Report: Germany 2-3 England Elite League Squad

Ten-man England Elite League Squad secured a stoppage-time winner against Germany to record a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Jahnstadion Regensburg.

Germany had twice taken the lead before Mateo Joseph and Sam Edozie pulled the Young Lions level.

And after Nelson Abbey had seen red with just over ten minutes remaining, substitute Charlie Webster scored a dramatic winner in injury-time to give interim boss Ben Futcher a hard-fought victory in his second game in charge.

The German threat was clear from the off as Ben Bobzien fired just over the bar from 20 yards out after just 25 seconds.

And the home side took the lead in the eighth minute when Germany dispossessed England in their own half and a through-ball was diverted into the path of Paul Wanner, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

England, who lost 3-0 to Italy on Thursday, had been playing well though and almost equalised when good wing play by Martial Godo saw the Wigan Athletic youngster get to the byline but Edozie’s flick from close range following a low cross was saved by the goalkeeper.

The Young Lions continued to attack and they equalised after half an hour when Edozie’s low cross was creatively flicked in by Joseph into the far bottom corner.

England could have gone ahead either side of the break but on each occasion Darko Gyabi fired over the bar following more good wing play.

Futcher’s side had started the second period the better but found themselves behind once again when Bobzien’s pull-back rebounded off the shin of Godo and looped over the diving James Beadle.

But parity was restored within a couple of minutes and it was no surprise that it came courtesy of more good play by the wingers Godo and Edozie.

It was Godo who crossed from the right flank and after gathering the ball, Edozie cut inside and struck a shot which was diverted in by the Germany defender.

England went agonisingly close to taking the lead twice in a matter of seconds as substitutes Dane Scarlett hit the inside of the post with a low drive from outside the penalty area and then Samuel Bell had a looping header which was set for the top corner before Ernst Tjark just tipped the ball wide of the post.

The Young Lions’ hopes of victory suffered a blow with 11 minutes remaining when Abbey received a straight red card for a tackle as Germany closed in on goal.

Beadle then had to parry away Yusuf Kabadayi’s resulting free-kick which was too central and Germany did have the ball in the back of the net with five minutes remaining when Armindo Sieb ran behind the defence and finished well, but the offside flag was raised.

Then as we entered seven minutes of added time, England made it 3-2 against the run of play. It looked as though the opportunity may have been lost when Samuel Bell failed to make contact on a low cross from the left but Webster collected the ball and arrowed a shot from inside the penalty area into the bottom corner for a dramatic winner.

England: 1 James Beadle (Oxford United, loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), 2 Ryan Andrews (Watford), 3 Luke Chambers (Liverpool), 4 Oliver Arblaster (Port Vale, loan from Sheffield United), 5 Ronnie Edwards (Peterborough United) ©, 6 Nelson Abbey (Reading), 7 Martial Godo (Wigan Athletic), 8 Darko Gyabi (Leeds United), 9 Mateo Joseph (Leeds United), 10 Alfie Devine (Port Vale, loan from Tottenham Hotspur), 11 Samuel Edozie (Southampton)

Substitutes: 18 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United (loan from Chelsea) for Chambers 60, 14 Adam Wharton (Blackburn Rovers) for Devine 61, 19 Dane Scarlett (Ipswich Town, loan from Tottenham Hotspur) for Joseph 61, 17 Samuel Bell (Bristol City) for Godo 61, 20 Emran Soglo (Olympique Marseille) for Edozie 68, 16 Charlie Webster (Heerenveen, loan from Chelsea) for Gyabi 69

Substitutes not used: 13 Joe Whitworth (Crystal Palace), 12 Jadel Katongo (Peterborough United, loan from Manchester City), 15 Charlie Hughes (Wigan Athletic)

Interim head coach: Ben Futcher

Goals: Mateo Joseph 31, Sam Edozie 59, Charlie Webster 90+1

Red card: Nelson Abbey 79