June 16, 2025— England’s Under-19 side began their European Under-19 Championship 2025 campaign with a hard-earned 2-2 draw against Norway on June 15, 2025, at Ilie Oana Stadium in Ploiesti, Romania. Tottenham’s Mikey Moore was the hero, scoring a late penalty to earn a vital point for the Young Lions in a highly entertaining Group B opener, setting the tone for their grueling run in the competition
A Tale of Two Halves
England began in fine fashion in the Romanian sun, going ahead in the 11th minute through Tom Watson. Brighton forward Watson, who had arrived with a £10m switch from Sunderland, seized upon a lively run by Aston Villa youngster Kadan Young, his deflected shot leaving Norway goalkeeper Daniel Saetren grasping at thin air, according to BBC Sport. Yet Norway hit back quickly, with Alexander Rossing-Lelesiit netting in the 18th minute through a fantastic individual display, beating Stephen Mfuni before firing home from a narrow angle. Sondre Granaas opened the gap with a chipped volley just before halftime, revealing England’s defensive frailties.
Moore’s Late Heroics
England dominated the second half, with 69.5% possession and 11 attempts, according to ESPN. Shumaira Mheuka headed against the bar, while Norway also struck the woodwork. With 10 minutes left, England’s perseverance bore fruit as captain Mikey Moore volunteered to take a penalty to level the score at 2-2, hammering the ball past Saetren. The equalizer sparked celebrations among the 1,433 fans in attendance, though the mood was tempered by Moore’s late ankle injury, forcing England to finish with 10 men after using all substitutes, according to England Football.
Squad Depth and Challenges Ahead
Head coach Will Antwi’s squad, featuring talents like Arsenal’s Tommy Setford and Chelsea’s Kiano Dyer, showed resilience despite the setback. Setford, uncertain on Norway’s opening goal, came up with an important stop, although his distribution came under appreciation on X. Substitutes such as Samuel Amo-Ameyaw and Jesse Derry contributed attack steam, but the Moore injury is a cause of concern. England are next up against Germany on June 17 at Arcul de Triumf Stadium in Bucharest, then the Netherlands on June 20, where the top two qualify for the semi-finals, as stated by UEFA.
European Setting and Fan Reaction
The draw makes England still in the hunt in a challenging Group B, featuring giants Germany and the Netherlands. European youth football supporters, particularly in England, are still upbeat, with X posts referring to Moore’s penalty as a “captain’s moment” and hailing the team’s second-half comeback. Norway’s unbeaten run during qualifying made them a pugnacious foe, but England’s attacking punch—headed by Moore and Watson—gives hope for the games to come.
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