Clinton Mola and J’Neil Bennett scored a goal apiece as England Under-18s drew 2-2 with the host nation at the Slovakia Cup.
Head coach Neil Dewsnip changed his entire starting 11 for the Young Lions’ second match in just over 24 hours, following the 1-0 win over Russia on Monday.
Chelsea midfielder Mola replaced Thomas Doyle as captain and put his side ahead after just 22 minutes.
Sebastian Gembicky levelled for Slovakia just before the half-hour mark and Filip Lichy nudged Albert Rusnak’s side ahead just after the interval.
But Spurs winger Bennett, who wrote his name in the history books by scoring the first goal at Tottenham’s new stadium in March, earned England a draw with his 54th–minute strike.
This compact friendly tournament continues when Dewsnip’s charges face Mexico in Moravce on Thursday before a match against either Croatia, Spain, Czech Republic or Ukraine from the other group on Friday to decide the final placings.
England: 13 Marcus Dewhurst (Sheffield United), 5 Rhys Williams (Liverpool), 11 Morgan Whittaker (Derby County), 12 Ben Cottrell (Arsenal), 14 Rayhaan Tulloch (West Bromwich Albion), 15 Luis Binks (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Harvey White (Tottenham Hotspur), 17 Clinton Mola (capt; Chelsea), 18 Bali Mumba (Sunderland), 19 Louie Sibley (Derby County), 21 J’Neil Bennett (Tottenham Hotspur).
Substitutes: 4 Thomas Doyle (Manchester City) for Sibley 59, 10 Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) for Cottrell 59, 2 Vontae Daley-Campbell (Arsenal) for Mumba 59, 9 Tyreece John-Jules (Arsenal) for Tulloch 59, 7 Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest) for Whittaker 67, 3 Nathanael Ogbeta (Manchester City) for Mola 77, 8 Matthew Daly (Huddersfield Town) for White 77.
Substitutes not used: 1 Arthur Okonkwo (Arsenal), 6 Ajibola Alese (West Ham United), 20 Abdi Sharif (Liverpool), 22 Rowan McDonald (Manchester City)
Goals: Mola 22, Bennett 54
Booking: White 33
Head coach: Neil Dewsnip
Attendance: 1,011
