On the day that Arsenal and Aston Villa meet at Wembley in The FA Cup Final, it was players from both those clubs who hit the mark for England in Toulon.
Gunners striker Chuba Akpom and Villa forward Callum Robinson scored a goal each to secure a 2-1 win against Ivory Coast in England’s second game of the tournament.
And despite a late goal for the African side, it was a deserved victory for Aidy Boothroyd’s side, who remain unbeaten in ten games this season.
England U20s 2-1 Ivory Coast
Toulon Tournament
Group B
Stade Leo Lagrange
Saturday 30 May 2015
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It was a lively start from the Young Lions and they took the lead after just 10 minutes, whenD
uncan Watmore[/ smartly turned and slipped a pass behind the Ivory Coast defence for Akpom.
He kept his nerve, controlled the ball to set himself up for a side-footed finish into the bottom corner to put England ahead.
That setback seemed to bring the Ivorians out of their shell and they went on to prove the more threatening side for the remainder of the first half, their best spell of the game in fact.
Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to make a smart save from Meite, after Ivory Coast rapidly caught England on the break when Matty Grimes’ corner was cleared.
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But with half-time just five minutes away, Robinson dug out a cross from the left which was met on the volley by the impressive
Watmore to produce a smart stop from Axel Kacou.
Another early goal in the second half doubled England’s advantage, when Grimes picked out Robinson for the Villa youngster to drill a low shot home.
Akpom almost had his second of the day on the hour mark when he turned in the box to smash a close-range shot at goal, only for Kacou to make another impressive save.
Ivory Coast found a lifeline in the later stages when substitute Manfousse Kone headed a far-post cross past Pickford to reduce the arrears and give them hope of an equaliser.
England comfortably held out for victory though to pick up their first win of this year’s Festival.
Read more at
http://www.thefa.com/news/england/development/2015/may/england-u20s-v-ivory-coast#LwXDrhDZ1JffiXU7.99