Int Football - Agbonlahor magic gives England win

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 11:21:00 2008

A delightful back-heel from Gabriel Agbonlahor gave England Under-21's a 3-2 European Championship play-off, first-leg win over Wales in Cardiff.

FOOTBALL England Under-21's Wales Under-21's Agbonlahor Taylor - 0

The Aston Villa striker turned a low cross from club team-mate James Milner past Owain fon Williams in the Wales goal to seal a close victory against Brian Flynn's relative unknowns.

The match had been even until that moment, with England's Premier League stars struggling at times to keep with a determined and sprightly Wales side led by Arsenal starlet Aaron Ramsey.

Wales had never previously scored against England at Under-21 level, but they had two by the break thanks to opportunistic poaching by Reading youngster Simon Church and quite unintentional comedy from Newcastle centre-half Steven Taylor.

Church put Wales in front on 13 minutes when, after a good slide tackle by Michael Mancienne, Taylor inadvertently gave the ball back to Church, who made no mistake when he placed it low past Joe Hart into the right corner.

England looked sluggish and disorganised, partly because both full-backs - Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara and Middlesbrough stopper David Wheater - were playing out of position, and partly because Wales snapped at their heels for every ball.

They did equalise soon afterwards though, when an 18th-minute O'Hara corner found Wheater at the far post. The strapping defender rose above his marker and, while his header was weak, it still somehow breezed past Fon Williams and the two defenders on the goal-line.

The leveller woke Stuart Pearce's men up, and for most of the following 30 minutes they bossed Wales, technically and physically.

Agbonlahor should have opened his account for the evening, but saw one effort rattle the crossbar and another spin embarrassingly wide.

England took the lead on 35 minutes when Mark Noble slid a superb diagonal ball to Adam Johnson who controlled neatly, cut inside and drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner.

Wales were not totally out of it, though. Shaun MacDonald worked well with stand-out man Ramsey, and the Swansea midfielder worked a few half-chances that flew wide and over respectively.

The hosts even equalised when, just before half-time, Ramsey's cute through ball was controlled by Church. He had everything to do, but Taylor gave him a helping hand by slipping to allow an identical finish to the opener.

England came out with vigour after the break and, while Wales threatened on the counter, the visitors stretched the game and created more chances.

Agbonlahor's cheeky goal just after the hour mark gave his side some breathing space and they dominated possession, forcing Wales to run themselves into the ground.

Pearce's charges started to play with confidence and guile. Milner and Noble forced two good saves from Fon Williams, while Frazier Campbell narrowly missed to connect with what would have been an open goal when he was found unmarked by Milner's right-wing cross.

Wales had some late chances to equalise, with Jack Collison sending a long-range shot inches over and Hart forced to punch one cross away through a crowd of bodies.

But England held on for a win that edges them closer to the summer's finals in Sweden.

The return leg is on Tuesday October 14 at Villa Park, Birmingham.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 28 - 47 of 47

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  1. Please forgive me for this people, but why did what Paul Walker said offend you so much?

    From aleksicn93, on Tue 14 Oct 8:40AM

  2. Oh, and paulwalker70 - how low can you go? You sick @#$%, hope one day something tragic happens in your life then we can all laugh. Maybe if your younger brother was found hanging from a stairwell and then everyone thought it was one big joke then you might change your attitude. Hope you die, get off these message boards

    From XS, on Mon 13 Oct 11:53AM

  3. What a load of @#$% on these comments boards. What have Wales got to be thankful for? A six nations grandslam where the current world champions ended up last (England), Super Joe Calzaghe (best boxer still in the game), Ryan Giggs (best left winger ever) and a beautiful green country full of its own people that have their own language. England - 40 years of international failure despite blowing their own trumpets, Amir Khan (biggest fraud still in the game) a horrible cess pitt full of work shy foreigners that hate our culture and language and Ashley Cole (most hated left back in the world ever). I really think people that live in a glass house should stop throwing stones

    From XS, on Mon 13 Oct 11:44AM

  4. To jonisthebaptist,
    I am not anti-Welsh, but you are not very clever.
    We are not all uneducated, event though most of us are k***s

    From David R, on Sat 11 Oct 3:39PM

  5. Am I missing something or did the writer of this article forget to miss out the fact Adam Johnson's self made goal? it seems the only one playing was Agbonlahor.

