Report: Wales 0-2 England MU19s

Ethan Wheatley and Shumaira Mheuka were on target as England men’s under-19s launched their UEFA U19 EURO qualification programme with a 2-0 success over Wales.

Antwi’s Young Lions raced to the summit of the group, capitalising on the earlier result as Turkiye drew 2-2 with Portugal – with the three nations targeting a place in June’s finals in Romania.

The hosts were aggressive in their approach from the outset. Their continued pressure saw Kiano Dyer dispossessed early on, creating an opportunity for Frederick Issaka to feed the path of Gabriele Biancheri who lacked conviction in the final third.

Dyer looked to make amends at the other end, finding space 20 yards out before setting his sights on goal. In the end, his effort was well-blocked by the Welsh rearguard.

Issaka tried to trouble the Young Lions’ backline, who handled the pressure comfortably with Triston Rowe in particular cutting out advances from wide.

After a lull in chances, Wheatley warmed the gloves of Lewys Benjamin on 20 minutes, after the Welsh shot-stopper was equal to the Walsall loanee’s strike from range.

The hosts soon responded with a chance of their own. Issaka met a delivery that was initially stood up to the back post, but his header fell kindly to Troy Perrett who saw an effort blocked from distance.

England grew to find their rhythm and quickly forced Benjamin into a string of saves. In the first instance, Tyrique George stepped up to a dead-ball, forcing the Welsh gloveman to parry the ball back out to Rowe, who looked nailed-on to score but quick reflexes saw the scores remain level.

Our Young Lions took confidence from the myriad of opportunities. Lewis Miley latched onto a ball from deep, but his dipping effort landed wide much to the surprise of the home attendance.

Antwi’s side continued to work their way on top, fashioning another opportunity when Rowe linked up nicely with Wheatley forcing Benjamin into another sharp stop.

Tyler Dibling looked to follow suit, finding space in behind Wales’ defensive line, but his driven strike took a nick on its way to goal, meaning the two sides went into the break evenly poised.

The second period started in reverse. This time, the home side had their tails up as Issaka struck the woodwork two minutes into the restart.

Our Young Lions were undeterred by the early pressure. George drove his side up-field, twisting and turning his way through a crowd of bodies, before forcing the Welsh ‘keeper to tip his effort round the woodwork.

And in the 56th minute, Antwi’s men made the hosts pay when Wheatley shuffled his way in between two red shirts, before arrowing an effort into the bottom corner.

Tommy Setford received the plaudits on the hour mark, as our Young Lions were forced into evasive action, producing a series of saves to keep our youngsters ahead.

Substitute Mheuka was on hand to add a second – and put our Young Lions in the driving seat – six minutes from the final whistle, finding the back of the net from a similar angle to the opener.

Our Young Lions travel east next time out, as they continue their quest against Turkiye at the Deeside Stadium on Saturday morning (11.00am GMT).

England: 1 Tommy Setford (Arsenal), 2 Triston Rowe (Aston Villa), 3 Joe Johnson (Luton Town), 4 Lewis Miley (Newcastle United), 5 Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), 6 Kiano Dyer (Chelsea), 7 Tyler Dibling (Southampton), 9 Ethan Wheatley (Walsall, loan from Manchester United), 10 Josh King (Fulham), 11 Tyrique George (Chelsea), 18 Zach Abbott (Nottingham Forest)

Substitutions: 8 Chris Rigg (Sunderland) for King, 15 Kadan Young (Royal Antwerp, loan from Aston Villa) for Dibling, 19 Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea) for Wheatley 67’, 14 Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur) for George 72’

Substitutes not used: 12 Harrison Murray-Campbell (Chelsea), 13 Finlay Herrick (West Ham United), 16 Lewis Orford (West Ham United), 17 Caleb Kporha (Crystal Palace), 20 Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City)

Head coach: Will Antwi

Goals: Wheatley 56’, Mheuka 84’