England denied opening day win after late Guinea leveller

England picked up a point in their FIFA Under-17s World Cup opener as they drew 1-1 with Guinea in Chile on Saturday.

After seeing Marcus Edwards’ first half penalty saved, the Young Lions regrouped to take the lead midway through the second period as Kaylen Hinds headed his side in front.

However, they had to share the spoils after being pegged back late on in Coquimbo, Naby Bangoura frustrating Neil Dewsnip’s youngsters with a well-taken equaliser.

The first chance of the contest could have seen England ahead inside six minutes. Marcus Edwards’ corner from the right caused all sorts of problems for goalkeeper Moussa Camara as the ball fell to Ro-Shaun Williams ten yards out. 

The Manchester United defender tried to scramble the loose ball home but his effort sailed over the bar. 

Guinea’s Jules Keita then provided an early warning sign of his threat surging forward as the English defence backed off. But the winger dragged a low strike from the edge of the area wide of the post. 

The west African side continued to attack and had two penalty appeals waved away, one following a sliding tackle from James Yates and the other after a Herbie Kane challenge, much to the displeasure of the majority in attendance who whistled their disapproval. 

Back came the Young Lions as Edwards picked up possession and slid in Chrissy Willock down the left, the Arsenal forward’s low drive was saved by keeper Moussa Camara at the near post, though. 

His club-mate Stephy Mavididi then attempted to find a way through, controlling a pass from the left before spinning and shooting 12 yards out. A brave block from Ives Camara denied the Gunners forward.

England striker Stephy Mavididi and Moussa Soumah tussle for the ball

The best opportunity of the half was still to come though, and it would be from the penalty spot. 

Edwards jinked his way past Fode Camara and into the area on 34 minutes before he was sent sprawling by the left-back. The Tottenham man placed the ball on the spot but his effort was saved by Moussa Camara low to his left.

The action switched back to the other end as Guinea, no doubt spurred on by the heroics from their shotstopper, caused a worrying few minutes for Neil Dewsnip’s side. Shotstopper Alfie Whiteman was twice called into action. 

The Spurs keeper saved well with his legs after Kieta outpaced Jay DaSilva down the right, and seconds later he was at it again to deny Yamodoe Toure with a fantastic one-handed save to keep it level at the break. 

England started the second period better, and Guinea can count themselves lucky not have been reduced to ten men. Mavididi latched onto a throughball to go clear on goal, but he was felled by the onrushing keeper right on the edge of the area. 

The Guinean no1 was only cautioned, however, as the official deemed that the back-tracking Alseny Camara was providing sufficient cover. 

England keeper Alfie Whiteman produced several impressive saves

The Young Lions then suffered an almighty scare and had Whiteman to thank once again for keeping them on level pegging. Losing the ball in midfield, a surge of three Guinean players galloped forward towards goal with only DaSilva trying to contain them. 

Ives Camara powered through and found himself one-on-one with Whiteman, but the keeper stood up well to save his drive, then Keita blazed the rebound over. 

And what a vital stop it proved to be as Hinds broke the deadlock on 61 minutes. Fellow Gunner Willock delivered a tantalising cross from the left touchline and Hinds was well-placed, rising well to power home a header from six yards. 

Guinea refused to admit defeat and came back at England strongly. Ives Camara shooting wide with a left-footed drive before Young Lions defender Easah Suliman’s diving clearance from four yards cleared the danger from Keita’s low centre. 

The equaliser did arrive though, sparking wild celebrations among the Guinean players and bench. Naby Bangoura was the hero, finishing off a quick counter-attack with a low rifled drive across Whiteman from just inside the right of the area. 

Dewsnip retaliated by introducing striker Kazaiah Sterling from the bench in place of Mavididi, followed by Ike Ugbo replacing Edwards in an attempt to try and win all three points, but a winner did not arrive. 

Next up for England is a mouth-watering clash against Brazil on Tuesday, who remain the only team in Group B without a point after their opening day 1-0 defeat against South Korea.

England (4-2-3-1): 21 Alfie Whiteman (Tottenham); 2 James Yates (Everton), 6 Ro-Shaun Williams (Manchester United), 15 Easah Suliman (Aston Villa), 3 Jay DaSilva (Chelsea); 18 Herbie Kane (Liverpool), 4 Tom Davies (Everton, captain); 10 Marcus Edwards (Tottenham), 9 Kaylen Hinds (Arsenal), 11 Chrissy Willock (Arsenal); 16 Stephy Mavididi (Arsenal) 

Subs: 7 Will Patching (Manchester City) for Hinds 70, 17 Kazaiah Sterling (Tottenham) for Mavidi 84, 19 Ike Ugbo (Chelsea) for Edwards 88 

Subs not used: 1 Paul Woolston (Newcastle United), 13 Will Huffer (Leeds United), 5 Danny Collinge (Stuttgart), 8 Marcus Wood (Manchester City), 12 Cameron Humphreys (Manchester City), 14 Trent Arnold), 20 Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Aston Villa) 

Bookings: Patching 90 

Goal: Hinds 61 

Head coach: Neil Dewsnip

Guinea (4-4-2): 1 Moussa Camara; 2 Mohamed Kourouma (Captain), 4 Moussa Soumah, 5 Mohamed Camara, 3 Fode Camara; 11 Jules Keita, 6 Alseny Soumah, 8 Karim Conte, 14 Yamodou Toure; 13 Ives Camara, 10 Naby Bangoura 

Subs: Morlaye Sylla for Soumah 44, 9 Augustin Bangoura for Ives Camara 64, 20 Ousmane Camara for Bangoura 86. 

Subs not used: 16 Djibril Yattara, 21 Fodo Conte, 12 Amine Traore, 15 Alhahassane Soumah, 16 Djibril Yattara, 17 Aboubacar Toure, 18 Junior Doumbouya, 19 Sam Diallo, 21 Fode Conte 

Bookings: Moussa Soumah 36, Moussa Camara 42, Alseny Soumah 69 

Goal: Bangoura 77 

Head coach: Hamidou Camara