England Under-16s came from a goal behind to record a resounding 4-1 victory against Mexico and begin their 2015 Montaigu Tournament with a bang.
A moment of misfortune at the back had handed Mexico the lead on 15 minutes, as a seemingly innocuous backpass bobbled over Jared Thompson's foot and into the England goal.
England 4-1 Mexico
U16s International
Montaigu Tournament
Tuesday 31 March
Stade Municipale, St Jean de Monts
Steve Cooper's Young Lions responded magnificently though. They applied pressure throughout the remainder of the first half, but could not find a way through.
But within 10 minutes of the second half starting, they were ahead.
Martell Taylor-Crossdale rose to meet a Jonathan Leko corner and head home to draw England level.
Five minutes later they were fired into the lead through Mason Mount's close-range effort.
The Chelsea midfielder was on target again, this time from the penalty spot, on 73 minutes to give England breathing space.
The result was put beyond any doubt when substitute Keanan Bennetts struck in added time to give the Young Lions a deserved victory.
Next up for Cooper side is a game against Turkey on 2 April
They then take on the Ivory Coast on 4 April.
England (4-2-3-1): 1 Jared Thompson (Chelsea); 2 Dujon Sterling (Chelsea), 6 Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), 12 Tolaji Bola (Arsenal), 3 Jaden Brown (Tottenham Hotspur); 8 Callum Slattery (captain; Southampton), 4 Sadou Diallo (Manchester City); 11 Jonathan Leko (West Bromwich Albion), 10 Mason Mount (Chelsea), 16 Reiss Nelson (Arsenal); 9 Martell Taylor-Crossdale (Chelsea).
Substitutes: 14 Ed Francis (Manchester City) for Brown 66; 7 Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town) for Leko 71; 15 Keanan Bennetts (Tottenham Hotspur) for Nelson 78; 18 Niall Ennis (Wolverhampton Wanderers) for Crossdale 78.
Substitutes not used: 13 Taye Ashby-Hammond (Fulham), 5 Diego Lattie (Manchester City), 17 Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal)
Goals: Taylor-Crossdale 49. Mount 54, 73 pen. Bennetts 80.
Head coach: Steve Cooper
