England 3-0 Slovenia

UEFA European Under-19 Championships
Second Qualifying Stage, Group 4
Dalymount Park, Dublin
Wednesday 21st May 2003

England's Under-19s earned three more points against Slovenia this afternoon in their second match of the European Qualifying mini-tournament in Dublin.

With the weather not having improved much from Monday, England knew they had a tough test on their hands with very wet pitch and a physically strong Slovenian team who proved they meant business with a win against Switzerland in the tournaments opening game...

England knew they had to start strong and didn't waste any time in putting on the pressure with Tommy Wright heading just over the bar with only 5 minutes gone. Moments later Ciaran Donnelly's well placed 25 yard strike was tipped over by bar by the Slovenia no.1 and you felt it was only a matter of time before England would take the lead.

Slovenia did come close after on 7 minutes when a well placed corner found its way into the heart of the penalty box but their towering striker could only put it wide.

The breakthrough England wanted came in the 18th minute with Ciaran Donnelly once again on the score sheet when Downing's penetrating corner was skilfully knocked out of the penalty area and straight into the path of Donnelly whose sweet strike sailed past the stunned goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Slovenia tried to get back into the game and looked dangerous in the box, their size giving them a physical presence that was hard to deal with but it was no match for England's pinpoint tackling, slick passing and clever vision.

With 30 minutes gone England goalie Luke Steele had to make an impressive save following a Slovenia free kick but that was the only time Steely was challenged in the fast 45 minutes. The Slovenia keeper was not so lucky.

Captain John Welsh had two cracking shots tipped over the bar, and a dubious decision by the linesman ruled Ridgewell's goal offside. It was an impressive first half from the Three Lions and the Slovenian keeper did well to keep his team in the game and ensure that England went into the second half with only a 1-0 lead.

Despite a strong opening few minutes of the second half from the opposing team it took only 7 minutes for Englands second goal to come. In an almost identical move to first half goal, Stuart Downing took the corner curling the ball towards the far post, the ball was headed out by Wright, Ciaran Donnelly picked it up on the edge of the box and his powerful shot left the goalkeeper no chance.

No sooner had play resumed when Tommy Wright headed narrowly wide but the England striker didn't have to wait long for his opening goal of the tournament.

Only minutes later Wright made it three for England with a cleverly worked short corner allowing Downing to put the ball deep in the penalty area and Wright, having lost his marker, headed the ball into the right hand corner of the net.

The Slovenian team's heads went down and England comfortably controlled the remainder of the game having a plethora of chances and never really giving the opposition a chance on the ball.

Tommy Wright made way for Dorryl Proffitt on 62 minutes giving Proffitt his first opportunity in this qualifying round and his pace immediately gave the opposition problems.

Soon after Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, instrumental in all three goals, had his own attempt at increasing the score line and was unlucky not to the goal he deserved, his cracking shot forcing the keeper to make a fantastic stretching save.

With quarter of an hour to go Tranmere's Ryan Taylor replaced Justin Hoyte. As England re-grouped Slovenia got their best, and probably only real chance of the second half when a penetrating run from their no 8 forced a good save from England keeper Steele, ensuring another clean sheet in the competition.

England looked far superior throughout the game, playing some superb football and dealing solidly with the physically strong opposition. The win was thoroughly deserved and they can now go into the third and final game of this competition knowing that a place in the European Finals is all but theirs.

by Carol Day in Dublin

Teams:

England: Steele, Hoyte, Whittingham, Welsh, Davies, Ridgewell, Routledge, Donnelly, Wright, Downing, Schumacher

Goals: Donnelly, 18, 52, Wright, 55

Slovenia: Handanovic, Brecko, Berko, Urbanc, Kelhar, Bozic, Dedic, Komljenovic, Robnik, Jesenicnik, Sehic