England remarkably came from 5-1 down to secure a draw against Germany in their second match at the Under-19 European Championship.
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England claim incredible 5-5 drawYoung Lions were 5-1 downSecond draw after facing NorwayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
England looked shaky from the start at the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf and fell behind in the seventh minute as the skilful Said El Mala beat Caleb Kporha out wide and put it on a plate for Noah Darvich to tap in the opening goal.
The Young Lions could do little more than briefly threaten in attack as Germany won possession back time after time and a sublime run and finish from El Mala just after the half-hour mark had his side 2-0 up and in a commanding position.
There was a brief period of optimism as England tried to mount a comeback and pulled one back. A Jayden Meghoma cross from the left found its way to Fulham youngster Joshua King, who chested it up into the air and finished with a volley to half the deficit. However, any hope of a revival looked to have been quickly extinguished as Germany struck twice more before half-time.
Kjell Watjes' hopeful drive from distance was somewhat fortuitously turned in by Max Moerstedt to re-establish the two-goal advantage before Leopold Wurm leapt highest from a corner, flicking a header into the far corner.
The lively El Mala grabbed his second of the night as he tapped in a cross at the back post, but there were a few helpings of defensive calamity on the German side as goalkeeper Konstantin Heide spilled a straightforward shot, allowing Manchester United's Ethan Wheatley to get himself on the scoresheet.
Only a few minutes later, it was 5-3. Again Germany failed to effectively clear their lines and the ball eventually fell to Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny just outside the six-yard box, the 19-year-old finding the far corner clinically. They had been staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat but England brought it back to 5-4 as Zach Abbott nodded a header in off the far post. Incredibly, an equaliser arrived in the 63rd minute as Heide dropped a cross and allowed Jesse Derry to stab home from close range.
The incredible frenzy of goals looked likely to continue but both sides managed to tighten up at the back and and no deciding strike arrived, leaving the few fans in attendance to get their breath back after a truly remarkable game.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE MVP
Well, clearly none of the defenders. The game was incredibly frantic and defined by poor defensive mistakes. Credit must be shown to Joshua King for pulling England back into the game and Ethan Wheatley for kick-starting the second-half comeback, but Said El Mala was the best player on the pitch by quite some stretch, being rewarded with two goals.
THE BIG LOSER
Some of the worst individual errors came from the goalkeepers. Neither Tommy Setford, who made his senior Arsenal debut earlier in the 2024-25 season, nor Konstantin Heide covered themselves in glory, but it was full-back Caleb Kporha who arguably struggled the most, failing to get to grips with the dangerous El Mala.
Getty/GOALWHAT COMES NEXT?
Both sides will hope to secure qualification to the knockout stages in the final round of games on Friday. England face the Netherlands while Germany take on Norway.
