Bobby Duncan and Xavier Amaechi scored to help England U17s defeat Norway in Burton-on-Trent to reach the UEFA U17 European Championships semi-finals.
Steve Cooper’s Young Lions attacked from the off and took a 1-0 lead into half-time after Duncan’s header.
England looked dangerous throughout and got their second goal soon after the restart as Amaechi fired home.
Norway threatened to reply but couldn’t find a way back, leaving England to take up a place in Thursday’s semi-finals.The game began with Norway sitting relatively deep and England enjoying plenty of early possession.
The Young Lions found their way into the match and got the opener on 14 minutes as Nat Ogbeta strode forwards with the ball, raced down the left and crossed in for Duncan to head into the far corner.
The Norwegians looked to respond and came close as a cross in from the right found its way to Joshua Kitolano, who hung in the air but fired his header just wide of the post.
Norway were through on goal again five minutes later after a quickly-taken free-kick, but dangerman Kornelius Hansen’s effort was well saved by Luca Ashby-Hammond.
The Scandinavians enjoyed a spell of possession but England continued to look dangerous with Amaechi cutting into the box from the right, beating three players but shooting just wide.
The Young Lions dominated for the rest of the half and after going in at half-time 1-0 up, set about extending the lead after the break.
On 49 minutes the second goal came with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, excellent all afternoon, driving towards the box and passing to Duncan, who cut back for Amaechi to deliver a pinpoint left-footed strike in at the far post.
Minutes later England attacked again, with Vontae Daley-Campbell showing trickery down the right flank and skipping into the box to win a corner.
Norway needed to find a goal and threatened on 57 minutes as Kitolano sent over a delightful free-kick which Noah Holm connected with but directed his header just over the bar.
Five minutes later the Norwegians came close again, with Kitolano through on goal but Ashby-Hammond producing a fine save down to his right to preserve the clean sheet.
England: 1 Luca Ashby-Hammond (Fulham); 5 Ethan Laird (Manchester United); 3 Nat Ogbeta (Manchester City); 6 Ajibola Alese (West Ham United); 19 Matty Daly (Huddersfield Town); 4 James Garner (Capt) (Manchester United); Vontae Daley-Campbell (Arsenal); 11 Xavier Amaechi (Arsenal); 17 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal); 7 Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest); 15 Bobby Duncan (Unattached)
Substitutes: 16 Rayhaan Tulloch (West Bromwich Albion) for Ogbeta 64; 10 Tino Anjorin (Chelsea) for Appiah 51; 20 Folarin Balogun (Arsenal) for Duncan 74
Substitutes not used: 13 Marcus Dewhurst (Sheffield United); 2 Dylan Crowe (Ipswich Town); 14 Elijah Dixon-Bonner (Liverpool); 18 Trae Coyle (Arsenal); 9 Tyreece John-Jules (Arsenal)
Goals: Duncan 14, Amaechi 49
Cautions: Laird 57, Amaechi 46
Head coach: Steve Cooper
