Slovenia 2 England 2: Lee Carsley's side let two-goal lead slip as Spanring and Stojinovic punish U21s
DEJA VU struck for England as they chucked away a two-goal lead in Slovenia again.
Lee Carsley’s side were in cruise control at the break after early goals from Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher and Man City prodigy Cole Palmer capped off a dominant display.
But it was a complete turnaround in the second half as the hosts hit back through Mark Spanring and Dusan Stojinovic.
It was a repeat of the friendly the Young Lions played in Maribor against Slovenia two years ago.
That day current boss Lee Carsley was assisting predecessor Aidy Boothroyd, whose side were winning 2-0 with ten minutes to go but somehow ended up drawing 2-2.
The Young Lions stepped on the gas right from the off here in the Arena Petrol with Chelsea midfielder Gallagher striking inside five minutes.
A fine turn and pass from Tottenham's Oliver Skipp set away Rhian Brewster who was felled in the area.
But before the referee could blow for a penalty, midfielder Gallagher had tucked away the loose ball.
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The lively Palmer doubled the lead nine minutes later as he curled a clinical shot into the far corner, making it two goals in as many caps for the Manchester City whizkid.
Gallagher could be heard cursing to himself in the near empty stadium in Celje, Slovenia’s third largest city, as he came within a whisker of turning home Emile Smith Rowe’s cross.
At that point it felt like a matter of how many England would rack up but Slovenia came out fighting after the break.
Sub Spanring curled home from inside the box after Palmer failed to clear before captain Stojinovic completed the comeback by flicking home a corner.
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Smith Rowe almost nicked it at the death with a fine volley but it was beaten away, before skipper Marc Guehi headed over from close range.
The late misses capped off a frustrating night for Carsley, who will have been worried by his side’s Jekyll-and-hide display.
He could not complain about the result though as, even with a change of manager, England made the same mistakes all over again.
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