England U17s denied victory after late Czech Republic strike

The Young Lions had led for a long period following Kaylen Hinds’ first-half strike, but a goal nine minutes from time pegged them back to leave all four teams on one point after the competition's opening round.

Both sides struggled to settle in the opening exchanges, with neither taking control of the ball to create any attacking movements, and it was eight minute before the game’s first strike – a 25-yard drive from Will Patching that was tipped over by Martin Jedlicka in the Czech goal.

The visitors hit back two minutes later, countering from an England free-kick deep in their own half, but Miker’s tame effort at the end of the breakaway was easily collected by debutant Paul Woolston in goal.

Despite the strong wind swirling round from the nearby River Stour, John Peacock’s youngsters were beginning to move the ball around the deck at pace, and Nathan Holland’s run from the flank and strike just over the crossbar was another indication that the hosts were beginning to take the initiative.

Just past the midway point of the half they were presented with a great opportunity to take the lead, Patching whipping a corner from the right deep into the box, but VFB Stuttgart defender Danny Collinge’s unchallenged header from 10 yards whizzed past the post.

Daniel Wright battles with Petr Plachy

Although England were enjoying the majority of possession, Czech Republic were still looking dangerous on the break, the lightning quick feet of Tomas Freit causing problems. 

The Banik Ostrava attacker won his side a number of corners, and Miker floated one corner in as the defence stood and watched. It ricocheted around the penalty area before Ondrej Lingr miscued from four yards, weakly hitting it into a defender, and allowing the Young Lions to regroup and scramble to safety.

The Czechs came back into the game for a short while but the wind was knocked out of their sails by a rapid England move that resulted in the game’s first goal on 34 minutes.

Attacking with pace, the Young Lions broke forward as Holland was released down the right, and the Everton attacker accelerated past full-back Tomas Balvin before firing the ball across goal from the byline, and Hinds was on hand to slide in and break the deadlock.

Jacob Maddox is held back by Alex Kral

England had their opponents on the ropes, and they poured forward in search of a second before the break. Chris Willock’s run and shot was turned wide by Jedlicka before the shot-stopper saved from Daniel Wright’s long-ranger, but the half-time whistle came to aid of Vaclav Cerny’s youngsters.

Peacock left his side as they were at the break and they started the half on top, but unable to carve open the defence to create a clear chance to equalise.

Hinds was cruelly denied his brace, curling a beautiful strike from 25 yards round the outstretched keeper - but as the crowd drew its breath in anticipation, a sigh soon filled Aggborough as the Arsenal striker’s effort rebounded out off the post.

The momentum was swinging back and forth as both teams showed plenty of attacking intent, and Daniel Kostl had a great chance to equalise with a header at the back from Miker’s corner, but he sent his effort straight into the arms of shot-stopper Woolston. 

England U17s ahead of facing Czech Republic

The post would soon come to England’s rescue, Alex Kral slamming a drive from the edge of the area off the frame, before Freit fired the rebound high over the bar. 

Peacock’s side created an opening of their own on the counter, Maddox darting through and playing in Hinds for a clean run on goal – but this time the forward fired his strike straight at the goalkeeper. The danger was not over, however, as the ball fell back to Maddox, but the Chelsea midfielder sent his attempt over the bar.

A triple change was then made by England as they looked to freshen things up, and this was followed by the introduction of Manchester United’s Callum Gribbin, but he was unable to even get a touch before he and his team-mates had been pegged back in similar fashion to England’s opener.

With 71 minutes on the clock, Daniel Hlozek picked up the ball on the right, and he found himself in plenty of space as he charged forward and squared across the box for the impressive Miker to meet and tap home, sparking wild celebrations among the visitors.

With a goalless draw in the day’s earlier game between Portugal and Italy, everything is still to play for when the action resumes on Friday as the Young Lions take on Portugal at Chesterfield.

England (4-2-3-1): 1 Paul Woolston (Newcastle United); 2 James Yates (Everton), 6 Cameron Humphreys (c) (Manchester City), 5 Danny Collinge (VFB Stuttgart), 3 Jay DaSilva (Chelsea); 4 Daniel Wright (Sunderland), 8 Will Patching (Manchester City); 17 Nathan Holland (Everton), 10 Jacob Maddox (Chelsea), 11 Chris Willock (Arsenal); 9 Kaylen Hinds (Arsenal).

Subs: 18 Jahmal Hector-Ingram (West Ham United) for Hinds 63, 4 Tom Davies (Everton) for Patching 63, 16 Layton Ndukwu (Leicester City) for Holland 63, 7 Callum Gribben (Manchester United) for Maddox 70, 15 Darnell Johnson (Leicester City) for Collinge 74.

Subs not used: 1 Aston Oxborough (Norwich City), 12 Hayden Coulsen (Middlesbrough)

Goal: Hinds 34

Head coach: John Peacock

Czech Republic (4-5-1): 16 Martin Jedlicka, 6 Daniel Kostl, 4 Marek Richter, 20 Matej Chalus, 17 Tomas Balvin; 11 Tomas Freit, 13 Alex Kral, 18 Ondrej Zezulka, 8 Ondrej Lingr, 9 Daniel Soucek; 7 Jiri Miker

Subs: 5 Petr Plachy for Zezulka 40, 15 Daniel Hlozek for Soucek 51, 10 Daniel Turyna for Lingr 67, 14 Lukas Mudra for Kral 77, 12 Michal Sadilek for Freit 77, 19 Jakub Martinec for Miker 77.

Subs not used: 1 Filip Truksa.

Goal: Jiri Miker 71.

Head coach: Vaclav Cerny.