly for Hinds to finish.
Any hopes England had of taking their foot of the gas quickly evaporated though as the visitors refused to surrender - and they clawed themselves back into the game in spectacular fashion as Christophe Janssens powered home a free-kick from 25 yards after 57 mins.
Following the goal, Belgium had all the momentum as Swain's youngsters struggled together out of their half.
Some last-ditch defending from Coulson and Danny Collinge helped keep them at bay whilst a Jorn Van Camp strike just whistled past the post.
Despite their huffing and puffing, Belgium could not find a way through as the Young Lions held firm to record their second victory of the week.
England: 13 Aston Oxborough (1 Ryan Sandford 40); 12 Trent Arnold, 3 Hayden Coulson, 15 Ro Shaun Williams (2 James Yates 54), 4 Callum Gribbin (14 Yan Dhanda 40), 5 Darnell Johnson (6 Danny Collinge 40), 8 Tom Davies (20 Herbie Kane 40), 9 Kaylen Hinds (C), 11 Chris Willock (7 Zachary Dearnley 54), 17 Andre Green (10 Jonathan Leko 49), 19 Jahmal Hector Ingram (16 Marcus Edwards 40)
Subs not used: 18 Sadou Diallo
Goals: Kaylen Hinds 17, 48, Jahmal Hector Ingram 38
Belgium: 1 Jens Teunckens, 2 Dries Caignau (3 Kino Delorge 40), 4 Steve Ryckaert, 14 Laurent Lemoine (C), 15 Daan Matterne (5 Christophe Janssens 40), 16 Matisse Thuys (6 Rubin Seigers 40) , 17 Dante Rigo (9 Dennis Van Vaerenbergh 56), 18 Indyana Van Camp (8 Alpert Ademoglu 40), 20 Jorn Van Camp, 10 Orel Mangala (19 Ismail Azzaoui 40), 11 Joel Kalonji Kalonji
Subs not used: 12 Steph Van Cauwenberghe, 13 Siebe Horemans,
Goals: Ismail Azzaoui 44, Christophe Janssens 57
