England MU18s salvaged a 4-4 draw in a thrilling game with Norway in Pinatar on Saturday afternoon.
Ian Foster's side had to really show their character, and quality, on a windy day on the Spanish coast to keep bouncing back from behind in what was a topsy-turvy game.
The Norwegians stunned the Young Lions when they took a two-goal lead in the first half, firstly through Mathias Sundberg who smashed home from close range after a deflected free-kick spun into the box.
And then Trgve Aarstad drove home a low free-kick from the edge of the box to leave England with plenty to do.
With half time approaching, Jay Stansfield's effort in the box was blocked into the path of James McAtee, who stabbed home to seal a goal on his first start for the Young Lions and provide some hope for the second half.
But it was Norway who extended their lead again in the 57th minute, when goalkeeper Oliver Bosworth looked to play a pass out into defence, only for Hermann Geelmuyden to intercept and slot home into an unguarded goal as Bosworth scrambled across his line.
England responded in the best way and reduced the deficit within three minutes, as McAtee turned home his second of the game from close range after good work from Jeremy Sarmiento on the right.
And they came close to equalising when another Sarmiento cross picked out Alex Mighten at the far post, only for his shot to hit the underside of the bar and bounce away to safety.
The Young Lions were still chasing the game as we went into the final ten minutes and when substitute Noni Madueke was tripped in the box, the ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Fellow sub Sam Greenwood made no mistake by firing his penalty into the roof of the net to make it 3-3.
With five minutes still remaining, there was more to come and it was Norway who restored their lead straight away, as Geelmuyden fired a low left-footer past Bosworth in a crowded area with what looked to be a winner for the Scandinavians.
But the final, and best, goal of the afternoon was saved until the fifth minute of stoppage time when Miguel Azeez struck a stunning shot from 25 yards past the helpless Markus Nielsen to rescue a deserved draw for the Young Lions.
Foster's team will now finish their week against Czech Republic on Monday afternoon.
England: 22 Oliver Bosworth (Leicester City), 4 Miguel Azeez (Arsenal), 6 Nathan Wood (Middlesbrough), 8 Yunus Musah (Valencia), 12 Joshua Wilson-Esbrand (Manchester City), 14 Jensen Weir (Wigan Athletic), 15 Dynel Simeu (Chelsea), 17 Jeremy Sarmiento (Benfica), 18 Alex Mighten (Nottingham Forest), 19 Jay Stansfield (Fulham), 20 James McAtee (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 2 Luke Matheson (Rochdale) for Wilson-Esbrand 72, 11 Morgan Rogers (Manchester City) for Mighten 72, 9 Sam Greenwood (Arsenal) for Stansfield 72, 10 Cole Palmer (Manchester City) for McAtee 72, 7 Noni Madueke (PSV Eindhoven), for Sarmiento 72, 16 Joe White (Newcastle United) for Musah 90
Substitutes not used: 1 Nathan Broome (Stoke City), 3 Dennis Cirkin (Tottenham Hotspur), 5 Jeriel Dorsett (Reading), 13 Hubert Graczyk (Arsenal)
Goals: James McAtee 42, 60, Sam Greenwood 85, Miguel Azeez 90
