Arsenal starlet Max Dowman dazzles with solo stunner as England U19s put six past Portugal

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Evening Standard

·31 March 2026

Arsenal starlet Max Dowman dazzles with solo stunner as England U19s put six past Portugal

Young Lions miss out on Euros berth despite dominant victory

Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman scored a superb solo goal and bagged two assists as England Under-19s routed Portugal 6-0 on Tuesday.

Dowman’s form at club level, where he scored his first Premier League goal against Everton last month, has seen some question whether he should be called up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.

But the German has played down that idea and left the youngster to wreak havoc in the Three Lions’ youth ranks, with Portugal now numbering among his various victims.

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Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry, who made his senior debut in January, was the direct beneficiary of Dowman’s incisive attacking. He scored a brace on the day, with both goals assisted by the Arsenal winger.

The first came just four minutes into the U19 European Championships qualifying tie, and England carried that 1-0 lead into half-time despite Portugal twice going close through Benfica’s Anisio Cabral.

Dowman doubled England’s advantage minutes into the second half. He picked up the ball in his own half, sold his marker with a deft drop of the shoulder and bore down on goal, firing home from the edge of the area.

His second assist came on the hour mark and took the score to 3-0, again teeing up Derry.

England ran riot from that point, with West Ham’s Ezra Mayers, Chelsea’s Shumaira Mheuka and Brighton’s Harry Howell adding their names to the scoresheet.

Liverpool pair Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni also featured in the match, as did Chris Rigg and Divine Mukasa.

Dowman’s heroics in Portugal take him to seven goal contributions in ten appearances for England’s U19s, per Transfermarkt, adding to his impressive tallies throughout England’s other youth sides.

The Young Lions’ emphatic victory was not enough to secure their place at the U19 Euro finals, with Serbia beating Poland to top their qualifying group and progress.