Josh Onomah scores stunner as Young Lions beat Scotland
Josh Onomah’s stunner inspired England Under-21s to a dominant 3-1 win over Scotland Under-21s.
The midfielder’s spectacular half-volley fired the hosts to the top of Group Four as they brushed aside the Auld Enemy in a Euro 2019 qualifier in Middlesbrough.
Tammy Abraham added a second-half penalty and set up Dominic Solanke’s late third after Chris Cadden had briefly made it 2-1.
Josh Onomah celebrates scoring for England Under-21s
The Young Lions have now not lost a European qualifier since November 2011, a run of 28 games.
A day after the seniors limped past Slovenia to qualify for the World Cup, the youngsters provided the excitement and they head to Andorra on Tuesday looking to take control of the group.
Scotland beat Holland 2-0 last month to open the group up but showed little sign of life after Onomah’s 14th-minute screamer.
What a finish! 😍
Josh Onomah puts England ahead with a with a superb, dipping strike... pic.twitter.com/zG8MhsI2Yx — BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) October 6, 2017
The visitors survived a couple of scares with John Souttar forced into late clearances but he could do nothing to stop Onomah.
The Tottenham midfielder, on loan at Aston Villa, collected the ball after a corner was only half cleared and arched a looping volley into the top corner from 25 yards.
Four minutes later Abraham poked Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross against the post and Demarai Gray shot wide as England threatened more goals.
30 minutes gone at @Boro, and the #YoungLions lead 1-0 – it could've been two but @tammyabraham's flick hit the post. pic.twitter.com/0EDw6hL9lQ — England (@England) October 6, 2017
The hosts dictated the tempo with the game in danger of becoming a procession for the Young Lions.
They needed a second to underline their dominance and Abraham almost found it after 33 minutes, only for Liam Smith to block his snapshot.
Scotland failed to lay a glove on England in the first half, barely looking like the side which had beaten Holland, with £15million man Oliver Burke and in-form St Mirren striker Lewis Morgan anonymous. And Solanke should have added gloss to a fine first-half display but miscued his six-yard header wide just before the break.
But England did double their lead in fortuitous circumstances four minutes after the break when Souttar was ruled to have felled Abraham in the box.
Replays showed Abraham tripped himself up but Swansea’s on-loan Chelsea striker still scored from the spot.
England seemed to be strolling to victory but they slipped up with 12 minutes left when Joe Gomez was caught out and Oliver McBurnie teed up Cadden for a tap-in.
78' | GOAL SCOTLAND! Chris Cadden rolls the ball past the 'keeper after good work from McBurnie to evade the England defence. [2-1] pic.twitter.com/nzkWXp4RHP — Scotland (@ScottishFA) October 6, 2017
But a minute later Solanke restored the hosts’ two-goal lead and sealed the win when Abraham unselfishly set him up after being sent clear by Onomah’s brilliant through ball.
Gomez almost made it 4-1 with two minutes left but was denied by Fulton’s excellent reflex stop.