Portugal 2-2 England (Portugal win 3-2 on penalties)

UEFA Under 17 Championship Semi-Final
Wednesday 14th May 2003
Do Fontelo - Viseu
5pm kick off

England Under-17s suffered the cruellest of agonies in Portugal this evening as the host nation came through the dreaded penalty shoot-out to go into the UEFA U17 Championship Finals and with it claim a place in this summer's World Youth Championships.

Leading twice, through first-half goals from Dean Bowditch and James Milner, England were just seconds away from an impressive 2-1 victory over Portugal, who carried with them a 100% record into the game. But two substitutes combined to grab a last gasp equaliser deep into injury time and set up a penalty shoot-out, which sent the Young but brave Lions out.

England continued from where they left off on Sunday. Coming from two goals behind against Spain to make this semi-final possible, the young Lions went out to attack the Tournament hosts with a positive line-up including Dean Bowditch, James Milner and Ryan Jarvis, all of whom have made league debuts for their clubs this season.

And it was Bowditch who opened the scoring after just seven minutes.

Attacking down the left, Stuart Giddings delivered a deep cross towards the Ipswich Town youngster at the far post. Bowditch's first touch, under pressure from a Portuguese marker, teased Felgueiras off his line before he added a second flick with the outside of his foot lifting the ball over the 'keepers head delicately into the net.

The Portuguese needed a quick response and it came only two minutes later from Adelino Freitas' in-swinging free-kick. Southampton defender Martin Cranie committed himself into a challenge wide on the right, but could get none of the ball. Collecting his yellow card, the defence regrouped, and Freitas stepped up to the dead-ball. He fed in a high dipping cross-cum-shot that dropped inside the far post giving Thomas Heaton no chance.

Losing a lead so soon after earning it could hurt most teams, but this England team, as well as being full of talent and confidence, have also the necessary character to come through a test, having displayed this twice already in this competition, and again looked for the advantage.

On 12 minutes James Milner came close from the edge of the box, firing a left foot drive just wide, but 9 minutes after he put Peacock's boys back in front.

Again finding space on the left, it was Bowditch this time who carried the ball forward before tucking the ball inside to Milner. Allowing the ball to roll across his body onto his favoured right foot, the Leeds United star let fly from 16 yards past Felgueiras. England were 2-1 up and that's how it stay until half-time.

Into the second forty minutes and both sides were looking for more goals, but strong defending from two of the tournament's best rear-guards kept the scores down and limited either side to long-range shooting.

Time ticked down as England came closer and closer to that Final place and with it qualification to the World Youth Championships in August, but 90 second into injury time, disaster - otherwise know as Saleiro - struck.

Substitute Bruno Gama was being marshalled on the wing Stuart Giddings, but his quick feet sent the Coventry City full-back one way then the other before he curled in a wicked cross. Fellow replacement Saleiro, unmarked on the six-yard box, was able to guide the ball into the back of the net and draw Portugal level and set up the nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

Nathan Doyle was first up but saw his effort saved. After three shots each, Machado, Freitas and Saleiro struck for Portugal while Milner was the only scorer for England after Luke Moore had knocked his over the bar. Gama was next in the spotlight and could put England out, but Heaton repelled it well meaning that Grant Leadbitter had to score to keep the pressure on.

The Sunderland youngster looked confident as he addressed the ball, but though his crisp side-foot strike sent Felgueira to the left, the ball rolled wide of the right hand post and Portugal were through.

A desperately cruel way for either side to lose a match of such importance, and even more so for either of these sides who played out eighty minutes of compelling and exiting football that could have seen either side come out triumphant.

For now, John Peacock's team have only the prospect of Austria, who lost 5-2 to Spain in the other semi-final earlier in the day, in Saturday's third/fourth place play-off, while Spain and Portugal, both of whom couldn't beat England in 'normal play', take the two available berths for August's World Youth Championship. But one thing is for sure, if this side can continue with this type of attitude, they'll have plenty more chances for success.

Portugal: Felgueiras, Dias, Gomes, Veloso, Machado, Freitas, Sousa, Paulo Ricardo, João Pedro, Curto
Subs: Freitas, Costa, Moutinho, Saleiro, Barbosa, Vinha, Gama

Goals: Freitas 9, Saliero 80

England: Heaton, Ifil, Giddings, Cranie, S. Taylor, Lennon, Leadbitter, Bowditch, Doyle, Jarvis (Moore 52), Milner
Subs: Huddlestone, Moore, Morrison, McMahon, Martin, Forte, Taylor

Goals: Bowditch 7, Milner 21

 

 

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