Harvey Elliott scored twice as England boosted their 2025 European Under-21 Championship qualifying hopes with a big victory in Azerbaijan.
The Liverpool forward opened the scoring in the 25th minute and grabbed a second in the second half, after Noni Madueke and Jaden Philogene had netted either side of half-time.
Ramin Nasirli pulled a goal back for the hosts after 86 minutes.
But Leeds’ Archie Gray hit England’s fifth to seal an impressive success.
At 18 years and 10 days old, Gray’s 88th-minute effort meant he became the fourth-youngest player to score for England Under-21s.
Elliott is England’s top scorer during the qualifying campaign with five goals. The 20-year-old also claimed a double against Northern Ireland on his previous appearance.
England moved back to the top of Group F on goal difference with the victory, although they have played one game more than Ukraine who beat them in October.
Group winners and the three best second-placed teams advance straight to the finals in Slovakia, while the remaining six runners-up can qualify through the play-offs.
England next face Luxembourg at Bolton’s Toughsheet Community Stadium on Tuesday.
Line-ups
Azerbaijan U21
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Samiqullin
- 19Safarov
- 13Mammadov
- 4HuseynovBooked at 74mins
- 15Damadayev
- 20AhmadovBooked at 73mins
- 9AkhundzadeSubstituted forNasirliat 84′minutes
- 8JosephSubstituted forAbdurahmanovat 45′minutes
- 11SafarovSubstituted forHasanzadaat 89′minutes
- 7DzhafarovSubstituted forVeliyevat 59′minutesBooked at 68mins
- 18SalyanskiySubstituted forAbdullayevat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Rzayev
- 5Hasanzada
- 6Abdurahmanov
- 10Abdullayev
- 14Suleymanli
- 17Veliyev
- 21Ramazanov
- 22Ramazanov
- 23Nasirli
England U21
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Trafford
- 2LewisSubstituted forNorton-Cuffyat 83′minutes
- 5Harwood-Bellis
- 23Wood
- 3Doyle
- 19ElliottBooked at 42minsSubstituted forScottat 75′minutes
- 6Morton
- 10McAteeBooked at 60minsSubstituted forGrayat 83′minutes
- 11MaduekeSubstituted forShake-Juniorat 75′minutes
- 20Rogers
- 7PhilogeneSubstituted forBynoe-Gittensat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Quansah
- 9Stansfield
- 12Norton-Cuffy
- 13Tickle
- 14Scott
- 15Cresswell
- 17Shake-Junior
- 18Gray
- 21Bynoe-Gittens
Live Text
-
Match ends, Azerbaijan U21 1, England U21 5.
-
Second Half ends, Azerbaijan U21 1, England U21 5.
-
Foul by Alex Scott (England U21).
-
Süleyman Damadayev (Azerbaijan U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Substitution, Azerbaijan U21. Nazim Hasanzada replaces Emil Safarov.
-
Goal! Azerbaijan U21 1, England U21 5. Archie Gray (England U21) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Brooke Norton-Cuffy.
-
Goal! Azerbaijan U21 1, England U21 4. Ramin Nasirli (Azerbaijan U21) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
-
Attempt saved. Samir Abdullayev (Azerbaijan U21) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Qurban Safarov with a through ball.
-
Foul by Morgan Rogers (England U21).
-
Murad Veliyev (Azerbaijan U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Offside, Azerbaijan U21. Samir Abdullayev is caught offside.
-
Substitution, Azerbaijan U21. Ramin Nasirli replaces Nariman Akhundzade.
-
Substitution, England U21. Brooke Norton-Cuffy replaces Rico Lewis.
-
Substitution, England U21. Archie Gray replaces James McAtee.
-
Foul by Rico Lewis (England U21).
-
Rüfat Ahmadov (Azerbaijan U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Offside, Azerbaijan U21. Samir Abdullayev is caught offside.
-
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
-
Delay in match (England U21).
-
Foul by Tyler Morton (England U21).
