Chelsea Academy strikers Dominic Solanke and Izzy Brown played a major part in England Under-17s getting off to a winning start in a four-team qualification tournament for the European U17 Championships.
Solanke (pictured), the schoolboy who has scored 18 goals for the Chelsea youth team in league and cup games this season, netted the only goal early in the second half against Czech Republic on Wednesday. It was Brown, who has eight Chelsea Under-21 goals and one FA Youth Cup goal to his name, who won the ball initially and hit the post with an effort of this own, with his Chelsea team-mate converting the rebound.
Having weathered first-half pressure and chances from the home side, England finished the game the stronger with Solanke creating a late chance, not taken by Newcastle’s Adam Armstrong.
Having beaten the host nation, England Under-17s next play Albania on Friday before finishing against Italy on Monday. The team that finishes top of the group in this Elite Round of qualifiers will go into the eight-team final in Malta in May.