ENGLAND 3
Ward-Prowse ‘82
Watmore ‘85
Akpom 90+1SWITZERLAND 1
Tarashaj ‘45
*
Shani Tarashaj gave Switzerland the lead, but three goals in the final eight minutes from James Ward-Prowse, Duncan Watmore and Chuba Akpom earned England a crucial victory.
The result sees the Three Lions remain top of the Group Nine table with ten points from four games - three points above the Swiss.
Gareth Southgate named Brighton & Hove Albion winger Solly March in the starting line-up for his full competitive under-21 debut, after he came on for the final 30 minutes in September’s 1-0 friendly victory over a USA under-23 side at Deepdale.
March had his first chance of the game in the eighth minute when he was teed up by John Swift but saw his subsequent shot rise just over the bar.
Dominic Solanke and Ruben Loftus-Cheek then linked up well to set up a chance for Lewis Baker, but his shot was saved by Yvon Nganoma.
Switzerland managed to slow down England’s tempo and made inroads towards the Three Lions' defence.
Indeed, the visitors took the lead in the 45th minute as Tarashaj beat the offside trap and chipped the ball past Pickford into an empty net.
But the goalscorer clashed with the England keeper just after he took his shot and had to be replaced by Joel Untersee.
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Baker was next to come close after the interval when his rasping effort flashed wide of the post.Southgate freshened up his attack just before the hour mark and replaced March with Akpom.
Sunderland’s Watmore came on for the final 15 minutes and almost brought parity to the scoreline shortly after coming on, but his shot looped over the bar.
The super sub then gave the England a lifeline when he was brought down by Nganoma and referee Andreas Ekberg had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Ward-Prowse confidently stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later the game was completely turned on its head when Watmore let fly with a fierce strike that deflected past Nganoma.
There was still time for a third goal as Watmore raced to the byline and cut inside to set up Akpom, who coolly slid the ball into the bottom corner to seal the three points.
*
ENGLAND UNDER-21S: Pickford; Iorfa, Targett, Baker, Chambers; Chalobah, Swift, Ward-Prowse (c); Solanke (Forster-Caskey 86), Loftus-Cheek (Watmore 75), March (Akpom 57).
SUBS NOT USED: Walton (GK), Aina, Cargill, Woodrow.
Original article
Ward-Prowse ‘82
Watmore ‘85
Akpom 90+1SWITZERLAND 1
Tarashaj ‘45
*
- Shani Tarashaj opens the scoring for Switzerland
- James Ward-Prowse, Duncan Watmore and Chuba Akpom respond to earn victory for England
- Solly March starts and plays 57 minutes
- Jake Forster-Caskey plays the final five minutes
Shani Tarashaj gave Switzerland the lead, but three goals in the final eight minutes from James Ward-Prowse, Duncan Watmore and Chuba Akpom earned England a crucial victory.
The result sees the Three Lions remain top of the Group Nine table with ten points from four games - three points above the Swiss.
Gareth Southgate named Brighton & Hove Albion winger Solly March in the starting line-up for his full competitive under-21 debut, after he came on for the final 30 minutes in September’s 1-0 friendly victory over a USA under-23 side at Deepdale.
March had his first chance of the game in the eighth minute when he was teed up by John Swift but saw his subsequent shot rise just over the bar.
Dominic Solanke and Ruben Loftus-Cheek then linked up well to set up a chance for Lewis Baker, but his shot was saved by Yvon Nganoma.
Switzerland managed to slow down England’s tempo and made inroads towards the Three Lions' defence.
Indeed, the visitors took the lead in the 45th minute as Tarashaj beat the offside trap and chipped the ball past Pickford into an empty net.
But the goalscorer clashed with the England keeper just after he took his shot and had to be replaced by Joel Untersee.
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Baker was next to come close after the interval when his rasping effort flashed wide of the post.Southgate freshened up his attack just before the hour mark and replaced March with Akpom.
Sunderland’s Watmore came on for the final 15 minutes and almost brought parity to the scoreline shortly after coming on, but his shot looped over the bar.
The super sub then gave the England a lifeline when he was brought down by Nganoma and referee Andreas Ekberg had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Ward-Prowse confidently stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later the game was completely turned on its head when Watmore let fly with a fierce strike that deflected past Nganoma.
There was still time for a third goal as Watmore raced to the byline and cut inside to set up Akpom, who coolly slid the ball into the bottom corner to seal the three points.
*
ENGLAND UNDER-21S: Pickford; Iorfa, Targett, Baker, Chambers; Chalobah, Swift, Ward-Prowse (c); Solanke (Forster-Caskey 86), Loftus-Cheek (Watmore 75), March (Akpom 57).
SUBS NOT USED: Walton (GK), Aina, Cargill, Woodrow.
Original article