Lions roar past Syria

England will meet old rivals Germany in the Quarter-Finals after the young Lions finally subdued a Syrian side who threatened an upset.

In a disjointed performance where possession was squandered too easily, England needed a penalty from Henri Lansbury to take the lead.

Krystian Pearce doubled the advantage but English hearts were fluttering when Ziad Ajouz drilled in a stunning reply.

But Rhys Murphy, recalled to the side, justified John Peacock's faith by crashing home a much-needed third goal to send England through.

On a humid evening under the lights at the Jeju World Cup Stadium, the Syrian team looked resplendent in their coloured boots - all 11 players shunned traditional black with yellow being the most popular.

England Head Coach Peacock made three changes, one enforced, for the Round of 16 clash with their Middle East opponents. Nathan Porritt and James Reid were restored to the line-up while Murphy replaced Victor Moses who strained a thigh muscle in training on Wednesday.

It was Murphy and Porritt who almost put England ahead on four minutes. Room-mates on this trip, Porritt cruised past Alaa Al Shbli before delivering low to Murphy to diverted the ball goalwards where Ahmad Madnia fumbled untidily for a corner.

Murphy thought he had a good shout for a penalty on 13 minutes when he was sent tumbling in the box after good play by Michael Woods and Lansbury.

Referee Hernando Buitrago waved it away this time, but four minutes later the man in black ruled in England's favour when a Syrian hand deflected the ball away from Murphy's head.

Lansbury, as he did against Brazil six days earlier, slotted low and hard to the keeper's left.

Syria responded gallantly as England failed to press home their advantage, the midfield squandering possession too easily which allowed their opponents to attack at pace.

With Oday Al Jafal and Ajouz a constant threat, England were troubled at times.

However, the young Lions should have doubled their lead after 24 minutes. Jonathan Franks, operating on the left flank, found his Middlesbrough team-mate Porritt lurking unmarked at the back post. With just the keeper to beat, Porritt got in a terrible tangle and skewed horribly wide.

Syria, in red, conjured up a lovely move a minute later. The talented Ziad played clever one-twos with Al Jafal and Haani Al Taiar before breaking into the box. Fortunately the England, the Syrian ran into a brick wall - Seth-Nana Ofori Twumasi.

Al Jafal then drilled a low free-kick which Alex Smithies did well to hold as Syria continued to press. The same player curled another free-kick just wide moments later.

Bisecting those two free-kicks, England had a great chance to score their second goal when Lansbury headed a glorious chance wide.

Syria created two more openings before England doubled their lead through an unlikely source in first half stoppage time.

Porritt played a short corner with Daniel Welbeck before swinging over an inviting cross. The ball somehow found its way to the back post where Pearce, showing great composure, cheekily dummied the Syrian keeper before stroking home.

Syria would have felt aggrieved to be two down and they reduced the arrears within six minutes of the restart.

Ajouz, arguably the best player of the first half, was given too much time to shoot - an invitation he gratefully accepted, drilling into the far corner of Smithies' goal from the edge of the box.

The Three Lions restored their two-goal cushion with their best move of the evening.

The all-action Ofori-Twumasi burst through two challenges on the right before sliding the ball through to Lansbury. The Arsenal midfielder drove forward before squaring a perfect pass to Murphy who finished emphatically.

Franks would have made it 4-1 on 75 minutes but for a fine save by Madnia who somehow tipped the ball over after Woods and Lansbury had combined to set up the chance.

It was Woods' turn to miss a gilt-edged chance moments later. Having been played through by Murphy, the Chelsea midfielder steadied himself but stabbed the ball wide with the outside of his right boot.

Solaiman Solaiman gave England a fright with six minutes remaining when, unmarked, he shot straight at Smithies from close range.

Smithies had to be at his best to deny Mohammad Abadi in the closing moments, diving full-stretch to his left to palm away as Syria finished strongly.