Young Lions win it late in top of the table thriller

A dramatic late James McAtee double earnt the England U’21s a 2-1 win against Ukraine at the Vitality Stadium.

A 69th minute goal from Taras Mykhavko would be the first of three goals, as the centre-back headed home from a corner.

Two minutes from time, James McAtee grabbed his first of the game, a free kick which was placed in the top right corner off the crossbar.

The winner would be again scored by McAtee in stoppage time, the midfielder calmly slotting it in the bottom left corner from close range.

The last time the Vitality Stadium played host to the U’21s was back in 2022, when the Young Lions beat Andorra 4-1.

However, this time, a Bournemouth player was to be included in the squad. Cherries midfielder Alex Scott starting the game on the bench.

The starting lineup included in-form Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who had scored 3 in his last two games before the international break.

Interim Head Coach Ben Futcher also named a strong bench, with the likes of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers and Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens among other names.

A familiar name in the Ukraine Lineup was Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk, who the Bees signed in the most recent transfer window.

The first big chance of the game came from Delap, who received a quick free kick from Omari Hutchinson, the Ipswich striker shrugged off his man well and was one on one with the Ukrainian Keeper, however his eventual cross was cleared.

Hutchinson looked very bright in the first 15 minutes, and had the chance to open the scoring, after a mazy run from Newcastle’s Lewis Hall found Jaden Philogene, it was put in for Hutchinson who blazed his effort over the bar from the penalty spot.

With 24 minutes gone, Manchester City’s McAtee had his first big chance, the ball fell kindly to him after a deflection, McAtee took a quickfire shot but Ukraine Goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret saved well from point blank range.

Since that chance, spells of possession interchanged between the two sides, both teams not creating many clear-cut chances.

It wasn’t long before Swedish referee Joakim Ostling blew the half time whistle. The Young Lions having most of the ball, with Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Lewis Hall all  having bright performances in the first 45 minutes.

It was Liam Delap who had the first chance of the second half, in the 49th minute, he turned his man well to open up a shot on the penalty spot, and just blazed it over the crossbar.

It was Jaden Philogene ten minutes into the second half who seemed to have a ‘must score’ chance, one on one with the keeper and the Aston Villa man scuffed his chance putting it straight at the goalkeeper.

The score was still 0-0 at the hour mark, with England dominating possession and having many of the chances in the second half.

It wouldn’t be until after England substitutions, that the Young Ukraine side would start having their own chances with many efforts causing James Trafford problems.

The first goal would eventually come just shy of the 70 minute mark, and despite many England chances, it was Ukraine who took the lead. Centre-back Taras Mykhavko meeting a corner at the back post to head home.

The goal opened up the game, with England looking for an equaliser, it led to Ukraine having countless chances on the counter.

With the game about to tick into stoppage time of the second half, it was England who scored their equaliser, a fantastic free kick from James McAtee which rattled off the crossbar and in the top right corner.

And 4 minutes later in the 92nd minute, it would be McAtee who would win the game and claim all three points for the Young Lions. Slotting it in the bottom left-hand corner from the 6-yard box.

The game ended 2-1 to the hosts, which led to jubilant scenes in the home dugout.

The result leaves the Young Lions second in the group table; however, they are now only two points behind Ukraine in first.

The Young Lions will host Azerbaijan U’21s at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate on the 15th October, where they will hope to clinch their place in Slovakia next year.

England Lineup: Trafford (GK), Hall, Quansah, Harwood-Bellis, Morton (Anderson, 78), Hutchinson (Gittens, 63), Delap, McAtee, Philogene (Iling Jr, 84) , Hinshelwood (Scarlett, 84), Gray (Rogers, 63)

Unused Subs: Beadle (GK), Tickle, Scott, Creswell

Attendance: 9858