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England Under-21s qualified for the 2009 European Championship 5-4 on aggregate against Wales after a nervy 2-2 draw at Villa Park.

England took an early lead through a Tom Huddlestone free-kick to move 4-2 ahead over the two legs, but Wales fought back and scored two quick-fire goals to go 2-1 ahead and level overall.

The first of these was a stunning half-volley from Arsenal's young star Aaron Ramsey and the former Cardiff City man then slipped in Simon Church, who finished with aplomb.

Ten minutes before half-time the home side scored the crucial goal that helped them avoid extra time; the away-goal rule that would have seen England through had they not done so only kicked in after 120 minutes.

Steven Taylor rose to head a free-kick across goal and the unfortunate Sam Vokes deflected past keeper Owain Fon Williams.

The match had been contested in a competitive yet fair spirit until the 66th minute when Tottenham midfielder Huddlestone slid in late on Darcy Blake and was shown a red card, precipitating a flurry of late bookings.

England held on for the draw and a place in the finals in Sweden next year, but it was far from comfortable: Wales threatened to extend the game late on as the hosts floundered, but the closest Bryan Flynn's side came was when Ramsey struck the base of the post with moments left to play.

While the entertainment on show for the fans inside a wet Villa Park could not be disputed, the standard of defending from both sides was at times comical.

Williams in the Wales goal never looked comfortable, whether dealing with high crosses or shots on target, and should have got a hand to Huddlestone's low, powerful free-kick on 13 minutes from 20 yards as he dived to his left.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, the star of the first leg in Cardiff, could not bring out his mercurial best on his club ground and was substituted at half-time; although that had more to do with resting him ahead of a trip to join up with Fabio Capello's senior squad in Belarus and Aston Villa's weekend clash with Portsmouth.

The man of the match was undoubtedly Ramsey, whose strike into the near-post top corner from 35 yards on the left stunned the England support into silence.

As Stuart Pearce's men looked suddenly lost in attack, Wales took the game to them from midfield, with Ramsey leading the charge.

A second goal duly arrived four minutes later in the 28th, Ramsey playing a sublime ball through for Church - and he beat Joe Hart low into the far corner.

England were perhaps so shocked because they had exhibited elements of the complacency that often engulfs the senior side - and suddenly a place in Sweden looked to be slipping away from them.

The winning goal arrived after a lovely set-piece delivery from the left boot of Jamie O'Hara on the right. The difference between the quality in the defender's attacking endeavours and defensive work epitomised England's night.

Williams suffered a pair of traumatic moments when he dropped a floated Huddlestone free-kick - Steven Taylor was penalised for jumping with him while attempting to hook the ball into the goal - then when James Milner stepped inside and hit a bullet shot straight at him.

After Huddlestone's red card England dug in but looked shaky when Hart dropped a couple of crosses, while Vokes and Church just failed to connect with a pair of crosses from Jack Collison.

There were hopeful shouts for penalties at both ends, both rejected by the referee, before Ramsey turned Michael Mancienne and got the ball out of his feet - but his low drive, having defeated Hart, struck the upright and ricocheted to safety.

Wales have failed to reach a major finals at any level since 1958 and are yet to beat England at Under-21 level.

England will have to improve defensively if they are to better their semi-final showing in the last European Championship, where they lost to hosts the Netherlands after a marathon penalty shoot-out.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport