England 0-2 Russia

UEFA European U19 Championship
Elite Qualifying Round
15 May 2007, England
Bescot Stadium, Walsall FC
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Russia brought England's unbeaten run to an end, and made the prospect of qualification for the European U19 Championship much more difficult as they strode to a 2-0 win.

Despite numerous chances for Brian Eastick's men, it was Russia who profited from the few opportunities that came their way - bringing an end to England's seven-game unbeaten run this season.

The goals came from Russian pair Pavel Mamaev and Artem Dzyuba either side of the interval, but when they prepare for the next game with Holland the importance of taking their chances will surely be pressed home to the players.

Russia looked stubborn in defence in the opening stages as England sought an early advantage, with Hogan Ephraim and Adam Hammill providing much of the creative outlet.

Hammill occupied his usual left wing position and showed persistancy in taking on the full back, with Scott Golbourne providing an attacking outlet and the option of a natural left-footer to provide the crosses.

With 20 minutes on the clock Fabrice Muamba played a superb through pass that cut the visitors' defence apart, Sam Hewson was at full tilt to reach the ball but by narrow margins it evaded him.

Danny Haynes then had two golden chances to score in the space of three minutes. The first came after some fine work from Muamba and Ephraim and a guided pass over the Russian backline, Haynes took the ball from under the nose of Borodin but went too wide to convert the opportunity. Then moments later Haynes reacted quickest to a dropping ball in the penalty area, but Borodin bravely blocked the powerful effort.

Moments later Maxim Andreev also spurned an opportunity to break the deadlock when he was slotted in by Artem Dzyuba. Escaping the attention of Omozusi he broke into the area and had the goal at his mercy, but Annerson held onto the shot and the home fans breathed again.

Pavel Mamaev grabbed the opener on the half hour mark, striking from distance his deflected effort eluded Jamie Annerson and gave the visitors the lead. In a game of numerous chances it was inevitable that one would be taken, but unfortunately for Brian Eastick's players it was Russia who took the first one.

Moments before half time England went close again as Danny Haynes was put clean through for a third time, this time Sergey Borodin was again on hand to deny the Ipswich striker.

The second half was an equally tense affair as England sought a route back into the game, With just 17 minutes remaining Russia effectively settled the game by scoring a second goal. In truth England were creators of their own downfall as a free-kick was conceded on the edge of the area, and at the second attempt Artem Dzyuba fired the ball through the sparse wall and into the net. Michael Mancienne charged the initially effort to readily and gave the Russians a second chance, one that they would take with relish.

It is an uphill struggle now for England with Holland, victors today over Czech Republic by the same two-goal margin as Russia, up next at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday evening.

Teams:

England: 1 Jamie Annerson (Sheffield United), 2 Elliot Omozusi (Fulham), 3 Scott Golbourne (Reading), 4 Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham City) (c), 5 Jack Hobbs (Liverpool), 6 Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), 7 Sam Hewson (Manchester United) (15 Chris Martin (Norwich Town) 64), 8 Michael Johnson (Manchester City), 9 Danny Haynes (Ipswich Town), 10 Hogan Ephraim (West Ham United), 11 Adam Hammill (Dunfermline on loan) (17 Rossi Jarvis (Norwich City) 81)
Subs Not Used: 12 Ben Turner (Coventry City), 13 Frank Fielding (Blackburn Rovers), 14 Stephen Darby (Liverpool), 16 Craig Lindfield (Liverpool), 18 Jack Cork (Chelsea)

Goals: Mamaev 30, Dzyuba 73

Russia: 1 Sergey Borodin, 3 Ruslan Kambolov, 5 Sergey Golyatkin, 13 Valeriy Sokolov, 17 Andrey Ivanov, 14 Igor Smolnikov (6 Andrey Kuznetsov 85), 2 Artem Pershin, 21 Maxim Andreev (20 Evgeny Balyaykin 90), 11 Pavel Mamaev, 10 Artem Dzyuba, 16 Alexander Salugin (18 Nikita Andreev 68)
Subs Not Used: 12 Sergei Pesyakov, 22 Vladimir Dyadun, 4 Rushan Khasyanov

Referee: Antonio Rubinos Perez

Attendance: 4,780