A second-half strike from Kieran Dowell saw England beat U20 World Cup hosts South Korea to finish top of Group A and reach the last-16.
Needing a point to guarantee a top-two finish, the Young Lions looked in control throughout, hitting the post twice through Ademola Lookman in an effort to build on Dowell’s goal.
An electric start saw England penned back to defend a succession of corners. But they had their moments too, as Lookman burst through the centre of the pitch, then laid the ball off to Ovie Ejaria on his left, the Liverpool man though saw his low drive blocked by South Korea stopper Bumkeun Song.
On the half-hour mark Dowell fizzed a 25-yard effort with the outside of his foot across goal, again calling keeper Bumkeun into action as he pushed the ball around the post.
At the other end Freddie Woodman was called into action to push away Seungun Ha’s volley, following a smart break down the right-flank from Youngwook Cho.
The Young Lions were inches away from breaking the deadlock shortly after the break through Lookman. Tottenham midfielder Joshua Onomah latched on to Jonjoe Kenny’s pass on the halfway line and burst from the right flank to the edge of the box, then found Lookman inside the box, who skipped past two defenders then unleashed a low shot that cannoned back off the near post.
Onomah was provider again to set up Ojaria moments later, but the Liverpool man’s tame shot was comfortably blocked by the busy Bumkeun.