    From TED C, on Sat 11 Oct 12:57PM

  6. well said gareth k. my thoughts and sympathy are with them.

    From Peter...toon army, on Sat 11 Oct 11:56AM

  7. doubt it!

    From doubt.it.man, on Sat 11 Oct 11:55AM

  8. it would be nice to read these and not have to explain every foul mouthed rant to my 8 year old son.uneducated people use this language as they dont know another way of expressing themselves.

    From Peter...toon army, on Sat 11 Oct 11:52AM

  9. i find it staggering that someone could make such a comment as in comment 31, Paulwalker70 you obviously have never lost someone close to you or have children. If so i pitty them. I cannot believe that someone could be such an insensitive idiot. The community in Bridgend has been hit VERY VERY hard by this. would you writ something about the people affected in the london bombings or September 11th, I hope not. I am sick to death of people that have no moral backbone and choose to use other people's tragedies as a joke.

    From Gareth, on Sat 11 Oct 10:45AM

  10. Wales played really well, although I thought England just nicked it.
    I do think Wales can hold their heads up high because our country is much smaller than yours and with all the players you have to chosse from you only just nick a win.
    All this abuse about Wales is wrong because us Welsh are celts through and through and proud of it you English are cocky, arrogant, rude and stuck up your own arse. Problby got that from the French blood you have running in your veins when your great grans were f$%*ked by the French invaders.
    When you have a country to be proud of you can then start taking the piss out other countries. I suggest you take a look at yourselves!!!!

    From c.stevens5@..., on Sat 11 Oct 10:38AM

  11. eveything english is stolen babylons burning

    From nlwarburton@..., on Sat 11 Oct 10:37AM

  12. oi sheepshagger learn to spell

    From nlwarburton@..., on Sat 11 Oct 10:31AM

  13. at the end of the day its just football game, y do ppl have to get so personal, there are many words i can think of that we call th eenglish but i am not so immature and childish to say them, so just grow up its a game and thats all it ever will be, english are quick to jump on the welsh about football, but what about the rugby then, where were the english them with a wooden spoon i remember.

    From Kerry B, on Sat 11 Oct 10:19AM

  14. When the welsh and the english kids were learning to spell Danny cb was in the staff car park nicking two bob car stereos to fund his fila (two bob eyetie rubbish) addiction

    Scotland and ball games you just dont cut it mate

    From MARC G, on Sat 11 Oct 9:52AM

  15. 3 away goals, enough said you 'orrible taffs!!!

    From Jamie, on Sat 11 Oct 9:41AM

  16. Andy KIng for Wales was fantastic!! Had Joe Hart worrying with a shot in the first half. He always playes like that; an attacking minded midfielder for Leicester in league 1.Come on you FOXES. WE ARE GOING UP, WE ARE GOING UP!!!! Come on you FOXES. Pearsons blue army!!!

    From thompson934@..., on Sat 11 Oct 9:24AM

  17. wales are just rubbish at least we had the decency to be quiet during your national Anthem you just couldnt keep quiet oh i forgot thats cause ur t*!s

    From Tammy, on Sat 11 Oct 9:23AM

  18. i suppose half of bridgend will be looking for ropes now

    From PAUL, on Sat 11 Oct 9:20AM

  19. Wasnt St George taken origanally from some folk tale from the middle east, durring the Holy Wars... Yum even stole your saint im affraid Dez... But with your comments its sounds like education is way above you... Now then lets move on and look forward to some Great Games this Sat...

    From tulip, on Sat 11 Oct 9:08AM

  20. Here here Craig...

    From tulip, on Sat 11 Oct 9:00AM
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