Report: France 2-2 England MU18s

England men’s under-18s played out a 2-2 draw with France in their second international match-up of the March window.

The Young Lions came flying out of the blocks, taking the lead inside the opening three minutes. Chukwuemeka Adiele made a break down the left flank before pulling the ball back to Leo Shahar who found the back of the net with a smart finish from the edge of the box.

With 16 minutes played, Josh Sonni-Lambie doubled England’s lead. The Liverpool forward – who made a cameo off the bench last time out in an identical 2-2 draw against Czechia – marked his full debut with a first international goal.

There was also a debut for Khari Ranson – the Arsenal shot-stopper – who was introduced off the bench at half time to make his bow for Liam Bramley’s team in Portugal.

In the second half, France halved the deficit through Enzo Molebe who pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to make it 2-1.

And just minutes later, parity was restored as France equalised, meaning it finished 2-2 in Freamunde.

Bramley’s side will come up against Portugal on Tuesday 25 March (11am GMT) in their final fixture of this month’s camp.

England: 13 Jack Austin (Chelsea), 2 Leo Shahar (Newcastle United), 5 Samuel Amissah (Fulham), 6 Ollie Harrison (Chelsea), 7 Jay Robinson (Southampton), 8 Harrison Armstrong (Derby County, loan from Everton) 15 Divine Mukasa (Manchester City), 17 Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United), 19 Andre Garcia (Reading), 20 Chukwuemeka Adiele (West Ham United), 23 Josh Sonni-Lambie (Liverpool)

England: 13 Jack Austin (Chelsea), 2 Leo Shahar (Newcastle United), 5 Samuel Amissah (Fulham), 6 Ollie Harrison (Chelsea), 7 Jay Robinson (Southampton), 8 Harrison Armstrong (Derby County, loan from Everton) 15 Divine Mukasa (Manchester City), 17 Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United), 19 Andre Garcia (Reading), 20 Chukwuemeka Adiele (West Ham United), 23 Josh Sonni-Lambie (Liverpool)

Substitutes: 3 Harry Amass (Manchester United) for Garcia 31, 22 Khari Ranson (Arsenal) for Austin 45, 10 Jack Fletcher (Manchester United) for Mukasa 60, 11 Jesse Derry (Crystal Palace) for Robinson 60, 18 Mateus Mane (Wolverhampton Wanderers) for Sonni-Lambie 60, 14 George Hemmings (Aston Villa) for Armstrong 80
Substitutes not used: 1 Oliver Whatmuff (Manchester City), 4 Kian Noble (Manchester City), 12 Jaden Dixon (Stoke City), 16 Leon Routh (Aston Villa), 21 Jonathan Moses Sesay (Southampton), 25 Freddy Bernal (Chelsea)

Goals: Shahar 3, Sonni-Lambie 16