Fulham left back Matthew Briggs made the first two goals as England Under-19s got off to a winning start at the European Championships yesterday, beating Austria 3-2.
Briggs, who played the first 56 minutes, hit a through ball for Franck Nouble to chase and – after some confusion in the Austrian defence – the West Ham striker took the ball down and fired home the opener. The second goal was almost a carbon copy of the first as Nouble raced into space behind the Austrian defence, after a slip by Gernot Trauner to double England’s lead.
The Austrians pulled a goal back through a fine David Alaba free-kick, but Thomas Cruise soon fired Noel Blake’s side into a 3-1 lead. A late rally from the Austrians produced a second, scored by Trauner, but England held on to claim the win.
