England Supporters Club

England Under-17s draw in Portugal to secure top spot

Posted by Team England at 10:46 on Tuesday 06 October 2015

England Under-17s drew 1-1 with Portugal on Sunday, and in doing got the point they needed to claim top spot in the Euro 2016 qualifying group stage.

Following comprehensive wins against Armenia and San Marino in the opening two Group 9 games, the Young Lions knew their passage to the Elite Round was already secure.

However, in order to claim top spot in the group by virtue of goal difference, they went into Sunday’s game against Portugal knowing first place would be theirs if they avoided defeat against their hosts.

And Steve Cooper’s side got off to the perfect start when captain Trevoh Chalobah drove at the Portugal defence and fired low and hard past Diogo Costa to put the Young Lions 1-0 ahead.

It was a lead they held until 16 minutes from time, when Joao Filipe netted past Chelsea’s Jared Thompson.

Portugal had also recorded comprehensive victories over the group’s other pair, and with the top two progressing, were also assured of their spot in the Elite Round.

However, decisively, the hosts went into Sunday’s game at the Municipal Sergio Conceicao with a goal difference of 12, compared to England’s 13.

Therefore, the draw proved enough for the Young Lions to hold on to top spot – and in doing so, gave themselves a better chance of a favourable draw in the Elite Round in the spring of 2016.