Half-Time Report: Jesse Lingard cancels out Philipp Hofmann's opener

Jesse Lingard has ensured that England Under-21s head into half time tied with Germany after Philipp Hofmann's opener in their friendly at the Riverside Stadium.

The visitors looked strong early on and took the lead 15 minutes in, with birthday boy Hofmann finding the top corner after creating space on the edge of the box.

England responded well, with Will Hughes almost playing in Danny Ings, before Lingard's effort was parried out for a corner by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Lingard went one better to level matters for England, scoring his first goal for the Young Lions by slotting past Ter Stegen after Carl Jenkinson picked him out.

Liverpool's Emre Can came close to restoring Germany's lead, but his free kick was denied by Jonathan Bond shortly before the break.