Striker Divin Mubama returned to Stoke City with renewed confidence after scoring two goals in England’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Slovakia in the European Under-21 Championships qualifying match. This win marked England’s fifth consecutive victory, maintaining their position at the top of Group A, two points ahead of Slovakia with a match in hand.
In this latest encounter, which took place on October 10, 2023, Mubama showcased his scoring prowess, bringing his tally to five goals in just five international appearances since his debut in August. His impressive performance also extends to club level, where he has netted six times in his last five outings.
Key Contributions and Match Highlights
The match began with England’s Josh King scoring his first international goal just five minutes after coming on as a substitute. Earlier, Ethan Nwaneri had doubled the lead to 2-0. The opening goal came from a well-crafted move, with Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens providing a looping cross that was expertly converted by Mubama from close range.
England’s dominance was evident, although Slovakia threatened briefly with opportunities from Matej Riznic and Timotej Hranica before halftime. Shortly after the break, Slovakia’s goalkeeper Adam Hrdina denied a powerful shot from Sydie Peck, but England maintained their pressure.
In the 73rd minute, Brooke Norton-Cuffey set up Rico Lewis, who assisted King, allowing him to score with a first-time shot. Mubama then added his second goal of the match three minutes before full-time, capitalizing on a defensive error after stealing the ball 25 yards from goal.
Upcoming Fixtures and Player Updates
Following this international duty, Mubama and Stoke’s loan centre-back Ashley Phillips are set to return to their club, where they will prepare for an away match against Leicester City on October 14, 2023. Meanwhile, Tommy Simkin, who is on loan at Leyton Orient, has a home fixture against Blackpool.
Stoke City fans are encouraged to engage in discussions about the club’s loan signings and performances. The club has also launched a new WhatsApp group to provide the latest updates directly to supporters’ phones.
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