Hugo Ekitike’s hat-trick spoiled Lee Carsley’s return as England U21 coach as France beat his 10-man crew 5-3 in Lorient.
James McAtee scored a fast opener however England’s lead was non permanent, with targets from Quentin Merlin and Ekitike turning issues round.
Harvey Elliott levelled however Ekitike, who has 13 targets for Bundesliga membership Eintracht Frankfurt this season, obtained two extra earlier than Liam Delap’s header made it 4-3.
Nonetheless, Rayan Cherki – who delivered two assists – obtained in on the act himself to seal the win, after Elliott had blasted a penalty over the bar.
A nasty evening for the guests was capped when Omari Hutchinson got here off the bench and was proven a straight purple card for a harmful sort out on Thierno Barry.
England stormed into the lead after simply 90 seconds courtesy of a well-worked set-piece routine. Elliott’s nook was flicked on by Delap and the unmarked McAtee was well-positioned to smash house from close-range.
However England’s lead was short-lived and so they have been caught napping from the restart because the hosts levelled within the fourth minute. Cherki drilled a exact first-time go into the trail of surging left-back Merlin, who held off his marker and completed into the far nook.
Elliot Anderson seems dejected after defeat in Lorient
It was 2-1 to the hosts three minutes later when Lyon’s Cherki continued his positive inventive show with an inch-perfect go over the defence, which Ekitike completed over James Beadle.
Ekitike made it 3-1 within the thirty fifth minute when he obtained the decisive contact after Wilson Odobert beat Rico Lewis on the surface and smashed a ball throughout the face of the field, just for Elliot to drag a aim again two minutes later with a close-range header following good work by Elliot Anderson and McAtee.
England’s shaky defence was breached once more 10 minutes into the second half as Ekitike claimed his hat-trick with one other tap-in.
However Delap headed in from six yards simply previous the hour and, when Lewis was fouled within the space, that they had an opportunity to degree. Nonetheless, Elliott’s penalty was effectively over the bar.
Cherki accomplished the scoring with 14 minutes remaining with a shot by Beadle’s legs, earlier than Hutchinson noticed purple 5 minutes from time.
