Two goals in each half helped England U19s to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Armenia U19s at AESSEAL New York Stadium, in a game which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
England were two goals to the good at the break through Alfie Devine’s sixth minute strike, with the unfortunate Narek Manukyan putting past his own keeper just before the break.
Both teams were forced to play with a man light in the second half when Liam Delap and Hamlet Minasyan were both sent off for two yellow cards, but goals from Jarell Quansah and Samuel Edozie ensured a comfortable afternoon for Ian Foster’s side.
The Three Lions had a great chance to take the lead when Vale’s corner was headed back across goal by Edwards for Delap to attack, but the striker couldn’t convert from close range on three minutes.
The U19s wouldn’t have to wait too long to take an early lead however, as Jarell Quansah engineered the opening goal by stepping out of defence and finding Devine with an accurate pass and the Tottenham youngster accepted the opportunity to fire across the keeper and into the bottom right corner.
The home side dominated the early exchanges and could have been two ahead on 10 minutes, when Delap crossed for Norton-Cuffy, who poked an effort just wide of the post.
The Three Lions engineered a beautiful passing move moments later, resulting in Chuckwuemeka feeding Delap, who fired powerfully into the gloves of Manasyan.
Delap and Edozie combined wonderfully on 28 minutes with a slick interchange of passes to tee up Vale to take aim, but his effort was well blocked and turned behind by Narek Davtyan.
Quansah - the architect of the opening goal - went on another marauding run from defence and this time looked to unlock the Armenia defence with a pass through to Vale, but the forward couldn’t quite get the ball under his spell, as it ran through to Manasyan.
A goalmouth scramble ensued on 33 minutes as Delap, Quansah and Edozie all looked to turn the ball home from Vale’s cross from the left, but thanks to some frantic defending and goalkeeping, Armenia survived.
With just under ten minutes to go until the break, Norton-Cuffy delivered for Delap who could only glance wide from a good position.
The Three Lions wouldn’t have to wait too long to deservedly extend their lead, though, and it came from a Vale corner, with the unfortunate Narek Manukyan glancing past his own keeper.
England continued to turn the screw and only a sharp save from the Armenian stopper prevented Xavier Simons from extending the lead further with a rasping drive from distance.
HALF TIME | England U19 2 v 0 Armenia U19
England remained on the front foot in the second half, with Quansah taking aim from 25 yards, following another good passing move, seeing his effort blocked for a corner.
The Three Lions added to their tally 10 minutes into the second period, when Quansah got himself onto the scoresheet, converting from close range after Jebbison had flicked Devine’s corner into his path.
Armenia were reduced to 10 men less than a minute later, when Hamlet Minasyan received a second yellow card for a foul on an England player.
Liam Delap then received his marching orders on 62 minutes, when he too was given a second yellow card for a foul on Erik Smbatyan.
Armenia looked for a way back into the contest and went close when Narek Manukyan was unfortunate to see a curling effort dip just wide from 25 yards on 66 minutes.
England responded two minutes later, when Edozie cut the back for Chuckwuemeka, but the midfielder couldn’t generate any power into his low effort and it was saved comfortably.
With 20 minutes to go, the U19s should have had a fourth when Jebbison arrived at the far post to meet Edozie’s cutback, but the striker couldn’t direct his effort on target, as the ball whistled past the post.
The U19s further displayed their superiority, when Edozie deservedly got himself on the scoresheet following a slick one-two with Jebbison to fashion the chance, before finishing clinically inside the area.
England continued to push and Chuckwuemweka was the next to test the Armenian keeper, but his low free kick effort was comfortably held. The midfielder then forced the captain into action again when he was forced to beat away his low effort and Jebbison couldn’t quite capitalise on the rebound.
The stopper was called into action again when he beat away Edozie’s effort, after good work down the right side by Oyegoke to find him.
FULL TIME | England U19 4 v 0 Armenia U19
ENGLAND U19 | Cox (Sharman-Lowe 86’); Norton-Cuffy (Oyegoke 77’), Edwards, Quansah (Norris 74’), Humphreys; Simons Chuckwuemeka; Devine (Balagizi 74’), Dozie, Vale (Jebbison 45’); Delap.
UNUSED | Doyle, Iroegbunam, Scarlett.
ARMENIA U19 | Manasyan; Sargsyan, Smbatyan, Davtyan, Abrahamyan; Sargsyan, Makhsudyan; Minasyan, Piloyan, Manukyan; Vardanyan.
SUBS | Martirosyan, Gevorgyan, Muradyan, Hakobyan, Hayrapetyan, Sargsyan, Martirosyan, Asatryan.