England U17s rounded off their Elite Round qualification campaign with a 1-1 draw with Ukraine at Burton Albion on Monday night.
Chelsea striker Taylor Martell-Crossdale scored for Steve Cooper’s side, who by finishing second in their group will play in the finals tournament, which takes place in Azerbaijan in May.
England 1-1 Ukraine
European U17 Championship
Elite Round qualifier
Pirelli Stadium, Burton Albion
Tuesday 29 March 2016
England last week defeated Finland 1-0 and Turkey 3-1 to qualify for the finals, although Ukraine had registered a goal more in their corresponding fixtures and therefore needed only to draw with the Young Lions to top the group.
The early signs were promising at Pirelli Stadium, with Taylor-Crossdale putting England ahead after 16 minutes, and then going close with two further chances before half-time.
Mason Mount also forced a save from Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin, and had a shot well-blocked after the break.
But Ukraine rose to the occasion in the second half, and equalised through Oleksiy Sich, a day before the defender’s 17th birthday.
Tottenham attacking midfielder Samuel Shashoua went close with two chances to restore England’s lead while Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, who scored the winner against Finland, had a chance in second-half stoppage-time to win it, but sent his free-kick wide.
In all the hosts’ had 10 attempts on goal to Ukraine’s five, but will nonetheless go to the Finals in confident mood, and will look to emulate England’s 2014 European Championship-winning side.
England (4-2-3-1): 13 Jamie Cumming (Chelsea); 12 Tolaji Bola (Arsenal), 5 Trevoh Chalobah (captain; Chelsea), 14 Edward Francis (Manchester City), 3 Jaden Brown (Tottenham Hotspur); 7 Dennis Adeniran (Fulham), 8 Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town); 18 Samuel Shashoua (Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Mason Mount (Chelsea), 17 Martell Taylor-Crossdale (Chelsea); 15 Ben Morris (Ipswich Town).
Substitutes: 2 Dujon Sterling (Arsenal) for Chalobah 53, 11 Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) for Taylor-Crossdale 67, 4 Marcus McGuane (Arsenal) for Dozzell.
Subs not used: 1 Adam Parkes (Southampton), 9 Jonathan Leko (West Bromwich Albion), 16 Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham).
Goal: Taylor-Crossdale 16.
Head coach: Steve Cooper.
Highlights: England Under-17s 1-1 Ukraine U17s
