Turkey 1-0 England

UEFA European U-21 Championship
Qualifying Group 7
Inönü, Istanbul
10 October 2003

David Platt's England Under-21s lose 1-0 in Turkey after conceding a goal within the first two minutes of the match.

Having missed out on qualification for next year's European Championships, David Platt's England Under-21 side got off to a terrible start in Istanbul against Turkey.

The home side were allowed too much space as, with less than two minutes gone, Fatih Sonkaya's intelligent run down the inside-right channel was picked up and the pacey forward, running beyond a stretched defence, shot past debutant Lee Grant in the England goal.

However, as the half wore on, the young Lions became increasingly confident on the ball and started to play the kind of football they are capable of.

An energetic Jermaine Jenas along with Matthew Taylor began to impose themselves on the match but in truth the home side were playing with the kind of style and panache that their senior colleagues so often display.

Above all Kemal Aslam, the Turkish no.7 and captain, showed himself to be a player of real promise, often reminding many in the crowd of Turkish hero Okan such was his maturity in both possession and distribution of the ball.

After David Platt's half-time teamtalk, England started the second period in far better fashion - quicker on the ball, quicker in the tackle and far more interested in the contest at hand.

Shaun Wright-Phillips did the work of two men out on the right flank whilst in the middle it soon became obvious that Jenas had been asked to push further upfield - he constantly looked to get ahead of play and his forward bursts became more and more noticeable.

With eighteen minutes left on the clock, Wright-Phillips created and missed the best chance of the match so far. Picking up a delightful ball from Jenas, the Manchester City star ran from the half-way line past three Turkish players and into the area.

It was a glorious run and a wonderful opportunity for the equaliser but unfortunately, Wright-Phillips dragged his shot to the left of the near post as the whole team, along with Platt, held their heads in their hands at a chance gone begging.

In the final ten minutes, Jermain Defoe suddenly came alive and had two chances to put England back on level terms. On 80 minutes he found himself one on one with the Turkish goalkeeper but shot straight at Recep Biler before, two minutes later, he cut in from the left side only to see Biler tip over his wonderful right-footed curling effort over the bar.

The chances, and the saves from Biler were symptomatic of England's night as they just couldn't find their way past the inspired Turkish 'keeper.

The game ended on a disappointing note when Glen Johnson was sent off after a clumsy tackle earning the Chelsea man his second yellow card of the evening.

Teams

Turkey: Recep Biler, Fatih Sonkaya, Serkan Balci (Yavuz, 77), Servet Cetin (Korkmaz, 90), Baki Mercimek, Ibrahin Toraman, Kemal Aslan (c), Selcuk Sahin, Halil Altintop, Ugur Inceman, Okan Koc (Sinan, 68)
Subs not used: Volkan Demirel, Suat Usta, Beyhan Sumer, Sabri Sarioglu

Goals: Fatih Sonkaya 2

England: Lee Grant, Glen Johnson, Matthew Taylor, Steven Sidwell (Re-Coker, 62), Andrew Davies, Philip Jagielka, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermaine Jenas (c), Shola Ameobi, Jermain Defoe, David Prutton (Bent, 80) 
Subs not used: Liam Ridgewell, Robert Burch, Peter Whittingham, Darren Ambrose, Darren Bent, Dean Ashton, 

Bookings: Sidwell (32'), Johnson (70', 85')
Sending Off: Johnson (85')