FIFA U-17 World Cup: Sancho shines as England give notice with win against Chile

Jadon Sancho starred for England as they completely overwhelmed Chile in Group F’s opening match in Kolkata. Borussia Dortmund striker scored twice and assisted once in England’s win.

Jadon Sancho may stay here only for a while but showed with a swivel and a sharp run three minutes into his first under-17 World Cup match why Borussia Dortmund think so highly of him.

Chile were hit by his brace inside nine minutes, the 51st and the 60th, but on the evidence of the runs, attempt on goal and incisive passes, the 46,152 people at Salt Lake stadium would have felt those were goals Sancho would score in his sleep.

On either side of Sancho’s double were strikes from Callum Hudson-Odoi (5th) and substitute Angel Gomes (81st) as England sent notice to the top guns that they aren’t here to fire blanks.

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“The zero is as important as the goals. We controlled from the start and played the way we would like our England teams to play. It is an outcome of working together with the clubs in England,” said coach Steve Cooper after the 4-0 win.

The way England strung passes and blocked out avenues for Chile killed hopes of a contest after Hudson-Odoi scored with an angular delight, the move being set up by Sancho’s smart run inside before releasing his mate wide. Chile didn’t have a shot on target in the match.

With George McEachran and Tashan Oakley-Boothe in front of the back four and Sancho and Philip Foden manning the flanks and Hudson-Odoi playing just behind Rhian Brewster, England stifled Chile.

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It was McEachran’s superb run down the middle that created England’s third goal and Sancho’s second. Sancho’s first came from after Chile goalie Julio Borquez messed up with a routine collection.

Till then, he had kept Chile in the mix with a good save off Sancho and denying Rhian Brewster. But Borquez’s evening went from bad to worse when he was shown the red card after felling Brewster who had rounded him.

Down to 10 men in the 79th, Chile had got Branco Provoste, who is one of the 60 outfield players pundits have good things to say about, to stand in for Borquez. Just when Chile coach Hernan Caputto perhaps thought the worst is over, Gomes made it 4-0 from the free-kick.

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Encapsulating how slick England were in the front third was a move in the 69th minute that was set going by Philip Foden’s back-pass inside the penalty area that Gomes worked towards goal. Brewster missed putting it away from close.

“England definitely are a team with great potential,” said Caputto.