England MU20s finished their year on a high as they beat Iceland's U21 side by 3-0 at Adams Park.
Keith Downing’s Young Lions built on last week’s confident away win against Portugal to put on an impressive performance under the lights on a chilly night in Wycombe.
England looked the more comfortable side from the start, dominating possession but producing only a handful of half-chances after finding it difficult to break down a tough Iceland defence.
After narrowly avoiding an own-goal, the visitors settled towards the end of the first half, forcing keeper Billy Crellin to make an important save at full stretch in added time to keep the scores level going into the break.
England started the second half with purpose with two early efforts on goal and it wasn’t long until they got onto the scoreboard, courtesy of a strong run down the right and a calm finish under the keeper from Reading’s Danny Loader.
Downing’s side continued to look a constant threat, with Luke Bolton’s effort from a Jack Clarke cross spinning off the woodwork and the visitors struggling to move the ball out of their own half.
The Young Lions capitalised on their lead with a goal from Manchester City’s Ian Poveda-Ocampo, who was skilfully teed up by Loader.
A second from Poveda-Ocampo – who made a big impression having joined the game as a 61st minute substitute – just two minutes later sealed the deal for England.
England: 1 Billy Crellin (Fleetwood Town), 2 Jayden Bogle (Derby County), 3 Alex Cochrane (Brighton & Hove Albion), 4 Matty Longstaff (Newcastle United), 5 Joel Latibeaudiere (FC Twente, loan from Manchester City) (C), 6 Lewis Gibson (Everton), 7 Luke Bolton (Luton Town, loan from Manchester City), 8 Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough), 9 Danny Loader (Reading), 10 Angel Gomes (Manchester United), 11 Jack Clarke (Leeds United, loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Substitutes: 17 Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal) for Gomes 61, 15 Ian Poveda Ocampo (Manchester City) for Bolton 61, 14 Flynn Downes (Ipswich Town) for Longstaff 72, 19 Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur) for Latibeaudiere 72, 20 Nathan Ferguson (West Bromwich Albion) for Cochrane 79, 16 Tyrese Campbell (Stoke City) for Loader 79, 13 Joseph Anang (West Ham United) for Crellin 79, 12 Tariq Lamptey (Chelsea) for Bogle 84, 18 Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town) for Tavernier 84
Head coach: Keith Downing
Goals: Danny Loader, 50, Ian Poveda Ocampo 71, 73
