MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 08:55:09| >> :600:2901546:2901546:
[monks data]
Finland national football team
European Under-21s Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 9, 2013 at 5pm UK
 
England national football team

1-1

Yaghoubi (15')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Berahino (70')

Live Commentary: Finland Under-21 1-1 England Under-21 - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the 2015 European Championship qualifier between England Under-21 and Finland Under-21.
2

England came from behind to draw 1-1 with Finland in their qualifier for the 2015 European Championships this afternoon.

Moshtagh Yaghoubi broke the deadlock after 15 minutes with a 40-yard free kick, before Saido Berahito equalised after the break.

The Young Lions had to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men, after captain Andre Wisdom was dismissed.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good afternoon. It's just 30 minutes until kickoff at the Tampere Stadium in Finland, so let's take a look at the teams for this evening's 2015 European Championship qualifier between England U21 and Finland U21.

FINLAND STARTING XI: Joronen, Aspegren, Katakka, Lam, Lod, Yaghoubi, Vayrynen, Paananen, P O'Shaughnessy, Alho, Makijarvi

ENGLAND STARTING XI: Butland, Stones, Shaw, Chalobah, Wisdom, Keane, Redmons, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Berahino, Carroll, Zaha

FINLAND SUBSTITUTES: Heimonen, Aaltonen, Hertsi, Viitala, D O'Shaughnessy, Peth, Lehtonen

ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES: Kane, Bond, Robinson, Dier, Hughes, Ameobi, Kane

Finland may be the current leaders of group one in the qualifiers for the 2015 tournament, but England have only played one game so far, leaving them with the only 100% record in the group. Lithuania have also started well, winning two of their first four matches.

Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha will lead the attack for the visitors alongside Saido Berahino, who scored the team's only goal in their win over Moldova last week.

Finland's captain, goalkeeper Jesse Joronen, will be familiar will the majority of the England team, as he plays his club football with Fulham. The majority of the Finland squad play in the country, only Joronen, AZ Alkmaar defender Thomas Lam and FC Metz's Daniel O'Shaughnessy play elsewhere.

The Young Lions recorded their record win against Finland back in 1977, beating the side 8-1 in Hull. When the nationals last met at Under-21 level, Sammy Ameobi's brother Shola netted twice in a 4-0 victory.

England have been regular participants in the Under-21 Euros in recent years, but Finland have reached the finals just once, competing in the 2009 tournament after beating Austria in a qualifying playoff.

Liverpool's Andre Wisdom will take the captain's armband again this evening, having been made captain for the clash with Moldova last week.

With just a few minutes until kickoff, it's time for a quick prediction. Finland have looked impressive so far in their qualifiers, but England also head into the match on the back of a win. I think this could be a 2-2 draw.

The teams are heading onto the pitch. We'll have both anthem before kickoff.

England get the game underway.

Very little action int he opening few minutes in Trampere. England have the ball from the kickoff, but are unable to gain any real advantage as they try to apply pressure on the Finnish defence.

England are doing all the running early on, but Finland are well composed at the back. The visitors manage to win a free kick in midfield, and Berahino and Zaha both try to get themselves into goal-scoring positions, but the hosts make a clearance.

GOAL! Finland 1-0 England (Yaghoubi)

Despite England's positive start, it's the home side who break the deadlock with the first on target attempt from either side so far, with winger Moshtagh Yaghoubi drilling a free kick in from 40 yards out.

Finland are in the ascendancy now, applying pressure in midfield, before winning a throw in at the half way line. However, Gareth Southgate's side quickly win the ball back, it doesn't look like England have let their heads drop since going a goal behind.

Jack Butland makes a fine save as Yaghoubi tries to add his second with a free kick from just outside the box. The keeper manages to put it behind for a corner, before the visitors eventually win a goal kick.

BOOKING! Wilfried Zaha picked up a yellow card in the run up to Yaghoubi's free kick for a dangerous tackle.

England have had a decent spell of possession in the last couple of minutes but are still struggling to penetrate the home side's defence. A reckless challenge gives the visitors a free kick from a dangerous position, but the delivery goes behind for a Finnish goal kick. England are back on the attack though and manage to win their first corner of the game.

CHANCE! England are finally starting to look dangerous in the final third. The initial corner is cleared for an England throw in, before Zaha sends in a cross, while Ward-Prowse tries to convert into an equaliser, but Finland manage to keep it out.

England continue to be frustrated as they press desperately for an equaliser before half time. Finland's impressive first-half defensive display continues, as England fall foul of an offside trap twice in two minutes.

CHANCE! Zaha breaks into the box, beating O'Shaugnessy, who has managed to frustrate him for much of the opening 40 minutes. The Manchester United striker unleashes a powerful attempt at goal, but Joronen makes a superb save int he Finnish goal.

Zaha is getting quite a lot of attention from the Finnish defence at the moment, being fouled twice in the space of two minutes. The resulting free kick gives England a corner, but Finland make a comfortable clearance and immediately try to go on the counter attack.

