FOOTBALL Live

Tuesday October 14, 2008 Finished Villa Park

2 - 2

England U21

  • Huddlestone 13’
  • Vokes 35’ (o.g.)

Wales U21

  • Ramsey 24’
  • Church 28’
  1. England reach Euros after drama

    England reach Euros after drama

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

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • England U21
    • Wales U21
    • - Pearce will be pleased to qualify 5-4 on aggregate, but the defending in both matches was poor and is a cause for concern. However the match was a pleasure to watch and played in the right spirit - at least until the final quarter.
    • - Wales have still not beaten England at this level - and their search to reach a major finals at any level continues. The last one was in 1958, when they lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals of the senior World Cup - in Sweden.
    • - England Under-21s qualify for the 2009 European Championships in Sweden - but they did not do it the easy way. Credit to Wales, who took the game to their hosts after going behind.
    • 90+4' Wales break over halfway! They look to get the ball in the box for one last try - but the whistle sounds to end the match.
    • 90+3' As Pearce said they would, if needed, earlier today, England take the ball into the corner flag. Johnson forced to turn inside along the byline and Milner takes possession, going back to the corner when he has a chance...
    • 90+2' Ramsey volleys at goal after the ball is headed out and it is blocked desperately by Mancienne... he has another go and fails to get it through again. Panic in the England backline.
    • 90+1' It is cleared after another scare at the back post for the home side. Three minutes of added time to come.
    • 90' Mancienne sliding in the box concedes a corner as Flynn jumps about animatedly on the touchline...
    • 90' More drama in the England box as a Wales striker goes down, but no penalty awarded. Another hopeful claim.
    • 89' Campbell tries to break over halfway but Blake does just enough to stop him skipping through on goal.
    • 88' Substitute Adams has time outside the box and looks to shoot... off target. He should have done better.
    • 86' Time running out for Wales as another cross is too long.
    • 84' RAMSEY HITS THE POST!! He drilled a low shot past Hart after superbly turning Mancienne and getting the ball out of his feet - but the base of the upright saved England.
    • 84' Wales change: Nicky Adams on for McDonald.
    • 83' England on the break... Campbell looks to go past Blake on the outside in the box and hits the deck, but Blake fairly blocked him out and ref denies the striker a penalty.
    • 83' A Noble cross is blocked and the fans appeal for a penalty for handball - a bit hopeful, that one. Johnson, who has not been in this half, loses the ball as he tries to find Milner.
    • 81' Milner lays it back to right-back Wheater and goes after the return pass down the line. His cross is headed away and here come Wales...
    • 79' Another cross that is just beyond Church and Bradley. Wales with all the last-third possession at present.
    • 78' Collison whips in a dangerous ball with three men just unable to get a head or boot on it... Flynn is on his feet, screaming at them to get there next time.
    • 76' Yellow card for Blake for chopping down the accelerating Campbell, on loan at Spurs from Manchester United.
    • 75' Hart drops a deep cross but gets away with it. Mancienne then puts in a necessary tackle as Wiggins threatens... England survive.
    • 73' Hart gathers after a nervy piece of defending. The tension in the England side is transmitted from the stands...
    • 69' Bradley takes the ball on yet his volley loops harmlessly over the bar. Wales, who have not qualified for a major international tournament at any level since 1958, face a challenge themselves - can they finally do it tonight?
    • 67' The heavy-set midfielder is applauded off by the fans, but has left Pearce with a predicament - not unlike those the senior side have endured at major tournaments. A test of their mettle awaits.
    • 66' HUDDLESTONE SENT OFF!! He won the ball in midfield and went chasing after it, but slid into Blake - who had got to the second ball first - with his studs. He probably deserved it.
    • 64' An intriguing final 25 minutes in store on a wet night in Birmingham.
    • 61' Wiggins booked for a cynical, tired foul on the charging Milner. That is the first such moment in a competitive but fair match.
    • 60' Wales change: Mark Bradley on for King.
    • 60' Church leaps to flick on a free-kick sent into the mixer, but the ball loops up harmlessly and Hart takes it comfortably.
    • 58' Campbell gets a touch, playing the ball out to the right and Milner... he steps inside and cracks a shot at goal, straight down Williams's throat. He needed two goes to get it under control, but I don't blame him - that was a bullet of a shot.
    • 55' Huddlestone lofts a ball into the box and Williams drops it! Taylor is between him and the ball a yard out, looking to hook it back into the goal; but the referee blows up for a foul on the keeper. He is not the most confident goalie I have ever laid eyes on.
    • 52' A tentative opening period in this half, perhaps because both teams have been given some grief at half-time by their respective bosses. Brian Flynn leads the visitors.
    • 49' Wheater lines up a shot - don't do it! - and lo and behold, it flies high, wide and not very handsome.
    • 48' Vokes leads a promising Wales attack, brought down by Huddlestone. Nothing comes of the free-kick though.
