Clayton Scores To Help England Through

Max Clayton scored a second half goal for the England U-17s to send the Three Lions into the last 16 of the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico tonight.

Both Clayton and Nick Powell were in the starting line up for the game against Uruguay in Terreon, where temperatures were touching 40°C, and it meant the Alex were represented in the starting line up more than any other club.

England needed to beat their Uruguayan counterparts to ensure they won Group C having already beaten Rwanda and dropped points to Canada in a draw last week.

Nick Powell continued his fine form as the driving force of the England midfield going forward, although he could only scuff what would have been a spectacular overhead volley from just inside the box.

It was the big Chelsea defender Nathaniel Chalobah who eventually made the break through though, being allowed all the time in the world to head in a corner on the stroke of half time.

The England youngsters came under the cosh for the second half but cometh the hour cometh the Crewe Alex kid. Everton's Hallam Hope doing all the hard work running in behind the Uruguay defence to slide the ball across for the perfectly timed run of Max Clayton.

It was a decisive goal that allowed England to settle and see out the 2-0 draw. Whilst Nick Powell was taken off with 20 minutes to go, Clayton saw out the game in attack.

England now face theoretically a 'easier' last 16 match with their opposition coming in the form of the best 3rd place side from other groups. We'll know who that is tomorrow from one of Argentina, Australia or Ivory Coast.

England's last 16 match will be played on Thursday at 9PM GMT (3pm Mexico time), live on Eurosport.

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