Striker Eddie Nketiah was again at his quality best as he scored for the English U21s side in their 2021 European Championship qualifiers win against Austria on Tuesday evening at the Keine Sorgen Arena, Ried.
Manager Aidy Boothroyd, handed starting berths to three players of Ghana parentage namely, Eddie Nketiah, Callum Hudson Odoi and Tariq Lamptey.
Nketiah, 21, scored his seventh goal in three games for the Young Lions in the first half and skipper Ben Godfred added a second five minutes after the break.
Another win, another goal and one step closer to qualification. @England 🍟⚽️🦁 pic.twitter.com/L4NfyaGjUZ
— Eddie Nketiah 📞 (@EddieNketiah9) September 8, 2020
Patrick Schmidt fired home for the hosts on the hour-mark, but Aidy Boothroyd’s side saw the game out to maintain their 100 percent qualifying record.
Nketiah, who registered a 10-minute hat-trick in the Young Lions’ 6-0 thrashing of Kosovo last Friday, went close with an early header from Ryan Sessegnon’s cross.
Composure level: 💯
Another #YoungLions goal for @EddieNketiah9! pic.twitter.com/j6ZfjjwFw9
— England (@England) September 8, 2020
Austria, who began the day in second place, hit back to raise their hopes in the 60th minute when Hannes Wolf teed up Schmidt following the winger’s mazy run into the box.
Chances were few and far between as England remained well-disciplined and organised in the closing stages.
Boothroyd’s side were given a late scare when Marco Friedl curled his free-kick from the left edge of the area just wide of a post.
England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was forced into a diving catch in the dying moments from Wolf’s dangerous cross.