England U-17 MNT crowned champion of Nike International Friendlies
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – Though early on it looked like The Netherlands Under-17 Men’s National Team would come away victorious, England Under-17 Men’s National Team substitute Ryan Sessegnon’s 80th minute goal stood up to give the side a 2-2 draw and the 2015 Nike International Friendlies championship.
It didn’t take long for The Netherlands to get things started early when Juan Familio-Castilo forced a turnover at midfield and quickly played Daishawn Redan. The pass was threaded beautifully, allowing Redan an easy stride into the area before slotting his fourth goal of the competition past Curtis Anderson in the eighth minute.
Three minutes later, another England turnover saw Redan thread through in alone on goal again, but this time, Anderson was brave off his line to make the stop at the top of the penalty area.
Despite the save, England would surrender a second goal in the 16th minute as Maurice Kone’s cross from the left was nodded away by Oliver Skipp, but fell perfectly for Dereck Darkwa who tucked his first-time volley well inside the left post to give The Netherlands a 2-0 lead.
England would cut the deficit just before halftime. Tashan Oakley Booth beat two men to advance to the end line on the right before placing a perfect pass to the back post to allow Jadon Sancho an easy tap-in for his third goal of the Nike Friendlies in the 40th minute.
The Netherlands nearly restored their two-goal lead in first half stoppage time when Redan got on the end of a bouncing ball in the box and hit a half-volley that Anderson did well to get his right paw to, taking the game into halftime.
Possession was the name of the game in the second half as neither team could find a decent chance until late. Needing just a draw to win the competition, England left the clinching goal very late as George McEachran’s free kick found Sessgnon strolling from the left, where he just slightly redirected the ball past Holland ‘keeper Jasper Schendelaar in the 80th minute.
England defended well into stoppage time to see out the match, earning a well-fought 2-2 draw and the 2015 Nike International Friendlies championship.
– 2015 Nike International Friendlies Match Report –
Match: England U-17 Men’s National Team vs the Netherlands Under-17 Men’s National Team
Date: Dec. 6, 2015
Competition: 2015 Nike International Friendlies
Venue: Premier Sports Campus; Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Weather: 80; mostly sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
ENG 1 1 2
NED 2 0 2
NED Daishawn Redan (Juan Familia-Castilo) 8th minute
NED Dereck Darkwa (Ian Smeuthers) 16
ENG Jadon Sancho (Tashan Oakley Booth) 40
ENG Ryan Sessegnon (George McEachran) 80
Lineups:
ENG: 13-Curtis Anderson (1-Thomas McGill, 41); 16-Zech Medley (3-Ryan Sessegnon, 41), 5-Jonathan Panzo, 14-Oliver Skipp, 2-Marc Guehi (capt.); 10-Angel Gomez 18-George McEachran, 60), 4-Tashan Oakley Booth, 11-Jadon Sancho (19-Austin Samuels, 60), 8-Nya Kirby (7-Emile Smith Rowe, 51); 20-Ian Carlo Poveda (17-Phil Foden, 51), 9-Daniel LoaderSubs not used: 6-Colin Rosler, 12-Steven Sessegnon, 15-Timothy Eyoma
Head coach: Dan Micciche
NED: 1-Jasper Schendelaar; 5-Ian Smeulers, 14-Sven Botman, 3-Joey Jacobs, 2-Elton Kusi; 6-Andrew Mendoca, 8-Juan Familia-Castilo (capt.) (10-Achraf El Bouchataoui, 64), 15-Jurgen Ekkelenkamp (20-Peer Koopmeiners, 58), 7-Maurice Kone (9-Thomas Buidink, 58); 19-Daishawn Redan (17-Mohamed Mallahi, 76), 13-Dereck Darkwa
Subs not used: 4-Kik Pierie, 11-Brad Van Hoevan, 12-Abdallah Aberkane, 16-Terence Meuwese, 18-Rodney Huygen
Head coach: Edwin Petersen
Stats Summary: ENG / NED
Shots: 11 / 4
Shots on Goal: 2 / 6
Saves: 5 / 6
Corner Kicks: 10 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 15
Offside: 1 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
ENG Tashan Oakley Booth (caution) 27th minute
Officials:
Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr. (USA)
Asst. Referee 1: Nick Uranga (USA)
Asst. Referee 2: Francisco Bermudez (USA)
4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez (USA)
