England 3-2 Norway

UEFA European U19 Championship
The Showgrounds, Newry
23 July 2005

England came from behind to claim a dramatic win over Norway and a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Martin Hunter's side took an early lead in Newry through a Matthew Mills header, only for Norway to level with a strike from Karim Aoudia.

When Petter Hanssen put Norway in front eleven minutes from time it looked to be all over but substitutes Dexter Blackstock and David Wheater scored in the last ten minutes to secure England's progress to a semi-final meeting with Serbia and Montenegro.

Following the 1-1 draw against Armenia, England coach Hunter brought James Morrison, Matthew Fryatt and Ryan Jarvis, who had all started against France, back into his starting lineup and in the game's opening stages England looked to be on top.

After only four minutes Middlesbrough forward Morrison whipped in a cross following a quickly-taken corner and centre-back Mills beat Norwegian goalkeeper Joachim Heier with a looping header.

Norway had their moments in losing 3-1 to France in midweek and they showed their class with a swift counter-attack which saw Petter Hanssen break down the left and force David Martin to push his dangerous ball on to the top of his crossbar.

In the 23rd minute, Norway, who only needed a draw to progress, levelled through Karim Aoudia. Jesper Mathiesen intercepted Mark Noble's pass, passed through to Aoudia, who finished calmly past Martin.

The goal came against the run of play and it seemed to act as a catalyst for England to come forward again. Some lovely skill from Derby County's Lee Holmes saw the winger beat two defenders before finding Jarvis, who turned brilliantly only to fire a shot just wide of the post.

Hunter's side struggled to convert possession into goals in both their previous matches and it looked to be going that way again when Jarvis was denied thanks to a good save from Heier on the stroke of half-time.

Norway had their moments early in the second period as Jesper Mathiesen and Vidar Nisja both had efforts on goal but England were still on top and went close to regaining the lead through Southampton defender Mills, whose 73rd minute header went wide.

All England's good work looked to be in vain when Norway struck again six minutes later - the impressive Hanssen made a great run inside, got past England captain Martin Cranie and cooly slotted the ball past Martin.

England refused to let their heads drop and they got back on level terms when substitute Blackstock prodded home from close range following a Morrison corner.

Then, with seven minutes remaining, Lee Holmes swung in a perfect right-wing corner from which another substitute - David Wheater - connected to send a downward header past Heier and ensure England's semi-final berth.

England v Norway, European U19 Championship, 23 July 2005

England: David Martin - MK Dons, Philip Ifil - Tottenham Hotspur (David Wheater - Middlesbrough, 73), Matthew Mills - Southampton, Martin Cranie - Southampton (capt.), Andrew Taylor - Middlesbrough, Grant Leadbitter - Sunderland, Mark Noble - West Ham United (Richard Jones - Manchester United, 56), Ryan Jarvis - Norwich City (Dexter Blackstock - Southampton, 46), James Morrison - Middlesbrough, Matthew Fryatt - Walsall, Lee Holmes - Derby County.
Subs not used: John Ruddy - Everton, Anthony McMahon - Middlesbrough, Laurence Wilson - Everton, Ryan Smith - Arsenal.

Goals: Mills 4, Blackstock 80, Wheater 84

Norway: Heier, Ueland, Bjørdal, Skjelbred, Mathiesen (Hagen, 65), Hanssen, Larsen, Reginiussen (Ingebretsen, 87), Nisja, Aoudia, Hæstad (Leigh, 46)
Subs not used: Førsund, Tettey, Ingebretsen, Thomassen, Mathiesen.

Goals: Aoudia 23, Hansen 79

Bookings: Skjelbred, 83; Blackstock, 88.

All pictures © Louis McNally/uefa.com