England U17s slipped to defeat in their second group game of the Euro Finals, in what was a thrilling encounter against the Netherlands.
It was a match which swung from side to side in both directions, before the Dutch took control in the second half, but the 5-2 scoreline undoubtedly flattered them.
After Friday’s opening draw with France, this result now means Steve Cooper’s Young Lions go into Thursday’s match with Sweden knowing they need to win if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the quarter finals.
The fans in attendance at Tolka Park were treated to a real humdinger of a game though, with both teams going at each other and producing a spectacular end-to-end exhibition.
It didn’t take long for the goals to start flowing either, as England opened the scoring after just six minutes when captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis met Miguel Azeez’s corner perfectly to guide a header home with what was their first opportunity of the game.
But the Dutch levelled things up within five minutes, as Brian Brobbey gave Louie Moulden no chance with a powerful shot to register his first of the afternoon.
Cooper’s side re-took the lead just over ten minutes before half time, when Sam Robinson was fouled to earn the Young Lions a penalty and Sam Greenwood duly dispatched his spot-kick for the second game in a row.
Again, they failed to hold onto their lead though as Naoutal Bannis was left with a simple finish after Ian Maatsen’s earlier shot had hit the post.
And the Netherlands edged ahead in first-half stoppage time when Sonje Hansen curled home to make it 3-2, just seconds after Joe Gelhardt had spurned a great chance for England.
The second half began in the same vein, with Azeez unlucky not to level things up when his free-kick bounced back off the base of the post.
But just short of the hour mark, Brobbey handed his side a two-goal lead with a well-taken penalty after Jensen Weir had been penalised for a handball in the area.
Three minutes later, they all but sealed victory when Naci Unuvar added a fifth with a shot from outside the area which just evaded the unfortunate Moulden.
England were perhaps fortunate their opponents didn't add to the scoreline in the later stages with both Brobbey and Hansen having opportunities to add a sixth goal.
Despite the result, England remain in with a chance though, with eight teams progressing to the quarter finals from the four groups.
England: 1 Louie Moulden (Manchester City), 2 Malachi Fagan-Walcott (Tottenham Hotspur), 3 Haydon Roberts (Brighton & Hove Albion), 4 Miguel Azeez (Arsenal), 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City) (c), 8 Jensen Weir (Wigan Athletic), 9 Sam Greenwood (Arsenal), 11 Morgan Rogers (WBA), 16 Joe Gelhardt (Wigan Athletic), 19 Samson Robinson (Manchester City), 20 Cole Palmer (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 15 Matt Bondswell (RB Leipzig) for Robinson 62, 14 Ben Knight (Manchester City) for Greenwood 71, 12 Teddy Jenks (Brighton & Albion) for Weir 81
Substitutes not used: 7 Nonso Madueke (PSV Eindhoven), 13 James Trafford (Manchester City), 6 Tegen Mengi (Manchester United), 17 Lewis Bate (Chelsea)
Head coach: Steve Cooper
Goals: Taylor Harwood-Bellis 6, Sam Greenwood 34 (p)
Cautions: Harwood-Bellis 68
Netherlands: 1 Calvin Raatsie, 2 Ki-Jana Hoever, 3 Melayeo Bogarde, 4 Devyne Rensch, 6 Kenneth Taylor (c), 7 Sonje Hansen, 8 Ian Maatsen, 9 Brian Brobbey, 11 Naci Unuvar, 15 Dirk Proper, 19 Naoutal Bannis.
Substitutes: 5 Anaa Salah-Eddine for Proper 46, 18 Soulyman Allouch for Unuvar 65, 10 Mohamed Taabouni for Bannis 65
Substitutes not used: 16 Tein Troost, 12 Steven van der Sloot, 13 Neraysho Kasanwirjo, 14 Mohamed Sankoh, 17 Syb van Ottele, , 20 Joost de Schutter
Coach: Peter van der Veen
Goals: Brian Brobbey 10, 58 (p), Naoutal Bannis 35, Sonje Hansen 45+1, Naci Unuvar 63