Yaghoubi is on the ball for Finland, looking to add his second goal of the match, but he gives away a free kick for charging into Shaw. England should time for one last move before half time.

CHANCE! James Ward-Prowse picks up the ball from a throw in near the half way line before going for goal from the edge of the box, but Joronen is alert between the posts to make the stop.

HALF TIME: Finland 1-0 England

England have work to do at half time in their 2015 European Championships qualifier against Finland, as they trail 1-0 at the break, thanks to a 15-minute wondergoal from Moshtagh Yaghoubi.

The visitors dominated possession early on, but struggled to create chances. The Young Lions did look increasingly dangerous in the final 15 minutes though, with James Ward-Prowse and Wilfried Zaha both looking sharp in the box.

Fulham keeper Jesse Joronen has made some brilliant saves to keep Finland ahead, including a stop from a Ward-Prowse effort in the final action before the half-time whistle. If England can continue their momentum in the second half, Joronen is likely to find himself busy in the second 45 minutes.

The players are heading back out for the second half.

Finland get the second half underway.

England win the ball back quickly, and Chalobah tries to play his way through midfield, but is brought down by Vayrynen, giving the visitors a chance to apply pressure in the Finnish final third early on.

From the free kick, England manage to force a corner. Ward-Prowse delivers it into the box, but it's cleared before England can get a shot away. The hosts immediately charge down the other end of the pitch, setting up Vayrynen for an effort at England's goal, but it's off target.

England continue to run at the Finland back four as they look for an equaliser, but O'Shaugnessy continues his superb performance from the first half, preventing the visitors from finding their way into the penalty area.

Finland string together their first decent spell of possession of the second half, winning a throw in in line with the penalty box. A long throw drops in front of goal, but Butland confidently claims it.

SUB! England make a double substitution, bringing on Harry Kane and Sammy Ameobi in place of Chalobah and Redmond.

Finland win their first corner of the second half. Yaghoubi takes it, but fails to find any of his teammates, giving England an easy clearance.

CHANCE! Kane gets the ball for the first time since coming off the bench and lashes it at the Finland goal, forcing yet another impressive stop from Joronen. The young Spurs striker looks like he could make an impact though.

BOOKING! Berahino is the second England player to be shown a yellow card.

England are in complete control at the moment, as they win another corner. Shaw whips it in from the left, but it ends up in the hands of Joronen.

Finland head down the other end and the counter attack, before a cross into the box is deflected behind for a corner. Lod delivers it in, but it is immediately but behind again, before Butland punches clear.

GOAL! Finland 1-1 England (Berahino)

Having cleared from Finland's corner, England quickly head back down the other end of the pitch. Zaha shows some flair on the edge of the box before picking out Berahino, who is left with a simple tap-in to make it two goals in two appearances for England's Under-21s.

Shaw has a chance to make it two for England straight from the re-start, but mis-hits his finish, sending the ball well wide.

SUB! Finland make their first change of the match, sending on Hertsi for Makijarvi.

OFF! England captain Andre Wisdom is given a straight red for a shocking challenge on Hertsi, who had been on the pitch for just seconds. England will have to play the final 15 minutes with just 10 men.

SUB! Wilfried Zaha is the player sacrificed following Wisdom's dismissal, as defender Eric Dier comes off the bench.

England are having to defend hard as Finland push for winner, but they've got plenty of men back, and manage to win the ball back from the hosts.

CHANCE! Finland continue to build pressure inside the England half, but a throw in gives England a chance down the other end. Kane picks up the ball just inside the box, but pulls his shot just wide. England certainly don't appear to be settling for the draw.

CHANCE! Joronen makes yet another save for Finland as Eric Dier attempts to head in from a James Ward-Prowse free kick just outside the area, following a foul on Kane by Lam.

SUB! It's another change for the home side, as Lehtonen takes the place of Paananen.

England have one lost chance as Hertsi brings down Shaw, giving the visitors a free kick on the edge of the box. Finland manage to get the ball out for a corner. Shaw has to deliver the ball three times as the Finns defend desperately, before picking out Dier, but his header is stopped by Joronen, who has been just fantastic between the posts this evening.

FULL TIME: Finland 1-1 England

Ten-man England share the points with Finland in their second game of their 2015 Europeans Championships qualifying campaign, despite seeing captain Andre Wisdom dismissed in the second half.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, England had a couple of good chances for a winner in the final 10 minutes, with defender Eric Dier testing Jesse Joronen twice.

Just to tidy up a couple of loose ends from the Wisdom sending off, a bit of a scuffle broke out after the initial challenge on Hertsi. As well as Wisdom's red card, England's John Stones and Finnish goalscorer Moshtagh Yaghoubi both received yellow cards.

That's all from the Tampere Stadium, but stick around for reaction to this match, and join us again tomorrow for coverage of the senior team's clash with Ukraine, as well as all the other World Cup qualifying matches. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

ID:103859: cacheID:103859:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:22334:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate gives instructions to his players during a training session at St Georges Park on September 3, 2013
Read Next:
England U21s edge past Moldova
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!