England U19s kicked-off their European Championship defence with a 3-2 victory over Turkey in the opening match of this year’s Finals in Finland.
Goals from Japhet Tanganga, Ben Brereton and a second-half screamer from Elliot Embleton proved enough to secure the win for Paul Simpson’s team.
But the Young Lions had to overcome a difficult start, after falling behind to an early goal and seeing Turkey impress in the opening exchanges.
There was less than three minutes on the clock when a direct ball into the area from Oguz Kagan Guctekin just inside England’s half picked out Guven Yalcin, who expertly flicked a header over Ellery Balcombe to put his side ahead.
Turkey had their tails up and were causing problems for England, who couldn’t quite find a foot-hold in the game.
But the Young Lions grew into the contest and drew level midway through the first half.
Sunderland’s Embleton was the architect, as his low free-kick from the left was turned home by Tanganga from six yards out.
That goal kicked England into life and they began to look increasingly dangerous, especially from set-plays.
Adam Lewis embarked on a run from left-back, making his way inside and past three men before his eventual shot from the edge of the area was saved by Ataberk Dadakdeniz.
And a neatly-worked set-piece presented Tanganga with an opportunity to grab a second five minutes before the break, when Embleton and George Hirst combined to set up the Spurs man, whose shot was well blocked in the area by the giant frame of Alpay Celebi.
The lively Marcus Tavernier then struck the base of the post with a fierce left-foot volley, moments before England took the lead in first-half stoppage time.
When Dadakdeniz attempted to play a pass into midfield from his area, Embleton pounced quickly to take possession before playing an incisive first-time ball through to Brereton, who confidently finished past the stricken ‘keeper.
And it was Embleton who got his name on the scoresheet with the pick of the goals ten minutes after the restart when Tavernier picked him out, before he side-stepped a defender and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner with his left foot.
Turkey found a lifeline and reduced the arrears soon after though, when Kelland Watts couldn’t fully clear a long ball over the top. That allowed captain Abdulkadir Omur to square for Metehan Guclu, who rolled the ball past Balcombe to make it 3-2.
That goal gave Turkey the impetus they needed to push for an equaliser and they put some real pressure on Simpson’s side for the final 15 minutes.
But with a well-versed defence and some impressive game management, England thwarted everything which Turkey, prompted by the impressive Omur, could throw at them.
Simpson’s team will be in action again on Friday (4.30pm BST), when they face Ukraine in their second group game which will be shown live on Sky Sports.
England U19s: 1 Ellery Balcombe (Brentford), 2 Dujon Sterling (Coventry City, loan from Chelsea), 3 Adam Lewis (Liverpool), 4 Max Sanders (Brighton & Hove Albion), 5 Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur), 6 Trevoh Chalobah (Ipswich Town, loan from Chelsea), 7 Elliot Embleton (Sunderland), 8 Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough), 9 George Hirst (OH Leuven), 10 Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest), 18 Kelland Watts (Newcastle United).
Substitutes: 19 Nya Kirby (Crystal Palace) for Sanders 79
Substitutes not used: 13 Jamie Cumming (Chelsea), 11 Ben Morris (Ipswich Town), 12 Tariq Lamptey (Chelsea), 14 Ed Francis (Almere City, loan from Manchester City), 15 Thomas Bayliss (Coventry City), 16 Niall Ennis (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 17 Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), 20 Nathan Ferguson (West Bromwich Albion)
Head coach: Paul Simpson
Goals: Japhet Tanganga 22, Ben Brereton 45+2, Elliot Embleton 54
Cautions: Marcus Tavernier 80, Nya Kirby 90
