England MU18s 1-2 Norway

Ryan Garry’s England men’s under-18s reign started with an agonising last-gasp defeat to Norway.

This was Garry’s first game in charge of MU18s having joined from Arsenal, where he held a number of youth and professional development phases roles over the last eight years. 

The Young Lions are in Marbella for two matches, as the MU18s look to bounce back against Russia on Monday at 2pm BST (3pm local time).

The first half was an even affair but it was England who had the best opportunity, as they were denied an opening goal by an excellent block from Dylan Murugesapillai.

England did take the lead four minutes into the second half though when Sam Mather set up substitute Jude Soonsup-Bell, who made no mistake with a sharp finish

However, a great finish from Norway captain Niklas Odegard midway through the second period levelled the score.

And with just two minutes left on the clock, Norway’s Hovden Flataker dribbled into the box before firing in a dramatic winner.

England: 1 Charlie Setford (Ajax), 2 Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 3 Zak Sturge (Brighton & Hove Albion), 4 Elijah Campbell (Everton), 5 Brodi Hughes (Chelsea), 6 Samuel Braybrooke (Leicester City), 7 Silko Thomas (Chelsea), 8 Jack Wells-Morrison (Crystal Palace), 9 Zak Emmerson (Brighton & Hove Albion), 10 Kian Pennant (Leicester City), 11 Samuel Mather (Manchester United)

Substitutes: 17 Michael Olakigbe (Fulham) for Thomas 46, 19 Jude Soonsup-Bell (Chelsea) for Emmerson 46, 16 Charlie Webster (Chelsea) for Braybrooke 60, 18 Lewis Hall (Chelsea) for Wells-Morrison 60, 21 Daniel Gore (Manchester United) for Mather 60, 14 James Clarridge (Nottingham Forest) for Hughes 80, 15 Jadel Katongo (Manchester City) for Campbell 80, 20 Sonny Perkins (West Ham United) for Pennant 80, 23 Harvey Araujo (Fulham) for Sturge 80

Substitutes not used: 12 Joshua Robinson (Arsenal), 13 Jack Hall (Sheffield Wednesday), 22 Max Thompson (Newcastle United)

Head coach: Ryan Garry

Goal: Jude Soonsup-Bell 49