England 1-1 Mexico (England win 3-2 on pens)

Toulon Tournament, Third Place Play-Off
Stade Mayol, Toulon
10 June 2005

Peter Taylor's England finished third in the Toulon Tournament after a penalty shoot-out victory over Mexico.

Mexico had taken a first half lead but were reduced to ten men midway through the second period before substitute David Nugent scored a deserved injury time equaliser to take the match to penalties.

Nugent and fellow substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips both missed, but Scott Flinders pulled off a fine save and Mexico missed two more to see England triumph.

In an open start to the match, England were nearly caught out on two occasions when, as early as the second minute, Luis Enrique Robles chipped a delicate ball forward and Luis Landin volleyed wide.

Minutes later Robles was at it again, this time finding Jose Antonio Olvera in space behind Liam Rosenior at right-back but his cross-cum-shot went wide and England were let off the hook.

England started to settle and created chances of their own. Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone, captain in Nigel Reo-Coker's absence, put his 25-yard effort wide after a good lay-off from Wayne Routledge and then James Milner shot narrowly off target.

Darren Ambrose then released Ian Henderson, and the Norwich City striker, making his first start in the tournament, brought the first save out of Mexican goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco.

With 23 minutes gone, the first goal of the match arrived when Mexican captain Juan Carlos Valenzuela outjumped the England defence to nod down Rafael Gaytan's free-kick for Landin, whose close-range shot for a tight angle bounced under Jamie Young but not Taylor, who blocked the ball on the line.

The referee initially did not give a penalty but after protests from the Mexicans, he consulted his assistant and awarded the spot-kick, which Landin confidently hit low to Young's right.

England's response was just what Peter Taylor would have wanted, as his young charges moved the ball around in midfield, eventually finding Peter Whittingham on the left.

He and Milner combined to create a shooting chance for Ambrose, but the Newcastle striker's shot was too close to Orozco, who saved comfortably.

England took to their task after the break and spent virtually the entire 40 minutes in the Mexican half, trying to find a way through to goal.

Substitute John Welsh fired narrowly wide from distance while Nugent, another half-time introduction, laid the ball off to Routledge, who beat his man before entering the box and appearing to be tripped by Morales.

Huddlestone was the next man to go close, though this time from closer range. A cross from the right was swung in by Whittingham and though a Mexican defender got to the ball first, his header fell for Huddlestone, whose controlled 18-yard volley was saved.

England were creating good chances, and their prospects looked bright when Renato Rivera was sent-off for a very late challenge on Huddlestone.

Back England came and, on 67 minutes, they really should have got level when Liam Ridgewell's header found Steven Taylor unmarked seven yards out.

The Newcastle United defender had all the time and space in the world but half-volleyed over the bar when a goal seemed more likely.

Further chances came and went for England - Milner's volley was saved, Nugent's header went wide and Wright-Phillips shot over.

Then, deep into injury time and after near-constant pressure for the full second half, England finally found a way through the Mexican rear-guard.

A poor clearance from Orozco fell for Darren Ambrose, who shrugged off a challenge from Olvera to slip an intelligent pass through to Nugent.

The Preston striker calmly brought the ball under control and turned inside his man before coolly slotting a shot past the Mexican 'keeper.

With no extra-time, the game went to penalties and after Nugent and Valdez had both missed for their respective teams, it was 2-2 after three kicks each.

Wright-Phillips then chipped his penalty over the bar but was glad to see Flinders pull off a magnificent save to deny Morales a goal.

Steven Taylor then knocked his penalty in and England won the shoot-out when Carlos Balcazar's shot flew against Flinders' right-hand post.

As a result, England secured their best finish at the Toulon Tournament since 1995, when they beat Scotland to finish in third.

England 1-1 Mexico, Toulon Tournament, 10 June 2005

England: Jamie Young - Reading (Scott Flinders, 40), Peter Whittingham - Aston Villa, Steven Taylor - Newcastle United, Liam Ridgewell - Aston Villa, Liam Rosenior - Fulham (John Welsh - Liverpool, 40), Tom Huddlestone - Tottenham Hotspur, James Milner - Newcastle United, Wayne Routledge - Crystal Palace, Greg Halford - Colchester United (David Nugent - Preston North End, 40), Darren Ambrose - Newcastle United, Ian Henderson - Norwich City (Bradley Wright-Phillips - Manchester City, 59)
Subs not used: Andy Davies - Middlesbrough, Scott Wiseman - Hull City, Nigel Reo-Coker - West Ham United, Tom Soares - Crystal Palace

England Goals: Nugent 80+3

Mexico Goals: Landin 23 (pen)

Penalty Shoot-out: Ambrose (scored), Valdez (missed), Nugent (saved), Olvera (scored), Huddlestone (scored), Rey (scored), Wright-Phillips (missed), Morales (saved), Taylor (scored), Balcazar (missed)