England's Under-21s have beaten their Portugal counterparts 3-1 in this evening's international friendly at Turf Moor, Danny Ings scoring a brace on his home patch.
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The game was barely six minutes old when Nathan Redmond and Thomas Ince combined to set up Ings, the Burnley striker flicking the ball into the far corner to celebrate an international goal on home turf.
The Three Lions continued to press, and just after the quarter-hour mark, Ings fired over following a pinpoint through-ball.
Following England's latest effort, it was Portugal's turn to threaten, with Bruno Fernandes first being denied by the offside before dragging a 20-yard shot wide.
With three minutes to go in the first half, Will Hughes set up Carl Jenkinson, who subsequently drilled the ball low into the Portugal net to double the home side's lead.
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Just after the restart, the visitors pulled a goal back when Bruma played a reverse ball to the feet of Bernardo Silva, who had made a run beyond his forward. The midfielder then composed himself before firing underneath England goalkeeper Jack Butland.
However, Gareth Southgate's charges regained their two-goal lead just before the hour when Redmond squared the ball to Ings, who bundled over the line for his second strike of the evening.
In the 80th minute, England could have had a penalty when Tobias Figueiredo brought down Patrick Bamford in the Portugal box, but the referee waved away the appeals.
With just two minutes left to play, Carlos Mane forced a good save out of Butland, who did well to hold on to the winger's curling shot, but the Three Lions held on for a comprehensive victory.
Giuseppe Labellarte
