England U18s ended their trip to Dubai with a win, thanks to a lively 3-2 victory over Mexico on Sunday evening.
Neil Dewsnip’s side had won one and lost one in their opening two games of the UAE Sports Chain Cup this week, and Sunday’s result meant they had to settle for runners-up spot as Czech Republic won the tournament.
And they had to show their character on the pitch, after falling behind to an early goal from Mexico's Monreal before Tommy Doyle equalised from the penalty spot after Folarin Balogun had been fouled.
England then took the lead when Curtis Jones, later named as player of the tournament, picked out Balogun from the left to leave the Arsenal striker with a simple finish at the far post.
Mexico equalised just before half time through Medina to leave both teams with everything to play for in the second half.
With Mexico taking a physical approach, England had to keep their cool in the Dubai heat, and that’s exactly what they did before Liverpool's Jones struck a 70th minute winner with a shot into the top corner to set his side on their way to the win.
England had to end the game with ten men after the dismissal of Rhys Williams for his second caution of the game after denying a goalscoring opportunity, but Mexico couldn’t find a way through as Dewsnip’s side held on for victory.
England: 13 Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion), 2 Vontae Daley-Campbell (Arsenal), 4 James Garner (Manchester United) (c), 5 Ethan Laird (Manchester United), 6 Luis Binks (Tottenham Hotspur), 7 Morgan Whittaker (Derby County), 8 Tommy Doyle (Manchester City), 9 Folarin Balogun (Arsenal), 11 Curtis Jones (Liverpool) 17 Clinton Mola (Chelsea), 18 Rhys Williams (Liverpool)
Substitutes: 12 Dylan Crowe (Ipswich Town) for Laird 46, 19 Bobby Duncan (Liverpool) for Whittaker 46, 20 Cody Drameh (Fulham) for Daley-Campbell 46, 15 Paris Maghoma (Tottenham Hotspur) for Balogun 55, 14 Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) for Binks 55
Substitutes not used: 1 Luca Ashby-Hammond (Fulham), 3 Luke Thomas (Leicester City), 22 George Wickens (Fulham), 10 Anthony Gordon (Everton), 16 Bali Mumba (Sunderland)
Head coach: Neil Dewsnip
Goals: Tommy Doyle 12 (p), Folarin Balogun 28, Curtis Jones 70
Cautions: Vontae Daley-Campbell 22, Curtis Jones 66, James Garner 68, Rhys Williams 72, 90
Red cards: Rhys Williams
