Dominic Solanke fired a last-minute winner to seal victory as England U17s came from a goal down to defeat Belgium at St. George's Park.
After a goalless first-half, the match burst into action in the second as the Young Lions fought back brilliantly to clinch a well-earned victory.
Chelsea forward Solanke popped up twice in the second period to cancel out Paolino Bertaccini's opener for Belgium and give John Peacock's men a winning start to 2014.
Belgium caught England napping at kick-off, attacking almost immediately. Within a minute a pass forward saw the the home defence hesitate and Stefan O'Connor was adjudged to have tripped an attacker just inside the area.
England 2 v 1 Belgium
U17s International Match
Tuesday 28 January 2014
St. George's Park
The referee pointed to the spot, and Nany Dimata was presented with a great opportunity to give the visitors an early opener - but he fired his effort wide and the Young Lions breathed a sigh of relief.
With a strong wind favouring the Belgians Peacock's youngsters were sitting deep, and the Head Coach urged his midfield to press higher up the field.
They were showing plenty of commitment, captain Ryan Ledson in particular winning several strong tackles. As the half progressed they were able to get the wide players, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Brandon Fox, more involved.
Belgium won a series of corners throughout the half, which the English defence dealt with well, but it was the hosts who came closest to scoring from one on twenty minutes.
Maitland-Niles whipped in a corner from the right and it sailed over everyone to reach Ledson at the opposite end of the box - and the Everton midfielder let fly with a volley that saw Nordin Jackers react well to save low down.
With the interval approaching England grew more in attack, but had to be wary of a Belgian breakaway. Keeper Dean Henderson did well to stop a Matthias Verreth strike.
On the cusp of half time England had another opportunity, and they came agonisingly close to taking the lead.
England U17s and Chelsea forward Dominic Solanke
Tafari Moore whipped in a dangerous cross that fell to Fox on the left of the area and he struck, but he was to be denied by the crossbar to leave it level at the break.
England began the second-half in strong fashion, and they looked a lot more potent in attack as their full backs Max Lowe and Moore doubled up with the wingers in front of them on every occasion.
The Young Lions were growing in confidence as good build-up play saw Solanke pick up the ball on the edge of the area and rifle an effort goalwards, Jackers saved well with his knees as the rebound narrowly evaded the head of the on rushing Callum Cooke.
Peacock introduced Lewis Cook and Dael Fry to the action on 58 minutes - but they could do little as Belgium broke the deadlock against the run of play.
A through ball seemed the catch the defence sleeping as Bertaccini burst onto it and slipped in past the helpless Henderson in goal on the hour.
England refused to throw in the towel, and they had their reward for their second-half display just seven minutes later.
A lovely passing move saw Cook feed Maitland-Niles from the left, and he held off a defender to dink forward for Solanke who beat the keeper and clipped it into the net from six yards. Game on.
The hosts continued to press as they built-up a head of steam, but they had Henderson to thank again as he produced a fantastic save to deny Arno Verschueren.
And how vital the save was as Solanke stepped up late on to seal a memorable victory.
As the final minutes ticked by the striker met a perfectly weighted through-ball from Kieran Dowell and coolly finished to give England a deserved win.
England
1 Dean Henderson, 12 Tafari Moore, 5 Stefan O’Connor, 16 Tom Brewitt (6 Dael Fry 58 mins), 3 Max Lowe, 4 Ryan Ledson (C) (18 Kieran Dowell 67 mins), 15 Isaac Christie Davies (2 Jonjoe Kenny 76 mins), 8 Callum Cooke (17 Lewis Cook 58 mins), 7 Maitland-Niles, 9 Dominic Solanke, 11 Brandon Fox (10 Demetri Mitchell 67 mins)
Subs not used: 13 Sam Howes, 14 Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
Belgium
1 Nordin Jackers, 2 Yan De Maeyer (16 Ayron Verkindere 55 mins), 3 Nathan Leyder (C), 4 Dries Wouters, 5 Jonathan Mambabua, 6 Ilkan Cavus, 7 Paolino Bertaccini (18 Thibault Vlietinck 70 mins), 8 Casper De Norre (14 Dylan Damraoui 55 mins)' 9 Nany Dimata, 10 Marco Weymans (17 Arno Verschueren 40 mins), 11 Matthias Verreth
Subs not used: 12 Quintijn Steelant, 13 Jeff Callebaut,15 Andrea Morias
