Gerrard swots up on Aidy talents
SHEHU BALOGUN TROOST-EKONG IDOWU ONAZI OBI MOSES MIKEL IWOBI IGHALO
ENGLAND U21 QATAR U21
STEVEN GERRARD watched England’s Young Lions stay in the hunt to retain the Toulon Tournament trophy.
The former England skipper spent his first day as Rangers’ new boss scouting for potential loan signings by taking in the thrashing of Qatar.
A fifth goal would have seen the Under-21s win the group and book a semi-final spot here and then.
But instead that was claimed by Mexico, who had seen off China 3-1 earlier.
England will still progress as the best second-place side – unless Scotland record a big victory over South Korea in their final group outing today.
Aidy Boothroyd’s boys, who won the tournament in 2016 and last year, ended up firing 19 shots at the Qatari goal.
Four went in, with Manchester City’s Lukas Nmecha opening the scoring with a 37th-minute header.
It went in off Ahmed Suhail and the luckless Qatari was credited with an unwanted own goal.
Ronaldo Vieira doubled the lead eight minutes into the second half as Gerrard took notes.
The Leeds man ran at the Qatar defence before unleashing a swerving shot that deceived the keeper
Tammy Abraham, the Chelsea striker loaned out to Swansea last season, made it 3-0 three minutes later with a tap-in.
And Newcastle’s Adam Armstrong completed the rout with a 67th-minute fourth.