Iceland U19s ran out as 1-0 victors over England U19s in a closely-contested encounter at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday .
A second half penalty from Orri Oskarsson proved decisive in the clash which moved England off the top spot in Group 7.
International football returned to Rotherham and the AESSEAL New York Stadium for the first time since the highly-successful UEFA Women’s Euros in 2022 as England’s U19s arrived to lock horns with Iceland in front of a South Yorkshire crowd.
An evenly-contested opening 10 minutes in sunny spring conditions passed without any real events of note in front of goal, as both sides settled into the European Qualifying encounter.
There were a few gasps of anguish from the crowd when James Beadle in the England goal delayed a pass across his six yard box right until the last second, encouraging the press from Icelandic forward Orri Oskarsson, who was just unable to get his foot on it to turn the ball in.
The same pair would be involved again moments later when Oskarsson peeled away at the back post to turn a deep cross towards goal, where he would be denied on the line by Beadle to keep the scores at 0-0.
Iceland continued to mount the pressure and won a free kick right on the edge of the England area which Kristian Hlynssonm stepped up to take, firing his effort into the England wall where it ricocheted over for a corner.
There was a real battle developing between Beadle in the England net and Oskarsson leading the Iceland attack and that theme recurred in a much more direct capacity on 15 minutes. Lukas Petersson’s ball downfield from the Iceland area was wonderfully brought down by his forward in the England box, who couldn’t believe his eyes as Beadle produced a fine save to prevent his shot providing the visitors with the opener.
England threatened at the other end after a clever interchange wide on the right wing saw Adam Wharton escape to the byline, where he cut inside back onto his left foot and drove an effort at goal which stung the palms of Petersson – who beat away the strike.
After a frenetic five minutes with goalmouth action at either end, the game settled down once more with both sides enjoying some possession in midfield.
England winger George Hall had provided the hosts with a lively outlet on the right-hand side and he made his presence known once more with a handy dart downfield which saw him get beyond the Icelandic defence, only to see his low cross blocked at the near post for a corner.
Iceland caught another sight of goal when right back Hlynur Freyr Karlsson embarking upon a marauding run down the wing before cutting inside and having a fierce left-footed strike blocked en-route to goal with both sides continuing to fashion any opportunities of note.
The game continued in that vein until the interval with neither goalkeeper tested with anything beyond some routine work.
Half-time | England U19 0 v 0 Iceland U19
In such a closely-contested affair it was understandable that neither side made any changes at the break and sticking with the same XI that kicked the game off nearly prevailed for the visitors who threatened to break the deadlock seconds into the half.
After Adolf Dadi Birgisson had made inroads up the right, he delivered a cross which flashed across the six yard box and seemingly away from danger, until it was turned back into the box towards Karlsson, who had the goal at his mercy but fired well over the crossbar.
The visitors continued to knock on the door and won themselves a penalty when Kristian Hlynsson found himself the wrong side of his marker in the box and drew a foul from Ashley Phillips, leaving Danish referee Jakob Alexander Sundberg no choice but to point to the spot.
Oskarsson stepped up to face Beadle from 12 yards out and despatched a near-perfect penalty into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to Iceland after 50 minutes.
England appeared to be awoken by the opener and threatened with two very good chances of their own shortly afterwards.
The first saw substitute Reuell Walters thwarted by a smart save after he fired a low shot at the near post following a cross from the left, before Phillips came within a whisker of atoning for conceding the penalty as he steered a cross from the right inches wide of the upright.
Divin Mubama had a mixed minute or two after finding himself on the end of a crunching challenge – as played continued with him on the deck – he returned to his feet to meet a cross in the six yard box, where he shot from close range brought out an excellent reaction stop from Petersson in the Iceland goal to preserve his sides advantage.
England skipper Luke Chambers tried to take matters into his own hands as he looked to lead by example, racing forward up the left before cutting into the box on his right foot where he bent a low effort at goal, which lacked the power needed to beat Petersson who again, made a relatively comfortable save.
Amario Cozier-Duberry was next to try his luck from an acute angle and did well to generate some fizz behind his strike at the near post, which in the end, rippled the side netting.
After a period of weathering some England pressure, Iceland did catch another view of Beadle’s goal when Eggert Aron Gudmundsson drilled an effort which was goalbound all the way until a heroic sliding block from a retreating England defender prevented Beadle having to make the save.
The next opportunity would come in the form of a free kick 20 yards from goal for Iceland which was commanded by Hlynsson, who got the desired up and down on his effort at the target, but was unable to keep it the right side of the post.
The home pressure mounted as the game progressed and after being encouraged to shoot by the 4,177-strong crowd Adam Wharton’s left footed strike from the edge of the box was well held by the Iceland ‘keeper.
England continued to look for the leveller but some resolute defending and good game management from Iceland prevented them doing so.
Full-time | England U19 0 v 1 Iceland U19
Attendance | 4,177
England U19 | Beadle, Chambers ©, Nelson (Walters 33), Wharton, Mubama (Perkins 72), Mainoo, Hall, Forson (Cleary 71), Phillips, Hall, Cozier-Duberry (Webster 78).
Unused | Whitworth, Dickson, Jonas, Sturge.
Iceland U19 | Petersson, Karlsson, Gislason, Robertsson, Antonsson, Jorundsson, Gudmundsson, Hlynsson (Adalsteinsson 90), Oskarsson (Mikaelsson 66), Birgisson (Thorsteinsson 66), Thordarson (Brynjolfsson 72).
Unused | Georgsson, Kristjansson, Nokkvason, Haraldsson, Tobjornsson Stole.