Hall strike sends England into Final

  • Friday, 31 July, 2009
  • England U17s

West Ham striker Rob Hall books the Three Lions place in Nordics Final

Norway

0-1

England

 

Rob Hall 32

The Nordic Tournament
5.30pm, Friday 31 July
Overlands Minde Stadium, Norway

Rob Hall's goal booked England their place in the Final of the Nordic tournament on Sunday where they will face Scotland.

Kenny Swain's side knew that a win again Norway on their own turf would set up a meeting with the 'Auld Enemy' back at the Overlands Minde Stadium on Sunday, and Hall's 32nd-minute strike sealed victory over the hosts.

England began the stronger in the last of three group games against a workman-like Norwegian outfit and retained possession well, creating a couple of good chances for West Brom's George Thorne and another for Hall.

But the West Ham youngster made the breakthrough just after the half-hour, latching onto a flick from Bruno Pilatos before finishing with a low left-foot drive from the edge of the box.

Norway looked for an equaliser during the second period, but England defended well hoping to seal the game on the counter-attack.

In the end, the single goal was enough and the Three Lions are heading for the Final to make it two for England this Sunday, with the U19s lining up in the UEFA European Championship Final in Ukraine.

England: Jamal Blackman, Jake Bidwell, Conor Coady, Andre Wisdom, Nat Chalobah, George Thorne, Bruno Pilatos, Saido Berahino, Rob Hall, Jack Robinson, Nico Yennaris.

Substitutes: Connor Thomas, Jake Fowler, Jak Alnwick, Jordon Cousins, Josh Rees, Zeli Ismail, Ben Gibson.


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