Steven Sessegnon will feature in the World Cup semi-final next week after he helped the England U17s beat the United States 4-1 in their quarter final yesterday afternoon.
The Fulham full-back, twin brother of left-sided young susperstar Ryan, has retained his place in Steve Cooper’s side after coming into the starting line-up for the final group game against Iraq, where he made two goals in a 4-0 victory. Sessegnon delivered a display of defensive solidity allied with the attacking instincts he shares with his brother as England built on a strong start given to them by Liverpool forward Rhian Brewster, who scored twice in the first fourteen minutes in Goa.
Brewster pounced to volley home the opener after Phil Foden’s dangerous cross was parried into his path by the American goalkeeper and Foden, of Manchester City, also made the second just before the quarter-hour mark. He played Brewster in down the inside right channel and the striker skipped inside and lifted ball cleverly over the onrushing goalkeeper.
The United States responded bravely and were unlucky not to reduce their arrears with the highly-rated Josh Sargent rattling the woodwork bringing the best out of England goalkeeper Curtis Anderson on several occasions. England went further ahead midway through the second half when Brewster turned provider for Morgan Gibbs-White and, although Sargent pulled a goal back for the States with just under 20 minutes to go, the Liverpool forward completed an impressive hat-trick with a penalty in added time after he had been hauled down by Sergino Dest, who received a red card.
The Young Lions will now face the winner of today’s quarter-final between Germany and Brazil in Wednesday’s semi-final which kicks off at 12.30pm and will be screened live on Eurosport 2.
