Int Football - U-21s: England beat Portugal

Eurosport - Sat, 06 Sep 10:07:00 2008

England sealed victory in Group 3 of the European U-21 qualification competition with a dominant 2-0 win over Portugal at Wembley.

FOOTBALL EMPICS Gabriel Agbonlahor v Portugual England U21 - 0

An evenly matched first half saw both sides come close before England were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute for a foul on Fabrice Muamba.

James Milner stepped up confidentially and sent Rui Patricio the wrong way to give England a one goal lead at the break.

Gabriel Abgonlahor had terrorised the Portuguese defence in the first half on the left flank and continued to do so after half time. In the 63rd minute he popped up on the right and ran in to score England's second after a defence-splitting pass from Mark Noble.

Once England had doubled their lead the result was never in doubt and the home team enjoyed near total domination for the last half hour.

Despite peppering Rui Patricio's goal with efforts, England could not add a third goal. The Portuguese custodian stood firm, denying good efforts from substitutes Lee Cattermole and Frazier Campbell.

Portugal had begun the game brightly and they threatened the England goal in the fifth minute. A Portuguese corner was met by Vierinha who glanced a header towards goal at the near post. Joe Hart only had time to throw his left arm out at the ball but did enough to deny the Porto midfielder.

Amongst a number of half-chances, Vierinha's effort was the only time either keeper had a meaningful save to make in the first half-hour.

As the half wore on England rose in the ascendancy but were struggling to turn possession in dangerous areas into chances. Paulo Machado changed that when he upended Muamba in the penalty area.

Unsurprisingly the move had begun with Agbonlahor who found Noble in the box. Noble was stopped but the ball broke to Muamba and his legs were taken from him by Machado. Milner converted the spot-kick and England finished the half ahead.

Portugal brought on Joao Moreira at half time to add more strike power to their attack but he saw little of the ball in a second half that England controlled from start to finish. The away team only had one chance in the second forty-five, a flicked header from Ricardo Vaz-Te that whisked past Joe Hart's post in the 59th minute.

Four minutes later England had their second goal and the game was finished as a contest. Agbonlahor beat the offside trap, running twenty yards to meet Noble's pass and then another thirty into the penalty area.

Closed down by Rui Patricio, the Villa starlet kept his cool, bundling the ball into the net from an angle.

The last half hour belonged to England. Cattermole and Adam Johnson both had chances after driving forward from the midfield. Campbell then replaced man-of-the-match Agbonlahor and twice came close.

On 82 minutes Campbell collected the ball down the left channel with two defenders for company. A shimmy and a shake left both Portuguese men in Campbell's wake but Rui Patricio scuffed his near post effort wide.

Deep in injury time Campbell threatened again, meeting a cross from his Tottenham team-mate Tom Huddlestone with a diving header. It nearly squirmed under Rui Patricio but he completed the save at the second attempt.

James Garner / Eurosport

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. This is a fantastic result for the Ingerland boys and Capello over quality opposition. It's only up, up, up from now on. They will definitely win the next World Cup. The last few decades of abject failure have simply been clever preparation for tonight's glorious result, which is truly a launch pad for domination of the footballing world. As I sit here in my attic, I can't wait for the next match.

    From Oxonman, on Sat 6 Sep 10:36PM

  2. That's why your not the England manager, other wise the FA could have saved alot of money with you big stevie, yes they are brilliant players but they take time to mature, yes they are doing well in the prem, but you cant rush it, look at wenger at arsenal hes got bags of talent there, walcott for one, but he dont play him week in week out for fear of scrambling the kids brain, Capello knows what he is doing and i think its only a matter of time until he turns Englands fortunes!!

    From ndavis_211188, on Sat 6 Sep 12:09PM

  3. Agbonlahor - first team - NOW

    From peri, on Sat 6 Sep 11:30AM

  4. villa villa villa villa and the goals are just begging to come cappello choose wisely the hopes of every englishman rest on your shoulders

    From villain 4 life, on Sat 6 Sep 10:41AM

  5. agbonlahor, young, and milner....how long is it going to take before capello sees that this crop of talent is there and waiting for a full england match to show there collective talents ?
    along with many other players in the under 21's they deserve there chance NOW !!
    why should we be subjected to the usual dismal first 11 england squads usual @#$%....bring on the kids !!!

    From big stevie, on Sat 6 Sep 9:29AM

  6. I know he is in an England/Nigeria battle right now but I would actually like to see Carlton Cole given a shot to prove his worth along side Rooney! I think it could be a good pairing. He's strong and can be quick and if he puts his mind to it and actually turns up to play, he can be very good!

