Jarrad Branthwaite led England’s Under-21s to a 3-0 win over Northern Ireland’s Under-21s at Goodison Park on Tuesday night.
It was a dominant performance from the Young Lions, whose victory extended their impressive UEFA EURO qualifying record this season to four wins from five.
Tyler Morton opened the scoring for England, before Harvey Elliott converted a free-kick in the second half to double the lead. The Liverpool midfielder added a third with a deflected effort with 10 minutes remaining.
Everton’s Branthwaite had been described before the game as “calm and collected” through Young Lions head coach and former Blue Lee Carsley, and the England captain rose to the occasion, generating a comfortable, vigorous and authoritative 90 minutes for the home side.
Leading the team in front of more than 7,000 fans at Goodison Park, Branthwaite teamed up with Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah in the centre of England’s defence, and it was a controlled start to the festival for the home team.
After just five minutes, captain Branthwaite came close to opening the scoring. Finding himself in the opponent’s penalty half after a well-worked loose shot from England, the young defender was unable to direct his first shot towards goal.
After the first chance, England began to re-establish their dominance in possession and, less than 10 minutes later, striker Jay Stansfield almost went wide from close range. His shot, created through an ambitious run down the right flank through Noni Madueke, deflected just off the post.
Shortly after the break, England found a well-deserved first goal. The visitors tried to avoid the danger of a Madueke-led attack, but Charlie Allen’s clearance fell short and fell to Morton on the edge of the box. He sent the ball down, before firing a low shot through the goal and into the back right corner.
After a goal, the Young Lions continued to dominate the half, going into the end with a deserved 1-0 scoreline, reducing Northern Ireland to 22 after the penny owners registered an effort in goal from James Trafford.
Comfortable all night, Branthwaite stood out for Carsley’s youngsters, demonstrating the form the Evertonians have recognised this season.
Shortly after the restart, England doubled their lead thanks to a precise free-kick from Elliott from distance.
The Liverpool midfielder committed a foul a few metres from the penalty area and intervened to take the free kick, spinning the ball around the wall and into the back of the net.
The two strikers combined to put the game out of doubt with 10 minutes remaining. Morton’s tricky ball found Elliott, who brought down Clarke, who was racing for his second goal of the game, and England’s third and final of the night.
Elsewhere, Idrissa Gana Gueye played the full 90 minutes for Senegal, who played to a goalless draw against Togo in World Cup qualifying in Lomé.
Meanwhile, Youssef Chermiti played the match with the Portuguese U-20 national team, which lost 2-1 to Italy.