Reiss Nelson came off the bench to strike late as England made it two wins out of two at the Montaigu Tournament campaign with a 1-0 victory over last year’s champions Turkey.
The Arsenal winger was introduced as a second-half substitute by head coach Steve Cooper, and he repaid that vote of confidence with a predatory strike eight minutes from full-time.
England U16s 1-0 Mexico
Montaigu Tournament
Vendee, France
Thursday 2 April 2015
Following on from their 4-1 opener against Mexico, the Young Lions dominated possession early on in western France, with Niall Ennis and Sadou Diallo going close.
But Turkey looked dangerous on the break, and had a couple of chances themselves, with Fulham keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond reacting well to clear.
Cooper made a quadruple change at half-time though, taking off Dujon Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah, Diallo and Mason Mount.
Nelson, Jaden Brown, Tolaji Bola and Callum Slattery came on in their place, and they had to have their wits about them as Turkey moved into the ascendancy.
But England grew as the half went on, and stormed into the lead when Slattery’s free-kick picked out Diego Lattie on the right.
The Manchester City prospect beat his man and crossed low towards the penalty spot, where Nelson was on hand to fire home.
In the other match in England’s group Ivory Coast defeated Mexico 2-0.
Cooper’s side take on the Ivorians on Saturday with top spot in Pool B at stake.
England (4-2-1-3): 1 Taye Ashby-Hammond (Fulham); 5 Diego Lattie (Manchester City), 2 Dujon Sterling (Chelsea), 14 Ed Francis (Manchester City), 6 Trevoh Chalobah (captain; Chelsea); 17 Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal), 4 Sadou Diallo (Manchester City); 7 Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town); 15 Keanan Bennetts (Tottenham Hotspur), 18 Niall Ennis (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 10 Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Substitutes: 16 Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) for Sterling 40; 3 Jaden Brown (Tottenham Hotspur) for Chalobah 40; 12 Tolaji Bola (Arsenal) for Mount; 8 Callum Slattery (Southampton) for Diallo 40.
Subs not used: 1 Jared Thompson (Chelsea), 9 Martell Taylor Crossdale (Chelsea), 11 Jonathan Leko (West Bromwich Albion).
Goal: Nelson 72
Head coach: Steve Cooper.