    From Fourteen12, on Sat 6 Sep 9:21AM

  7. Lionhell, how on earth do you know that the fans talking know less about football than Capello???? You don't! And what you say makes NO sense whatsoever! Players are selected for the national senior team on their performance! Senior managers go to U21 games for EXACTLY that reason! To see who is performing and who isn't at international level!

    At the moment in England we have very few players that perform week in, week out! So, yes maybe the players that perform well for U21s should be considered for senior level. Some players manage to perform brilliantly at international level and not so great at club level!

    From Fourteen12, on Sat 6 Sep 9:18AM

  8. this is U-21... It certainly does not mean those players can play for the seniors team. There is something very weird in england. It seems opinions are so driven by the news... A player scores a hat trick in a friendly game against a poor opponent and thats it, he should be in the national team. A player scores one or two goals and thats it he must take a starter place. Its just ridiculous. There is a national coach, and fans that are talking know certainly less than him about football... i have my idea why capello sent agbonlahor and richards to the U-21. He is having exactly the reaction he expected right now i am sure.

    From lionhell, on Sat 6 Sep 7:46AM

  9. AGBOLAHOR AND CAMBELL SHOULD BE IN CAPELLO'S PERKING LIST NOW.

    From peace s, on Sat 6 Sep 6:22AM

  10. thank you capello for giving us a hope for the world cup 2010

    From hassanyazeed, on Sat 6 Sep 6:17AM

  11. Great result.

    From ANDREW S, on Sat 6 Sep 3:14AM

  12. it seems that frazier campbell's form is blistering now. hope Man Utd noticed this and take him back at the end of the season from spurs.

    From dila, on Sat 6 Sep 1:54AM

  13. that would be a great exercise, England should be made to make this happen a couple of times a year in front of fans with some hype for exposure and the public pass comment it would be interesting and give Fabio and pyscho plenty to think about. it would be the best training and most beneficial friendly in the diary for the country.

    if nothing else it would spell out to the England benches who should be picked on current performance and give everyone worth a look a fair chance to prove or otherwise, either way it would be constructive

    From john18iwish, on Sat 6 Sep 1:00AM

  14. If the seniors were to meet the U21s in a competitive match who would have the most 'passion' and commitment? Which team would still have something to prove and put playing for their country above playing for their club? Who would play with the most understanding of their own system? Which team would use players who are now limited to set pieces? Or players who are currently not showing any special form in their club side? Or players who have stopped developing and rely upon tired strategies. Or players who have had their chance and failed to impress many times? Which team would take the most notice of their manager's instructions? Gerrard and Beckham didn't last time.Which team would play players out of place? Which team would play with the most inhibition when things go against them? Which team has a history of disappointing its fans? I would back Psycho's squad against Capello's every time. This is sounding more and more like an argument to scrap the senior team and just use the youngsters. I wonder...................

    From paulwmoses, on Sat 6 Sep 12:46AM

  15. England need some life in the seniors, they havent looked a scary threat for an age. Milner might have been on the block for longer but give Agbonlahor a chance, hes got a real chance to impress at the moment even Fabio can see as defence improve England lack a Torres but then doesnt act, lets start work on the youngsters now to create one!! Stop bringing out the has beens, i can't believe he has kept putting Heskey in a shirt

    From john18iwish, on Sat 6 Sep 12:30AM

  16. Villa 2 Portugal 0
    Great squad choice Mr Capitulate

    From stephenjones272@..., on Sat 6 Sep 12:18AM

  17. Please someone tell Fabio we have got other options to pair with likes of Rooney up front with some spark like Owen had in his younger years, i think Agbonlahor is someone that should get some opportunities to pair with Rooney, England needs that sort of help.

    they will never get chance to be big game players if they dont get some chances in friendly and lower grade qualifiers

    From john18iwish, on Sat 6 Sep 12:10AM

  18. It just shows that the villa have the young talent coming through the u-21 agbonlahor, young, now milner its time capello looked at the young telent to replace the old and worn out players maybe this country can be up with the best of them. come on you villa boys.

    From veryluckytez, on Fri 5 Sep 11:58PM

  19. doesn't anyone notice a pattern here? how many goals has james milner scored for the u21's? perhaps it's time he was considered for the seniors playing in the same position?

    From jools1305@..., on Fri 5 Sep 11:31PM

  20. Come on the villa

    From Westley C, on Fri 5 Sep 11:10PM
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