Wolverhampton, England – England men’s under-21 team ganned their groove back with a lively 4-2 victory over Portugal at the Hawthorns on Monday night. The match saw Hayden Hackney strike first for England, drilling a low shot past Portugal keeper João Carvalho in just the seventh minute.
Just three minutes later, debutant Ethan Nwaneri wowed the crowd with a beautiful curling shot, marking his first start for the Young Lions. However, Portugal’s Fábio Silva responded, pulling one back for his side with a well-timed effort.
England then stretched their lead in the 76th minute when Omari Hutchinson snuck in at the far post to nod the ball home, making it 3-1. Although Tiago Forbes managed to secure a late consolation goal for Portugal, Jaden Philogene sealed the deal for England with a precise finish into the bottom corner during stoppage time.
The match started off on a tense note, with Tiago Tomás forcing an early save from England’s James Beadle just three minutes in. But it was the home side that took control, beginning with Hackney’s goal after intercepting a misplaced pass.
As the hosts grew in confidence, Nwaneri’s exquisite strike brought wild cheers from the crowd, signalling a strong performance from the Young Lions. Hutchinson was close to adding to the tally but was thwarted by a last-minute clearance from João Muniz.
Portugal’s response came through Silva, who finished from a Rodrigo Pinheiro cross, narrowing the gap. Silva had a chance to level the score minutes later but struck the woodwork, keeping England ahead at the break.
Upon resumption, Portugal put pressure on England with João Marques forcing a block from Archie Gray. But as England weathered the storm, they began pushing forward again. A close effort from Adam Wharton nearly extended their lead but found the arms of Carvalho instead.
Hutchinson finally scored the third goal for England before Forbes’ late effort, showcasing the resilience of the Young Lions. Philogene’s final goal ensured England claimed a comfortable victory. Head coach Lee Carsley expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance, highlighting their fighting spirit throughout the match.
“This win is important for our confidence moving forward,” Carsley said. “The young lads showed they can handle pressure and deliver when it counts.”
England’s line-up for the match consisted of James Beadle, Charlie Cresswell, Jarrad Branthwaite, Hayden Hackney, Omari Hutchinson, and promising talents like Ethan Nwaneri and Jaden Philogene. With multiple substitutions making their impact felt, the squad depth was on full display.
Portugal, led by head coach Rui Jorge, aimed to build on this match but fell short against the energetic Young Lions, signaling concerns as they head into future competitions.
As the dust settles from this game, one thing is clear—the future looks bright for the Young Lions, and fans have much to be excited about in their growth and upcoming matches.
