England’s U20s made a fine start to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea as goals from Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Newcastle’s Adam Armstrong and Chelsea’s Dominic Solanke did the damage against tournament favorites Argentina in Jeonju.
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The 2-0 victory was England’s first at a U-20 World Cup since 1997 (they had gone 17 games without a win) when the likes of Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy were coming through the system and it puts them top of Group A ahead of hosts South Korea and Guinea.
Paul Simpson’s men face Guinea on Tuesday before finishing up group play against South Korea on Friday.
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Calvert-Lewin’s wonderful header opened the scoring and although Argentina had plenty of the play England struck on the break through Armstrong early in the second half to make it 2-0. Substitute Lautaro Martinez was then sent off via video technology as the referee reviewed TV footage of Martinez’s elbow striking England defender Fikayo Tomori and then showed him a straight red card.
Solanke then slotted home from the spot late on to make it 3-0 and put the result beyond doubt.
Check out videos of two of the three goals below, plus the VAR decision for the red card, as the Three Lions began the tournament in the best possible way.
Armstrong races clear and finishes at the near post to make it 2-0
England rip Argentina open and it's 2-0
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 20, 2017
Great goal by @NUFC starlet @AdamArma9
Watch the game LIVE on Eurosport 1 and Eurosport Player pic.twitter.com/db9UZBUhHF
Argentina’s Martinez was then sent off via VAR
📺 Video Technology makes its first big impact
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 20, 2017
Martinez sees red for a flailing elbow pic.twitter.com/36knqYRwqT
Solanke slots home a late PK to wrap up the 3-0 win
How cool was that?!@DomSolanke slots home from the spot to make it 3-0 to @England pic.twitter.com/7RjiObPor2
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 20, 2017