England Under-20s came from a goal behind to beat Mexico 4-2 on penalties after an entertaining 1-1 draw at The Hive.
After successful spot kicks from John Swift, Chuba Akpom and Matty Grimes, Callum Robinson was left to convert the winning penalty as the U20s maintained their unbeaten record in 2014-15, and recorded their second shootout win in a row following a similar win in Portugal last autumn.
The penalties followed a positive display from the Young Lions that would have warmed the hearts of the healthy crowd inside Barnet’s home ground.
England 1-1 Mexico
(England won 4-2 on pens)
Under-20s International
The Hive, Barnet
Wednesday 25 March 2015
On a crisp early spring evening in north London, it could have gone another way for England as they fell behind to a goal from Jose Ramirez just after half-time.
But they responded positively and eventually got a deserved equaliser, courtesy of Arsenal striker Akpom, who fired past substitute goalkeeper Antonio Torres, on for the red-carded Raul Gudino.
The opening exchanges were a tight affair, as both teams found their way into the game and there was little in the way of goalmouth action.
England U20s ahead of kick-off against Mexico
Mexico seemed to settle first, and the team tipped by many for glory at the World Cup in New Zealand made the first chance of the game.
But Christian Walton, the goalkeeper making his ninth appearance in an England shirt, prevented the visitors taking the lead.
After a inch-perfect through-ball from Mexico captain Sergio Flores, Daniel Calderon found himself clean through on goal, but was denied by the Brighton & Hove Albion stopper.
From the resulting corner Jamie Hanson, on his England debut, cleared Diego Gama’s goalbound header off the line.
Ben Osborn on the ball for England U20s
From there Aidy Boothroyd’s boys began to find their feet.
Hanson’s fellow debutant Moses Odubajo and Jack Barmby – making his first England appearance since October 2012 – pressed forward in their wing-back roles.
Barmby supplied a cross for Chuba Akpom to head inches over, while Ben Osborn’s edge-of-the-area shot seemed to skim the post as it flew wide.
The visitors were still offering a potent threat at the other end.
Chuba Akpom of England U20s gives chase to a pass from Jose David Ramirez
Diego Gama went closest with a header that rattled the crossbar and back into play – enough to rouse the small cluster of Mexico supporters to the side of the same goal.
"Me-xi-co Me-xi-co Me-xi-co" was the chant as they looked to spur their youngsters on.
England’s supporting contingent, in the terraces at the opposite end were also in good voice.
And they had plenty to cheer as England went toe-to-toe with their much-fancied guests.
Callum Robinson battles with Sergio Adrian Flores Reyes
After containing their opponents so well in the first 45 minutes, the Young Lions will be disappointed with the timing of the goal they conceded, so soon after the restart.
Crafty left-winger Ramirez was left in space in the box. He was picked out and calmly slotted home with his right foot to put the visitors ahead.
Mexico have twice been CONCACAF champions in recent years, and England could have been forgiven for letting their heads drop. But they did not.
And with 10 minutes to play they got their reward as Akpom drew a foul in the box from goalkeeper Gudino, and the Arsenal man converted from 12 yards.
Already in the ascendency before the red, the Young Lions sensed blood and pushed for the winner.
Akpom struck a post as England dominated the closing stages but Boothroyd’s side could not find a way through and the game went to penalties.
England (3-5-2): 1 Christian Walton (Brighton & Hove Albion); 5 Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 6 Bailey Cargill (AFC Bournemouth), 3 Kortney Hause (Wolverhampton Wanderers); 2 Moses Odubajo (Brentford), 8 Lewis Baker (MK Dons on loan from Chelsea), 14 Jamie Hanson (Derby County), 21 Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest), 11 Jack Barmby (Leicester City); 9 Chuba Akpom (Arsenal), 10 Callum Robinson (Preston North End on loan from Aston Villa).
Substitutes: 7 Matty Grimes (Swansea City) for Osborn 69; 19 John Swift (Swindon Town on loan from Chelsea) for Baker 69; 15 Harrison Reed (Southampton) for Hanson 74.
Substitutes not used: 13 Jordan Pickford (Sunderland), 4 Dominic Ball (Cambridge on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), 12 Harry Toffolo (Swindon Town on loan from Norwich City), 16 Jack Stephens (Swindon Town on loan from Southampton), 17 Jordan Turnbull (Swindon Town on loan from Southampton), 18 Kwame Thomas (Derby County), 20 Alex Mowatt (Leeds United).
Goals: Akpom 79 pen.
Head coach: Aidy Boothroyd
Mexico (4-3-3): 1 Raul Gudino; 2 Kevin Gutierrez, 3 Oscar Bernal, 15 Pedro Teran, 16 Daniel Vazquez; 5 Sergio Flores (C), 11 Jose Ramirez, 17 Luis Marquez, 21 Orbelin Pineda; 9 Daniel Rios, 10 Diego Gama.
Substitutes: 8 Irving Lozano for Marquez HT; 7 Erick Gutierrez for Pineda 58; 19 Guillermo Martinez for Gama 58; 19 Guillermo Martinez for Rios 58. 14 Erick Aguirre for Gutierrez 69; 6 Victor Guzman for Flores 69;
Substitutes not used: 4 Rodrigo Gonzalez, 12 Antonio Torres, 13 Pablo Isunza, 18 Alejandro Diaz, 20 Mauro Alberto.
Booked: Teran 81. Gutierrez 90
Red card: Gudino 79.
Goals: Ramirez 48.
Head coach: Sergio Almaguer Trevino
Referee: Andy Davies
