Report: England MU17s 2-0 Israel

England men’s under-17s kicked-off their UEFA U17 EURO qualification quest in style, after a spiriting 2-0 victory over Israel.

Alejandro Rodriguez’s brace at St. George’s Park proved to be enough for the hosts to claim three points in the first of three games in the second qualifying round with a place in May’s finals in Albania as well as a FIFA U17 World Cup spot up for grabs.

Harry Howell was first to test Ilai Popapov, with a smart save to block his close-range effort.

The Young Lions were forced to be patient in their build-up but were having consistent joy through Reigan Heskey on the left-hand side.

And it took some individual brilliance from Rodriguez to give England the lead in the 24th minute, when despite three defenders surrounding the forward, he calmy slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Chinazaekpere Nwosu and Max Dowman’s powerful efforts then forced Potapov into two athletic save moments before the interval.

But it was Rodriguez who secured victory with his second goal when doubled England’s lead on the hour mark. After a determined run from Howell, he laid the ball off for his teammate inside the area to make it 2-0.

The momentum was with Ryan’s side throughout the second half and the Young Lions were never fazed by the opposition, standing their ground and defending well when they needed too – which resulted to earning getting a clean sheet.

They’re back in action at St. George’s Park on Saturday 22 March, when they host Slovenia.

England: 1 Jack Porter (Arsenal), 2 Dante Headley (Manchester City), 5 Kaden Braithwaite (Manchester City), 4 Chinazaekpere Nwoso (West Ham United), 15 Jun’Ai Byfield (Tottenham Hotspur), 6 Malachi Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur), 7 Harry Howell (Brighton & Hove Albion), 16 Seth Ridgeon (Fulham) (c), 9 Alejandro Rodriguez (Olymique Lyonnais), 10 Max Dowman (Arsenal), 14 Reigan Heskey (Manchester City).

Substitutions: 8 Louis Page (Leicester City) for Nwoso 52, 11 Rio Nghumoha (Liverpool) for Heskey 77, 3 Dean Benamar for Headley 77, 20 Bradley Burrowes (Aston Villa) for Rodriguez 85, 19 Finlay Gorman (Manchester City) for Dowman 85

Substitutes not used: 13 Lanre Awesu (West Ham United), 12 Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 17 Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City), 18 Luca Williams-Barnet (Tottenham Hotspur).

Head coach: Neil Ryan

Goals: Rodriguez 25’, 60’