England’s four-game winning streak came to an abrupt end on Friday as they began the Nike International Tournament with a 3-1 defeat to USA in Florida.
After trailing by two at the break, they suffered a killer blow minutes after the restart, one that they failed to recover from, as they conceded a third – the only bright spot coming when Sunderland’s Daniel Wright netted his first international goal late on.
USA 3-1 England
Nike U17 International Tournament
Friday 28 November
Premier Sports Campus, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota
They lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with West Ham’s Jahmal Hector-Ingram spearing the attack and Alfie Whiteman, making his first start for the U17s, at the opposite end in goal.
As expected, the Stars and Stripes were out the traps quickly and their fast tempo caused England problems. They gave an early warning of their threat when Haji Wright was allowed down the right too easily and cut the ball back across the area for Josh Perez – but the winger could only produce an air-shot as the ball whizzed past him.
Despite their attacking set-up, the Young Lions were struggling to get out of their own half as their midfield sat deep, inviting pressure and a dangerous angled ball out wide that of which the USA were about to take full advantage.
On 11 minutes, that same pass found Perez on the left, and he was allowed too much time to whip a ball into the area, finding the free Alejandro Zendejas six yards out who volleyed home to break the deadlock.
The play continued in much the same fashion, with a Tom Davies cross-cum-shot lob the only half chance created by Peacock’s youngsters – leading to the head coach leaving his seat in the stand and heading to the technical area to try and inspire his side into gear.
It did not work instantly as they survived yet another scare when the impressive Christian Pulisic showed a clean pair of heels to the defence to cut from wide and pull it across goal for Zendejas, but the striker was denied a second by a brilliant goal-line block from debutant Tayo Edun – and the rebounded strike saved by Whiteman.
Gradually, the visitors improved and a breakaway by Lukas Nmecha led to a four on three attack only to be halted by Daniel Barbir 30 yards out – earning him a yellow card for his challenge. Will Patching shot straight at the goalkeeper from the resulting kick.
Moments later, James Yates and Nathan Holland combined well down the wing to break into the box, and the former crossed for Layton Ndukwu, but his skewed effort was cleared as it rolled goalwards.
Patching came close again with a free-kick as an improved England pushed forward, but they were to suffer a cruel blow five minutes before the break.
Edun was adjudged to have handled in the area as the clock reached 40 minutes and Pulisic sent Whiteman the wrong way to leave England with a mountain to climb.
No changes were made at half-time by Peacock, but they came out attacking as Hector-Ingram went close early on, shooting narrowly wide after beating the full back.
But just as hopes of a way back were being raised, they were quickly shot down again as USA went three goals up courtesy of Pulisic’s second, a clinical low drive from the edge of the area.
Holland danced into the box and sent a low square drive across the box as England fought back, but just as it seemed Hector-Ingram was about to tap home, a defender toe-poked the ball away at the death.
The hosts were happy to sit back and hit on the counter for the remainder of the game, but the visitors managed to restore some pride in additional time as substitute Wright side-footed home a Ndukwu cross to see it finish 3-1.
Next up for the Young Lions is a clash with Brazil on Sunday.
USA (4-3-3): 1 Kevin Silva; 2 Matthew Olosunde, 4 Alexis Velela, 14 Daniel Barbir, 3 John Nelson, 6 Eric Calvillo (c), 7 Haji Wright, 8 Luca de la Torre, 9 Alejandro Zendejas, 10 Christian Pulisic, 11 Josh Perez
Subsitutes: 19 Tyler Adams for Olosunde 45, 18 Pierre Da Silva for Perez 66, 20 Keegan Kelly for Pulisic 84, 17 McKinze Gaines for Zendejas 84, 16 Thomas McCabe for De la Torre 84.
Subs not used: 12 William Pulisic, 5 Hugo Arellano, 13 Logan Panchot, 15 Tanner Dieterich.
Goals: Zendejas 11, Pulisic 40, 48.
Bookings: Barbir 30, De la Torre 59.
Head coach: Richie Williams
England (4-2-3-1): 13 Alfie Whiteman (Tottenham Hotspur); 2 James Yates (Everton), 15 Danny Collinge (Stuttgart), 6 Cameron Humphreys (Manchester City), 3 Tayo Edun (Fulham); 4 Tom Davies (Everton) (c), 18 Will Patching (Manchester City); 7 Nathan Holland (Everton), 9 Lukas Nmecha (Manchester City), 11 Layton Ndukwu (Leicester City); 19 Jahmal Hector-Ingram (West Ham United)
Substitutes: 8 Adam Phillips (Liverpool) for Nmecha 61, 17 Ike Ugbo (Chelsea) for Holland 70, 5 Reece Oxford (West Ham United) for Collinge 70, 20 Daniel Wright (Sunderland) for Yates 80, 12 Kyron Stabana (Derby County) for Davies 80.
Subs not used: 1 Paul Woolston (Newcastle United), 16 Easah Suliman (Aston Villa), 10 Marcus Edwards (Tottenham Hotspur), 14 Trent Arnold (Liverpool)
Goal: Wright 90
Head coach: John Peacock
