England 3-2 Serbia & Montenegro

Under-21 International Friendly
KC Stadium, Hull
Monday 2nd June, 2003

Substitute Darren Bent scored with two minutes left to give England's Under-21 side a thrilling 3-2 victory against Serbia and Montenegro in front of a record crowd at Hull City's KC Stadium. The win puts David Platt's England in good heart for next week's Euro 2003 qualifier against Slovakia.

Darren Bent kept his head to ensure England emerged from a frantic final few minutes with a victory. An excellent Serbia and Montenegro side had twice fought back to level after goals from first-choice strike pair Shola Ameobi and Jermain Defoe.

But with only two minutes left on the clock, Steven Sidwell's scuffed corner finally reached the penalty area, Carlton Cole flicked on and Bent - an Ipswich player with plenty of admirers including Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson - flicked back his neck muscles and headed in from six yards.

Bent's winner will have been cheered heartily by his former Ipswich team-mate Darren Ambrose, whose mistake had allowed Serbia an 85th minute equaliser.

The victory played in front of a record stadium crowd at Hull City's ground puts David Platt's England in good heard for the important Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

In his starting line-up, David Platt handed debuts to Chelsea goalkeeper Rhys Evans, Reading midfielder Sidwell and Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka, who partnered Peter Clarke in the centre of defence.

A packed crowd of 24,000 at Hull's new Kingston Communication Stadium gave hometown boy David Prutton a special cheer before kickoff and the absence of Gareth Barry - on duty with the senior squad - allowed Charlton left-back Paul Konchesky to wear the captain's armband.

The last time England played at this level in Hull, against Finland 26 years ago, the result was an 8-1 rout with the home side including Glenn Hoddle, Graham Rix and Tony Woodcock.

A repeat of that goal glut was never on the cards against opposition of the quality of Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia). But after a cautious start, they took the lead after 15 minutes Bobby Zamora made a great run to head Sidwell's free-kick across the six-yard box, and when the Serbian defence and goalkeeper made a complete hash of clearing the danger, Shola Ameobi took charge to drill home a low finish from eight yards.

It was the Newcastle striker's seventh goal in 16 Under-21 internationals, a record that won't do any harm to his reputation as the long-term replacement on Tyneside for Alan Shearer.

Strike partner Jermain Defoe seemed inspired by the goal. He produced a terrific turn and shot which goalkeeper Dejan Bogunovic saved at the second attempt. Defoe, whose future at relegated West Ham is the subject of much transfer gossip, then let a weak finish bobble off his toe after being set up by the impressive Sidwell.

Defoe then selfishly shot at Bogunovic when Zamora, running in his unfamiliar position wide on the flanks, was unmarked and in a great to score. This Serbian side were no mugs however.

As expected, their players had great technique and were genuine threats on the counter-attack. Two headers from Dejan Milovanovic were the closest they came in the first-half but five changes during the interval paid quick dividends after the restart.

There seemed little danger in the 50th minute when sub Branimir Petrovic was given space outside the penalty area but it proved misleading as he looped a terrific shot from 25 yards over Evans.

It proved to be the last contribution Evans made. He appeared to injure himself in diving for the ball and was carried off after lengthy treatment to be replaced by Stephen Bywater.

With Platt clearly looking ahead to next week's 2004 qualifier, Ameobi made way for Carlton Cole, West Ham's Glen Johnson was introduced for Parnaby at right-back and Zamora was replaced by Newcastle new boy Darren Ambrose.

England's reshaped side were nearly shocked in the 63rd minute when Milos Krasic brilliantly made space from himself 18 yards out and sent a thumping drive past Bywater against the crossbar.

It was then that Pennant produced a moment of magic to restore England's lead after 69 minutes. The Arsenal star turned his marker and accelerated past two more Serbia defenders before slipping the perfect sliderule pass for Defoe.

The West Ham forward finished with the utmost cool, waiting for Bogunovic to commit himself before rounding the goalkeeper and slipping the ball into an empty net.

To Serbia's credit, they chased for an equaliser. After Bogunovic had smothered a close-range effort from Cole, Srdan Stanic got inside the English penalty area and wrongfooted Bywater only to see his low shot strike the bottom of the upright.

With five minutes left, Ambrose dallied on the ball and was robbed by Stanic who this time found the net with a rising shot from 18 yards. The disappointed crowd thought England might have to settle for a draw - but they counted without Bent.


by Joe Bernstein


Teams

England: Evans (Bywater 52): Parnaby (Johnson 58), Jagielka, Clarke, Konchesky; Pennant (Bent 82), Prutton, Sidwell, Zamora (Ambrose 58); Defoe, Ameobi (Cole 52)

Goals: Ameobi 15, Defoe 69, Bent 88

Serbia and Montenegro: Bogunovic; Markovic (Pekaric 45), Basa, Jokic, Mijailovic (Batez 72); Lovre (Krasic 45), Lazovic (Stanic 39), Milovanovic (Petrovic 45), Matic (Maric 45); Delibasic (Nikezic 45), Novakovic (Perovic 70)

Goals: Petrovic 50, Stanic 85

Referee: Iain Brines (Scotland)

Attendance: 24,004