Garbutt hits back as England hold Dutch

Luke Garbutt's equaliser eleven minutes from time ensured England held the Netherlands in their opening UEFA European Under-17 Championship Group B fixture.

Early goal
Oguzhan Özyakup had given the Netherlands an early lead and it took time to respond, but by the second half England were in full flow and defender Garbutt's confident finish levelled matters. England meet hosts Germany on Saturday while the Netherlands face Turkey.

Özyakup strikes
England threatened early on through captain Jose Baxter but it was the Netherlands skipper who struck after just four minutes in his side's first attack. Shabir Isoufi sprinted to the byline and cut back for Özyakup to guide the ball past Jed Steer. The Arsenal FC midfielder, facing club-mates Jack Wilshere and Luke Freeman, nearly had a second a couple of minutes later but after Steer fumbled, but the goalkeeper made amends with a brave save.

England respond
Playing the ball around and swapping positions fluidly, the Netherlands' style had a distinct Dutch watermark and one good move ended with central striker Luc Castaignos heading over Osama Rashid's cross. England came back into the game late in the first half, notably the lively Wilshere rattling the crossbar with a chipped free-kick before slipping through Baxter, denied by the legs of Patrick ter Mate.

Equaliser
Wilshere made Ter Mate save again from distance before the hour mark after a period of England pressure. It seemed the Netherlands were beginning to restrict their opponents, but with eleven minutes left England were level as Baxter played the ball wide to Garbutt, in space in the box, and the left-back's strong shot gave Ter Mate no chance. However, the goalkeeper did ensure his side a point with a save from an excellent free-kick by England substitute Jonjo Shelvey.