Report: England MU18s 3-2 Sweden

England men’s under-18s defeated Sweden 3-2 at the Marbella Football Center on Friday afternoon.

Isaac Mabaya’s strike and a Sweden own-goal – either side of a fine penalty save from goalkeeper James Beadle – meant the Young Lions led for most of the contest.

And Divin Mubama’s goal in the second half all-but ensured victory in their opening game of the camp in Spain, with a game against Denmark to follow on Monday.

After a slightly nervy opening five minutes, England settled into the game and enjoyed more possession.

Ryan Garry’s side opening the scoring 18 minutes in when good combination down the left between Darko Gyabi and Lewis Hall saw the Chelsea wideman cut the ball back. The first effort was blocked but then Liverpool’s Mabaya fired in a low shot to beat the ‘keeper.

Sweden had the chance to equalise midway through the half when Liverpool defender Terence Miles was adjudged to have tripped his man after backing into the box and a penalty was given. But captain Wilgot Marshage’s effort to James Beadle’s right-hand side was met with a strong hand from the Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper.

England then extended their advantage when Sweden gave up the ball in midfield and a swift counter saw Darko Gyabi look to set up Cannonier with a sharp cut back and the ball was diverted into the back of the net by a Sweden defender.

Sweden did pull a goal back 11 minutes into the second half when sloppy marking allowed Casper Eklund to score with a header.

The Young Lions regained their two-goal advantage with just over a quarter of an hour to go when West Ham United’s Divin Mubama robbed the opponent of possession and rifled in a low shot.

Sweden set up a tense finish when Shakur Omar scored from a rebound with one minute of normal time remaining, after a fine save by Beadle, but England held on for the victory.

England: 1 James Beadle (Brighton & Hove Albion), 2 Reuell Walters (Arsenal), 3 Lewis Hall (Chelsea), 4 Charlie Webster (Chelsea), 5 Terence Miles (Liverpool), 6 Lee Jonas (Liverpool) ©, 7 Isaac Mabaya (Liverpool), 8 Darko Gyabi (Manchester City), 9 Oakley Cannonier (Liverpool), 10 Jack Wells-Morrison (Crystal Palace), 11 Divin Mubama (West Ham United)

Substitutes: 17 George Hall (Birmingham City) for Webster 65, 19 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund) for Cannonier 65, 20 Sam Mather (Manchester United) for Wells-Morrison 80, 21 Sonny Perkins (West Ham United) for Mubama 80, 14 Sammy Braybrooke (Leicester City) for Gyabi 90, 23 Zak Sturge (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Hall 90

Substitutes not used: 12 Rico Lewis (Manchester City), 13 Tommy Simkin (Stoke City), 15 Ben Nelson (Leicester City), 16 Elijah Campbell (Everton), 18 Daniel Gore (Manchester United), 22 Max Thompson (Newcastle United)

Goals: Isaac Mabaya 18, Oakley Cannonier 34, Divin Mubama 74

Head coach: Ryan Garry