Rate it!

5 votes

England goalkeeper Scott Loach put in an inspired display as Stuart Pearce's side earned a creditable 1-1 draw against early pacesetters Greece in their European Championship Group Nine qualifier in Tripoli.

Daniel Sturridge gave England an early lead after a confident start before his effort was cancelled out by Sotiris Ninis's deflected strike five minutes before half-time.

Loach then made a string of fine saves to keep out a profligate Greek attack lead by Kostas Mitroglou and earn a point at the Asteras Tripolis Stadium.

The result means England, beaten 4-0 by Germany in the 2009 finals in June, move up to second in the section - three points behind leaders Greece - having taken four points from their two matches having beaten Macedonia 2-1 last Friday with Portugal third with three points from their one match played.

England began strongly with 17-year-old Jack Wilshere handed his first start, and the visitors should have been ahead after just three minutes when Sturridge's curling free-kick cracked off the left upright, with James Tomkins blazing the rebound over the crossbar.

The visitors continued to press and they were rewarded with the opening goal two minutes later.

Danny Rose was the architect, intercepting Vasilis Pliatsikas' wayward pass and then turning Kyriakos Papadopoulos before sliding in a low centre which Sturridge gleefully tapped home from close range.

It took Greece 22 minutes to fashion an opening with Olympiacos striker Mitroglou drawing a fine save from Loach with a low snapshot. Loach was called into action again two minutes later, denying Ninis with a brilliant fingertip save.

Sturridge was forced off with what looked like an ankle problem shortly afterwards, with Manchester United's Danny Welbeck replacing the goalscorer.

The visitors enjoyed more of the game as the half wore on though, and they levelled five minutes before half-time through good fortune, Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs deflecting Ninis' speculative shot past a helpless Loach after 40 minutes.

England could then have fallen 2-1 behind on the stroke of half-time, but Loach made a superb point-blank save from Dimitris Siovas' header.

Rose wasted England's best chance of the second half, firing wide of the left upright after playing a neat one-two with Jack Rodwell.

Mitroglou was guilty of passing up a golden chance when he intercepted Tomkins' poor pass and advanced on goal, only to be denied by Loach's sprawling save.

The Watford goalkeeper made yet another fine stop four minutes from time, from another Ninis long range effort.

Mitroglou then should have won the match for Greece with two minutes when Loach was finally beaten. The Olympiacos striker rounded the keeper - but hit the sidenetting with the goal gaping.

At the Coleraine Showgrounds, Northern Ireland U21 manager Steve Beaglehole saw his side slump to a 6-2 defeat to Iceland U21 .

He was looking for his young charges to bounce back after losing to the Czech Republic in their opening game.

Instead the province were 4-0 down at half-time with Iceland clinical in front of goal.

The only consolation for Beaglehole was the second half performance of substitute Josh Magennis, who scored a brace.

PA Sport