Captain Milner wins it
Tuesday, 19 August, 2008
Captain James Milner made it a night of double joy as he scored the winning goal against Slovenia.
International Under-21 Friendly
7.45pm, Tuesday 19 August 2008
KC Stadium, Hull City FC
James Milner was handed the England captaincy on his 37th cap and made it a night of double joy as he weighed in with the winning goal against Slovenia.
In a largely one-sided game, Milner's strike added to Micah Richards first goal at Under-21 level to put England in a positive mood ahead of their important qualifying group decider against Portugal at Wembley next month.
However, England didn't have it all their way and just twelve minutes into the match, the visitors took the lead courtesy of a well-taken strike from Etien Velikonja.
Midfielder Uros Korun threaded a perfect ball behind England's central defensive pairing of Nedum Onuoha and Michael Mancienne. Velikonja's run between the defenders opened up the space for him to prod past Joe Lewis and into the net.
It was only the second goal that Stuart Pearce's side had conceded in nearly twelve months - the other being a penalty against Portugal in November - but they almost responded immediately.
After penalty appeals were waved away after a challenge on Matt Derbyshire inside the box, The Three Lions were awarded a free-kick wide on the right. Tom Huddlestone's well directed cross was met by the head of Micah Richards, but it struck the upright when the keeper was stranded. The rebound fell into the Manchester City defender's path, but his strike was blocked by Matjez Rozman.
However, England were only behind for 13 minutes. An almost identical situation that handed Richards with his first chance, Huddlestone delivered another precise cross from a right-hand free-kick. Richards went up with the ‘keeper six yards out but neither really connected well. The ball dropped to the feet of the 20-year-old, though, and the open goal meant his task of rolling it across the line was simple.
Milner put England in charge, with ten minutes left of the first half. Collecting a pass from Aaron Lennon on the edge of the box, the Newcastle United midfielder twisted and turned, almost losing control, but he had enough to swivel sharply and fire across Rozman and watch on as the ball snuggled inside the left-hand post.
However, England were only behind for 13 minutes. An almost identical situation that handed Richards with his first chance, Huddlestone delivered another precise cross from a right-hand free-kick. Richards went up with the ‘keeper six yards out but neither really connected well. The ball dropped to the feet of the 20-year-old, though, and the open goal meant his task of rolling it across the line was simple.
Stuart Pearce made two changes at the break, bringing on Tom Heaton in goal and Michael Kightly. And the Wolves winger had two chances to extend the advantage – first his chipped effort towards the far post almost dropped in, but it was clawed away by substitute stopper Jan Koprivec. Then a lopping header across goal just missed the other upright. But his closest effort would come later.
Mark Noble, with the armband following James Milner’s departure at half-time, was looking for his fourth Under-21s goal and almost diverted a Huddlestone in-swinger into the net with his head, but it just drifted wide.
England were on top, but when Tim Matavz had two glorious opportunities just after the hour mark, Slovenia could have found themselves in front. However, amidst the sending off for dissent of Nejc Pecnik, Matavz scuffed his brace of chances, after making space for himself extremely well, without troubling Heaton.
When Fraizer Campbell came on just after the hour, the Hull crowd roared its appreciation for the man who scored 15 goals in 34 appearances on loan last season as the Tigers were promoted to the Premier League. He looked lively and keen to fire in another at the KC Stadium, but his two openings lead to nothing but a routine save.
The final stages saw a flurry of Slovenia subs surrounding attempts from Kightly and Adam Johnson. First Kightly, now on his favoured right wing following the arrival of Johnson, tried another clipped shot over Koprivec, this time it struck the post.
Johnson’s input was a trademark jinking run, which turned his marker in circles inside the box, but his shot drifted over the bar and into the stand.
But the result extends England unbeaten run and gets an important season off to a winning start.
England
Joe Lewis (Tom Heaton, 46), Micah Richards (Martin Cranie, 73), Andrew Taylor, Tom Huddlestone (Fabrice Muamba, 61), Michael Mancienne, Nedum Onuoha (David Wheater, 84), Aaron Lennon (Adam Johnson, 73), Mark Noble, Matt Derbyshire, Michael Johnson (Fraizer Campbell, 61), James Milner (c) (Michael Kightly, 46)
Subs not used Craig Gardner, Gabriel Agbonlahor
Coach Stuart Pearce
Slovenia
Matjaz Rozman, Erik Salkic, Tadej Apatic, Rok Elsner (c), Aleksander Rajcevic, Uros Korun, Goran Cvijanovic, Mitja Viler, Tim Matavz, Nejc Pecnik, Etien Velikonja
Substitutes Jan Koprivec, Nik Omladic, Rene Mihelic, Boris Mijatovic, Armin Bacinovic, Roman Bezjak, Vito Plut
Coach Tomaz Kavcic
Referee Abby Toussaint (Lux)
Assistants Francis Crelo and Francois Mangen (Lux)
Fourth Official Michael Oliver (Eng)
Attendance 9,733
Nationwide Man of the Match Micah Richards
Tickets are on sale now for the match against Portugal at Wembley Stadium on Friday 5 September with most seats costing just £10 for adults and £5 for children from the Hotline 0844 826 2010 or via The FA ticketing site where further information can be found including details of group booking discounts.