Oko-Flex on hand to give Ireland U21s draw with England

England U20 2-2 Ireland U21

A late Armstrong Oko-Flex goal earned Ireland a 2-2 draw against England U20s in Zagreb, Croatia on Tuesday afternoon.

Ireland had led inside five minutes following a brilliantly worked goal that saw Joe Hodge fire past Jed Ward in the England goal.

Two England goals either side of the break made it an uphill challenge but after substitute Oko-Flex was felled inside the box he picked himself up to take the penalty, which was saved but he was on hand to net the rebound.

Ireland went into the game looking for a positive finish to their June window having overcome Croatia 3-2 on Friday. And they took the lead early on, Tony Springett did well to win the ball and lay it off for Ollie O'Neill whose delicate touch set it perfect for Hodge to fire home his first U-21 goal.

Ireland looked the brighter of the sides but the game was paused momentarily for a medical emergency in the stands. he game continued and straight afterwards England had a great chance when Killian Cahill denied Dane Scarlett from close range.

Cahill was called into action again this time on hand to save from Sammy Braybrooke with another point-blank reaction save.

It became a game of counter attacks and Bosun Lawal stepped out of defence exchanged passes with debutant Connor O’Brien before firing a cross in front of goal that was cut out before Mark O’Mahony could pounce.

Martial Godo stung the finger tips of Cahill when he cut in and was allowed to fire at goal but with the half drawing to a close Archie Brown was able to break beyond the Irish backline and fire in the equaliser.

England would be ahead inside two minutes of the second half. Abu Kamara was brought down and Scarlett converted the spot-kick to make it 2-1.

After a raft of