    • 46' The second half begins, England now kicking from left to right. A nervous time ahead for both sides - if the scores are level on 90 minutes, we will have extra time before away goals kick in.
    • - England change: Agbonlahor replaced by Fraizer Campbell, the same as happened in the first leg - but earlier tonight. Gabi will now link up with the senior squad as they prepare to face Belarus tomorrow evening.
    • 45+1' The half-time whistle sounds. What an entertaining first half: if we were being picky we would say both home nations have defended shockingly, but let's instead focus on the positives - both sides are fun to watch and providing the fans with a great spectacle.
    • 45+1' One minute to be added on at the end of the first half. Mark Noble on the prowl... he plays Agbonlahor in on the right side of the area, but the return ball is cut out and Wales survive.
    • 45' Vokes rises to head the set-piece wide of the far post, left alone by Wheater.
    • 44' O'Hara again puts in a dangerous cross for England but at the other end, after Michael Mancienne commits a foul and picks up a slight facial injury in the process, he cannot defend as well - a weak header gives Wales a corner...
    • 41' Collison battling towards the England box and the ball falls to Church with his back to goal; he lays it off - and King shoots well wide again. He needs to change his boots.
    • 39' We've not had time to breathe so far in this game. The score stands at 5-4 on aggregate, 2-2 on the night.
    • 38' Agbonlahor, unusually quiet so far tonight, turns and shoots from 20 yards - wide of the far post.
    • 37' What is clear from the two matches is that both sides are capable of scoring plenty of goals - but can't defend for toffee.
    • 35' ENGLAND GO BACK IN FRONT!! O'Hara delivered a sublime free-kick from the right with his left foot and Taylor rose to head at goal - it deflected off Sam Vokes and into the net.
    • 32' Church scored six goals in the campaign prior to this match - from only three starts. That is some record.
    • 31' England change: Fabrice Muamba on for Cattermole in defensive midfield. He does not seem to have a knock.
    • 30' England again displaying that defensive fragility: and is there a hint of the complacency that accompanies the national team against 'inferior' opposition? They had better get their act together if they want to reach the finals - Wales will be confident of more goals on current form.
    • 28' WALES SCORE A SECOND!! Ramsey with a delightful run before running into danger on the edge of the box; soon after he plays a lovely ball through to Simon Church - and the striker finishes with aplomb for a 2-1 lead on the night, 4-4 on aggregate.
    • 26' Wales have to score three tonight though after that England opener, as the Three Lions would go through on away goals if the score finished 2-1 to their visitors.
    • 24' RAMSEY SCORES AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER!!! The Arsenal youngster, the youngest man on the pitch, struck a half-volley from distance following an excellent Wales move. They have come right back into this match in the last few minutes.
    • 23' O'Hara with a lax back-pass towards his goalkeeper Hart... the Manchester City man is out quickly to clear. That was hairy...
    • 21' Jack Collison plays a one-two with McDonald and feeds King, who shoots... well wide. Good move, poor finish.
    • 20' Shaun MacDonald injured in a challenge with Lee Cattermole and limps off to receive treatment.
    • 19' Andy King with a volley from outside the box that flies over the crossbar. Wales' first shot - they have never beaten England at this level, but need to tonight.
    • 16' Agbonlahor almost sneaks through a couple of Wales defenders after Huddlestone feeds him, but Darcy Blake puts a foot in to deny him. The nippy striker hit the bar in the first leg from over 30 yards.
    • 13' HUDDLESTONE SMASHES THE BALL INTO THE FAR BOTTOM CORNER!! The midfielder bent it with power around the wall and to the left of the despairing dive of Owain Fon Williams.
    • 13' Johnson angles in from the left but is fouled by Ramsey... a free-kick in an excellent position for the home team.
    • 12' Left-back Rhoys Wiggins with a tackle out wide to deny England another attack. Throw-in.
    • 10' Adam Johnson, scorer of one of the other goals in Cardiff along with David Wheater, crosses long. James Milner, like Agbonlahor a Villa man, with a better ball in from the right: Steven Taylor heads downwards but it is cleared after a scramble. Pressure building.
    • 8' O'Hara puts a cross in this time, dealt with by the compact Wales formation.
    • 6' Jamie O'Hara with a wild shot that is way off target.
    • 3' Spurs man Tom Huddlestone crosses low, cleared by the away defence. Wales' team is not filled with Premier League first-teamers, unlike England - but they have some cracking young prospects such as Aaron Ramsey.
    • 2' Stuart Pearce's side were impressive at Ninian Park, passing the ball well and possessing a forward in Agbonlahor to frighten anyone - but were fragile at the back when Wales went on the attack.
    • 1' England start the first half kicking from right to left in traditional colours of white and navy blue, while Wales are in all red.
    • - England lead 3-2 from the first leg in Cardiff, thanks to a lovely flick from Gabriel Agbonlahor - playing on his home ground tonight.
    • - Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.co.uk's LIVE coverage of the second leg of the 2009 Under-21 European Championship play-off between England and Wales.

