ENGLAND UNDER-21S ADVANCE TO PLAY-OFFS AFTER SUCCESS OVER PORTUGAL
Stuart Pearce's Under-21s ensured their safe passage to the play-off stages of qualification for the European Championship by defeating their closest rivals Portugal 2-0 in their final Group three game. With England only needing a draw to progress, James Milner's penalty and Gabriel Agbonlahor's second-half strike left the visiting Portuguese dead and buried.
For many of the England youngsters it was the first time they had run out on the hallowed turf of New Wembley, and Pearce had predicted it would be an inspiration. Under the gaze of 28,000 supporters it was the visitors, however, who, in an unseasonable drizzle, started the brighter. But they would be made to pay for their profligacy.
Knowing only a win would do, the Portuguese attacked with relish and took only five minutes before testing England stopper Joe Hart. Miguel Veloso's corner found the head of Adelino Freitas but the Manchester City man instinctively clawed the ball from the goal from point-blank range, showing why senior coach Fabio Capello rates the 21-year-old so highly.
Three minutes later Ricardo Vaz Te flashed a shot over the bar as the England defense were caught napping again. On 23 minutes Bruno Gama should have done better but scuffed his shot wide. A couple of minutes later Paulo Machado had time and space to run from midfield and fizzed a shot past Hart's right post.
Only after half an hour did England start firing, and alarm bells rang for Portugal. Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone, playing in central midfield, dinked in a free-kick from deep on the left and centre back Michael Mancienne headed the ball into the side netting.
On 32 minutes Agbonlahor chased what seemed a lost cause, but the Aston Villa man out-paced then out-muscled two defenders before pulling back for Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson, who had scored in the reverse fixture which had ended 1-1. He could not be the hero this time, however, as his shot skidded wide.
After more England pressure, Machado was caught in possession in his own penalty area by Fabrice Muaba, who was charging in to collect Agbonlahor's pull-back. The midfielder could only connect with Muamba's foot, and the penalty was given.
Milner, making his record 38th appearance for the U-21s, stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom left-hand corner, sending goalkeeper Rui Patricio the wrong way.
After the interval England started as they had left off, finding space in the middle of the pitch. The Portuguese defense did not know how to cope with the pacy Agbonlahor, and he soon got his reward. Mark Noble threaded a delightful ball for the striker to run on to, and he obliged, tucking the his finish under Patricio on 63 minutes.
The win extended England's win at U-21 level to 25 games in normal time, and completed an impressive qualifying campaign which reads: played eight, won seven, drawn one and conceded only one goal. Pearce's side will feature in a play-off game next month, but have ambitions on improving on their semi-final finish last summer, if they do play in next year's tournament in Sweden.
Stuart Pearce's Under-21s ensured their safe passage to the play-off stages of qualification for the European Championship by defeating their closest rivals Portugal 2-0 in their final Group three game. With England only needing a draw to progress, James Milner's penalty and Gabriel Agbonlahor's second-half strike left the visiting Portuguese dead and buried.
For many of the England youngsters it was the first time they had run out on the hallowed turf of New Wembley, and Pearce had predicted it would be an inspiration. Under the gaze of 28,000 supporters it was the visitors, however, who, in an unseasonable drizzle, started the brighter. But they would be made to pay for their profligacy.
Knowing only a win would do, the Portuguese attacked with relish and took only five minutes before testing England stopper Joe Hart. Miguel Veloso's corner found the head of Adelino Freitas but the Manchester City man instinctively clawed the ball from the goal from point-blank range, showing why senior coach Fabio Capello rates the 21-year-old so highly.
Three minutes later Ricardo Vaz Te flashed a shot over the bar as the England defense were caught napping again. On 23 minutes Bruno Gama should have done better but scuffed his shot wide. A couple of minutes later Paulo Machado had time and space to run from midfield and fizzed a shot past Hart's right post.
Only after half an hour did England start firing, and alarm bells rang for Portugal. Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone, playing in central midfield, dinked in a free-kick from deep on the left and centre back Michael Mancienne headed the ball into the side netting.
On 32 minutes Agbonlahor chased what seemed a lost cause, but the Aston Villa man out-paced then out-muscled two defenders before pulling back for Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson, who had scored in the reverse fixture which had ended 1-1. He could not be the hero this time, however, as his shot skidded wide.
After more England pressure, Machado was caught in possession in his own penalty area by Fabrice Muaba, who was charging in to collect Agbonlahor's pull-back. The midfielder could only connect with Muamba's foot, and the penalty was given.
Milner, making his record 38th appearance for the U-21s, stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom left-hand corner, sending goalkeeper Rui Patricio the wrong way.
After the interval England started as they had left off, finding space in the middle of the pitch. The Portuguese defense did not know how to cope with the pacy Agbonlahor, and he soon got his reward. Mark Noble threaded a delightful ball for the striker to run on to, and he obliged, tucking the his finish under Patricio on 63 minutes.
The win extended England's win at U-21 level to 25 games in normal time, and completed an impressive qualifying campaign which reads: played eight, won seven, drawn one and conceded only one goal. Pearce's side will feature in a play-off game next month, but have ambitions on improving on their semi-final finish last summer, if they do play in next year's tournament in Sweden.
Labels: England Under-21s, Portugal, Stuart Pearce
