Starlet Dele Alli helped England Under-17s record a 1-0 victory over Portugal on Saturday evening, in the first game of the Elite Qualifying Round at St. George’s Park.
Alli, who has been with the national side since Sunday 17th March, came on as a 56th minute substitute for the Three Lions and helped them see out an important opening victory as Kenny Swain’s side look to qualify for the Under-17 European Championships this summer.
Chelsea’s Alex Kiwomya scored the only goal of the game seven minutes into the second-half with a collected finish from a tight-angle and England were able to hold onto the slender lead until the finish, despite being down to ten-men because of Mason Bennett’s sending off after half an hour.
Dons’ midfielder Alli picked up his seventh international cap in the game and he will be hoping to add to that this evening when England take on Russia at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.
Elsewhere, Giorgio Rasulo is in France preparing for England Under-16s’ opening match at the Montaigu Tournament. The young forward joined up with his Three Lions team-mates last Friday in preparation for their clash with Holland in Beauvoir-sur-Mer tomorrow night.