  • Summary

    • 84' RAMSEY HITS THE POST!! He drilled a low shot past Hart after superbly turning Mancienne and getting the ball out of his feet - but the base of the upright saved England.
    • 83' England on the break... Campbell looks to go past Blake on the outside in the box and hits the deck, but Blake fairly blocked him out and ref denies the striker a penalty.
    • 66' HUDDLESTONE SENT OFF!! He won the ball in midfield and went chasing after it, but slid into Blake - who had got to the second ball first - with his studs. He probably deserved it.
    • 58' Campbell gets a touch, playing the ball out to the right and Milner... he steps inside and cracks a shot at goal, straight down Williams's throat. He needed two goes to get it under control, but I don't blame him - that was a bullet of a shot.
    • 55' Huddlestone lofts a ball into the box and Williams drops it! Taylor is between him and the ball a yard out, looking to hook it back into the goal; but the referee blows up for a foul on the keeper. He is not the most confident goalie I have ever laid eyes on.
    • 35' ENGLAND GO BACK IN FRONT!! O'Hara delivered a sublime free-kick from the right with his left foot and Taylor rose to head at goal - it deflected off Sam Vokes and into the net.
    • 28' WALES SCORE A SECOND!! Ramsey with a delightful run before running into danger on the edge of the box; soon after he plays a lovely ball through to Simon Church - and the striker finishes with aplomb for a 2-1 lead on the night, 4-4 on aggregate.
    • 24' RAMSEY SCORES AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER!!! The Arsenal youngster, the youngest man on the pitch, struck a half-volley from distance following an excellent Wales move. They have come right back into this match in the last few minutes.
    • 23' O'Hara with a lax back-pass towards his goalkeeper Hart... the Manchester City man is out quickly to clear. That was hairy...
    • 13' HUDDLESTONE SMASHES THE BALL INTO THE FAR BOTTOM CORNER!! The midfielder bent it with power around the wall and to the left of the despairing dive of Owain Fon Williams.
    • 10' Adam Johnson, scorer of one of the other goals in Cardiff along with David Wheater, crosses long. James Milner, like Agbonlahor a Villa man, with a better ball in from the right: Steven Taylor heads downwards but it is cleared after a scramble. Pressure building.
    • - Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.co.uk's LIVE coverage of the second leg of the 2009 Under-21 European Championship play-off between England and Wales.

Live Team Line-Up

  • England U21

    Manager: Stuart Pearce

    Starting line-up

    • J. Hart
    • D. Wheater
    • M. Mancienne
    • S. Taylor
    • J. O'Hara
    • J. Milner
    • L. Cattermole
    • T. Huddlestone Goal Red Card
    • A. Johnson
    • M. Noble
    • G. Agbonlahor Substitution Out (46′)

    Subs

    • M. Cranie
    • T. Heaton
    • F. Muamba
    • A. Taylor
    • F. Campbell Substitution In46′
    • A. Lallana

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Wales U21

    Manager: Brian Flynn

    Starting line-up

    • O. Williams
    • D. Blake Yellow Card
    • J. Jacobson
    • N. Eardley
    • .. wiggins Yellow Card
    • S. MacDonald Substitution Out (84′)
    • A. Ramsey Goal
    • J. Collison
    • A. King Substitution Out (60′)
    • S. Church Goal
    • S. Vokes Own Goal

    Subs

    • R. Taylor
    • J. Allen
    • L. James
    • M. Bradley Substitution In60′
    • N. Adams Substitution In84′
    • J. Brown

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None