ENGLAND UNDER-20

 

RUSSIA UNDER-20

 

2-0

Onuoha 4, Sam 78

 


International Friendly
08 February 2005
Charlton Athletic FC, The Valley

Bradley Wright-Phillips will be cheering on his half-brother Shaun tonight along with his dad who watched him make his England debut as part of the Under-20 side who beat Russia 2-0 at The Valley last night.

Bradley, 19, came on as a half-time substitute in what is an important week for the Wright-Phillips family and was delighted to pull on the three lions shirt.

He beamed: "It was good just to get on the pitch for England for the first time and win.

"This was my first time ever with England and it was special and really hope to do it again.

"My dad and lots of my family were here to watch and we are going to go and watch Shaun play against Holland."

Wright Phillips was one of three debutants in temporary boss John Peacock's side along with Chinedum Onuoha and Daniel Graham who started the game.

And the Manchester City youngster almost crowned his first cap with a goal when he burst clear of the defence, but his shot was well saved by Alexandre Budakov in the Russian goal.

"I got told at half-time that I was coming on so I went for a warm up," continued Wright-Phillips.

"I set a target for myself to have a shot, but when I went through on goal the ball was on my bad foot – I can’t use that one I only use it for standing on.

"All that was going through my head was to get it on target. My dad was watching and he always says that you just need to get it on target because if you do that then you have got a chance of scoring.

"I didn’t expect to get this far at the beginning if the season. I didn’t even have a suit.

"Hard work has got me here and my target for the rest of the season is to score more goals for the reserves and to get a start at City."

Manchester City teammate Onuoha marked his first cap by opening the scoring after just five minutes when he followed up his own header from Gary Borrowdale's free-kick, which was parried by Budakov, to smash the ball home from close range.

England wrapped up the win with ten minutes to go when second-half substitute Lloyd Sam sealed the win with his first touch.

The Charlton youngster controlled the impressive Richard Chaplow's cross with a neat first touch and fired the ball past Budakov with his manager Alan Curbishley looking on.