Dual nationals watch : Nwaneri scores match-winning goal, Boniface shines at U17 Euro 

2017 FIFA U17 World Cup champions England began the  European Under-17 Championship on a winning note, beating Croatia 1-0 at the Batthyány utcai Sportpálya on Thursday night.

Two Flying Eagles-eligible players in the shape of Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri and Chelsea fullback Somto Boniface were handed starts by manager Ryan Garry, with the latter helping the Young Lions keep a clean sheet.

Nwaneri scored what proved to be the game-winning goal after seven minutes when he got in behind the Croatia defence and steered the ball comfortably home from close range after a delightful delivery from Tyler Dibling.

Nwaneri, the youngest ever player to feature in the Premier League, was England's top scorer in qualifying for the U17 Euro with six goals in six matches. 

The Hale End Academy product was replaced in the 64th minute and he was joined on the bench by Boniface in the second minute of second half stoppage time. 

The four semifinalists and the fifth placed team will qualify for this year's FIFA U17 World Cup, a tournament that five-time world champions Nigeria missed out on after they were eliminated in the quarterfinal stage at the U17 AFCON. 

England's next game is against the Netherlands on Sunday, May 21 at the Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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