Two goals from Callum Cooke earned England U17s a draw against host nation Portugal in Estadio Algarve - but the Young Lions will go away frustrated that they failed to secure victory.
Cooke twice fired John Peacock's side into the lead, but Portugal hit back both times, grabbing an equaliser with two minutes remaining to earn a share of the spoils.
It was a lively opening as both sides pressed forward, England using the big pitch to spread the play, but they had to be alert as Portugal were quick on the counter attack.
Portugal U17s 2-2 England
Algarve International Tournament
Friday 28 February 2014
Estadio Algarve, Faro
The hosts created the first chance as Luis Mata burst down the left, beating Callum Connolly and Taylor Moore for pace, before striking the ball across goal.
Tom Brewitt lunged forward in an attempt to block its path but he could only watch as it whistled past him and clear from danger thanks to Alexandre Silva's air shot at the back post.
Minutes later England had the ball in the net - a free-kick from Giorgio Rasulo was swung in to the box as the defence cleared to Callum Cooke on the edge of the area. The Middlesbrough midfielder fired a low strike towards the bottom-right corner and the keeper parried away - but only to Karl Grant who fired in the rebound.
The celebrations were cut short, however, as the assistant referee had his flag raised for offside.
The Portugal back four were playing narrow, leaving space on both flanks for England to exploit, and Demetri Mitchell did just that as he created the opener. The Manchester United forward received the ball on the right as he cut in to skip past a defender before he was sent tumbling courtesy of a trip by Ruben Neves on 33 minutes.
It was left to Cooke to step-up for the resulting penalty, and he powered the ball in off the left-hand post to give his side the lead at the break.
The second-half started with Portugal in the ascendency as England were caught napping, and it would only take three minutes before they drew level.
Mata had the ball on the left wing and his cross was met by Diogo Goncalves who headed the ball into the ground and inside the post to equalise.
Portugal ramped up the pressure, and Goncalves could have had his second minutes later but this time he headed wide from a similar position.
The impressive Renato Sanches then tried his luck, sending a fierce drive towards the bottom corner on 63 minutes and Sam Howes produced an excellent save low down.
Callum Cooke celebrates his opening goal
The visitors rallied, and after a free-kick was cleared, Max Lowe swung a long ball back into the box and Dael Fry beat the offside trap. The defender rose to challenge the keeper who spilt it and he casually rolled the ball into the goal, but the referee had blown for a foul.
The keeper was helpless moments later though as England looked to have secured the victory. Patrick Roberts picked up possession and played in Josh Sims down the right. The Southampton winger raced to the byline before pulling the ball back across goal where Callum Cooke was on hand to grab his second on 77 minutes.
The celebrations were short-lived however as within a minute Portugal drew level. The goalscorer Goncalves turned provider this time as his cross set up Anthony Oliveira to grab an equaliser.
England face Germany in their final game of the Algarve Tournament at midday on Sunday.
Portugal (4-1-4-1): 12 Fabio Duarte, 2 Hugo Santos, (5 Yuri Ribeiro 40 mins), 3 Ruben Dias, 13 Ferro, 14 Pedro Empis, 6 Ruben Neves (C) (4 Pedro Rodrigues 59 mins), 8 Guga, 9 Alexandre Silva (17 Hugo Neto 59 mins), 10 Renato Sanches (20 Anthony Oliveira 76 mins), 11 Luis Mata, 18 Buta (7 Diogo Goncalves 40 mins)
Subs not used: 1 Pedro Silva, 15 Pedro M Rodrigues, 16 Denis Martins, 19 Vitor Emanuel, 21 Diogo Izata
Bookings: Hugo Santos 25 mins, 3 Ruben Dias 72 mins
Goals: Diogo Goncalves 43 mins, Anthony Oliviera 78 mins
England (4-2-3-1): 13 Sam Howes; 2 Mandela Egbo (5 Joseph Gomez 40 mins), 3 Max Lowe, 6 Tom Brewitt (15 Dael Fry 33 mins), 14 Callum Connolly, 11 Oluwaseyi Ojo, 16 Taylor Moore (17 Josh Sims 50 mins), 20 Callum Cooke, 9 Demetri Mitchell (7 Patrick Roberts 40 mins) 10 Giorgio Rasulo (18 Kieran Dowell 50 mins), 19 Karl Grant (4 Lewis Cook 70 mins)
Subs not used: 1 Freddie Woodman, 8 Joshua Onomah, 12 Archie Edwards
Bookings: Kieran Dowell 53 mins
Goals: Callum Cooke 33 mins, 77 mins
