Euro match report: England U17s 1-0 Albania U17s

Izzy Brown pounced early in the second half to secure a crucial win for England U17s over Albania in Uherske Hradiste.

The result means that victory in the final match against Italy on Monday would ensure England's place at the European Championship Finals in Malta this summer.

The Young Lions started in the ascendency, keeping the ball well as they attempted to suss out a weakness in the opposition defence.

The Albanians started with David Domgjonas man-marking Brown, and the Chelsea forward was finding himself dropping deep, leaving Adam Armstrong as an isolated figure up-front.

The first chance fell to Armstrong though, as Ainsley Maitland-Niles cut the ball back across the box from the right but the Newcastle striker fired straight at the 'keeper.

Despite the pressure from England, they could count themselves lucky on 16 minutes as they were almost caught out on the counter with the ball falling to Alessio Hyseni at the back post only for the winger to blaze high and wide.

But less than a minute later, Brown thought he had given his side the lead - he toe-poked the ball past the keeper following an Armstrong cross - but an offside flag quickly dampened the celebrations.

Izzy Brown celebrates his match-winning goal after the game

John Peacock's youngsters were firmly in control though and they had further chances to take the lead before the break. Josh Onomah's free-kick was floated to the back post and met by the head of Joseph Gomez who glanced the ball wide.

Then just seconds before the half-time whistle, Armstrong let rip with a twenty-yard drive that cannoned back off the crossbar.

No changes were made by either side at the break and the game flowed in the same way as the opening 40 minutes with the Young Lions on the attack.

Josh Sims raced forward and cut into the box before pulling the ball back for Maitland-Niles to pull the trigger - but he dragged his effort wide.

The Albanian chances were limited, and Federico Zenuni had their best chance with a long-range strike that was saved comfortably by Freddie Woodman.

Action from the game in Czech Republic

It seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken as the Albanian defence began to tire, and the inevitable goal arrived on 50 minutes.

Following some good build-up play, the ball was picked up by Mandela Egbo just inside the box, but he mishit his shot and it travelled across the area to the far post, where Brown pounced to beat the 'keeper and finish.

The goalscorer was soon joined on the pitch by his Chelsea team-mate Dominic Solanke, with Manchester United's Demetri Mitchell also thrown into action as England chased a second goal.

Attacking midfielder Callum Cooke then replaced Brown, as Peacock freshened up his forward line, but despite a lot of huffing and puffing, a further breakthrough did not arrive.

In the end it was a comfortable win for England as they maintained their 100 per cent record in the European Championship qualifiers, which they will be hoping to extend on Monday against Italy.

England U17s: (4-2-3-1): 1 Freddie Woodman (Newcastle United); 12 Mandela Egbo (Crystal Palace), 5 Joseph Gomez (Charlton Athletic), 15 Taylor Moore (RC Lens), 2 Tafari Moore (Arsenal); 4 Ryan Ledson (C) (Everton), 8 Joshua Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur); 18 Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), 11 Izzy Brown (Chelsea), 17 Josh Sims (Southampton); 9 Adam Armstrong (Newcastle United).

Substitutes: 10 Dominic Solanke (Chelsea) for Maitland-Niles 56, 16 Callum Cooke (Middlesbrough) for Brown 67, Demetri Mitchell (Manchester United) for Armstrong 71.

Substitutes not used: 13 Sam Howes (West Ham United), 6 Dael Fry (Middlesbrough), 3 Callum Connolly (Everton), 14 Lewis Cook (Leeds United).

Goal: Brown (50).

Bookings: Ledson (37).

Head Coach: John Peacock.

Albania: (4-1-4-1): 1 Elhan Kastrati, 2 Ardit Toli, 4 Paolo Ivani, 5 Arbi Ranxha, 17 Ardit Humoli; 3 David Domgjonas; 8 Alessio Hyseni, 6 Federico Zenuni, 15 Heroid Gjoshi, 11 Franc Bakalli; 10 Keidi Bare (C).

Substitutes: 14 Amarildo Gjoka for Gjoshi 49, 7 Ardit Deliu for Zenuni 52, 16 Angelo Zojzi for Bakalli 64.

Substitutes not used: 12 Jorgji Muca, 13 Kevin Myftiu, 18 Endrit Grainca.

Bookings: Humoli (11).

Head Coach: Dzemal Mustedanagic.

Referee: Pandzic Bojan.