Report: Netherlands 2-3 England MU17s

England men’s under-17s ran out 3-2 winners over the Netherlands in a thrilling encounter at the Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo Antonio to get off to a positive start in 2025.

After England stopper and West Ham United's Lanre Awesu kept out an early penalty, Neil Ryan’s side broke the deadlock with 19 minutes played of the game which is the first of a double header against this evening’s opponents. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Harry Howell took aim before the ball took a deflection off an orange shirt and found the bottom corner.

The Netherlands drew level with 26 minutes on the watch as the two teams went into the break with all to play for. And they turned the score-line on its head just minutes after the restart to peg the Young Lions back.

It elicited an immediate response from Ryan’s team who went straight down the other end of the pitch to make it 2-2. West Ham United’s Chinaza Nwosu picked up the ball outside the box and rippled the net with a low, drilled effort to restore parity.

And England re-established their lead with 67 minutes gone. Arsenal’s Max Dowman tested the goalkeeper who produced a save but Leicester City’s Louis Page was on hand to convert the winner for the Young Lions.

England: Lanre Awesu (West Ham United), Wes Okoduwa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Godwill Kukonki (Manchester United), Chinaza Nwosu (West Ham United), Jayden Ngwashi (Manchester United), Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), Harry Howell (Brighton & Hove Albion), Louis Page (Leicester City), Harry Gray (Leeds United), Max Dowman (Arsenal), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)

Substitutes: Maxwell Moses (West Bromwich Albion) for Awesu, Harrison Miles (Manchester City) for Ngumoha, Bailey Palmer (Middlesbrough) for Dowman, Dean Benamar (Crystal Palace) for Nwosu, Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais) for Page, Seth Ridgeon (Fulham) for Ngwashi, Hayden Ford (Wolverhampton Wanderers) for Okoduwa, Brad Burrowes (Aston Villa) for Gray

Substitutes not used: Freddy Bernal (Chelsea)

Head coach: Neil Ryan

Goals: Harry Howell 19, Chinaza Nwosu 49, Louis Page 67