Report: Czechia 2-4 England MU17s

England men’s under-17s bowed out of the U17 UEFA European Championships despite a 4-2 victory over Czechia.

Max Dowman set the tone for the Young Lions in Albania, with Alejandro Rodriguez, Harry Howell, and Harry Gray all adding to the act, before Hugo Sochurek’s late strike was the death knell for England.

Heading into the final group game, the onus was on Neil Ryan’s Young Lions, who looked to take care of their own business with the added hope that Belgium would avoid a result at the Niko Dovana Stadium.

And it was Dowman who gave England the start they longed for, as the Arsenal youngster worked the ball down the channel before picking out the bottom corner.

Pressure continued to build from those in white, and it was Rodriguez who had the next opportunity, testing Adam Paar, who saved low from close range.

England continued to complete their end of the bargain, as Dowman’s progressive pass found Rodriguez, who made a scurry into the penalty area before firing past Paar.

Then it was Paar’s turn to breathe a sigh of relief, getting a hand to Rodriguez’s drive before Dowman flashed an effort wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Petr Potmesil leapt into action on 22 minutes, looking to shunt his man over, before cutting onto his left foot and testing Jack Porter.

Czechia continued to come forward, but it was Dowman who retained the Young Lions’ share of control, starting a flowing move where Howell curled an effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

England went from strength to strength, and this time it was Harry Gray who put his name up in lights, pouncing on a mistake at the back after Dowman had initially lined one up from distance.

The Young Lions’ attacking prowess continued to prove too much for Czechia, with Seth Ridgeon letting fly from distance soon after the break, narrowly missing the far corner.

Howell then opened up a similar angle to shoot from his earlier strike, but this time, his effort was met by the gloves of Paar.

But, in the 59th minute, the Young Lions’ goal difference took a hit as Martin Palascak pulled one back for the Czech Republic, rising above his marker after Petr Potmesil was allowed space to pick out the midfielder.

With the game opening up, England looked to strengthen their position with Luca Williams-Barnett and Howell both looking to add the telling touch, with the Czech defence holding firm.

Then, Matyas Tomek was met with two chances as our opponents looked to reduce the deficit even further. Porter was called into action at the first time of asking, before the number 21 sent the rebound into the side netting.

Rodriguez had his head in his hands with five minutes to play, sending Williams-Barnett’s delivery over the bar, which ended up proving costly.

With added time looming, and despite the Young Lions’ best efforts in Albania, the curtain came down on their European journey as Sochurek forced the ball home after white shirts failed to clear their lines inside the penalty area.

England: 1 Jack Porter (Arsenal), 3 Dean Benamar (Crystal Palace), 5 Kaden Braithwaite (Manchester City), 7 Harry Howell (Brighton & Hove Albion), 8 Seth Ridgeon (Fulham), 9 Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais), 10 Max Dowman (Arsenal), 12 Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 15 Malachi Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur), 18 Finlay Gorman (Manchester City), 20 Harry Gray (Leeds United)

Substitutes: 14 Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham Hotspur) for Dowman 61’, 16 Louis Page (Leicester City) for Ridgeon 61’, 11 Reigan Heskey (Manchester City) for Rodriguez 86’, 6 Jun’ai Byfield (Tottenham Hotspur) for Braithwaite 86’, 17 Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City) for Benemar 90’

Substitutes not used: 13 Lanre Awesu (West Ham United), 2 Brad Burrowes (Aston Villa), 4 Landon Emenalo (Chelsea), 19 Rio Nguhoma (Liverpool)

Goals: Dowman 5’, Rodriguez 15’, Howell 37’, Gray 40’

Head coach: Neil Ryan