England 2 Finland 1

England’s under 21’s started their Euro campaign with a victory over Finland, after playing over 60 minutes with just ten men on Monday night.

Finland kicked off the game and on eight minutes the Finnish crowd had reason to shout for a penalty. A free-kick taken just inside England’s half found Sadik with just Michael Mancienne nearby. The Chelsea player forced him wide inside the area, and Sadik went down, it seemed he thought he’d been clipped, but The referee, Cakir Cuneyt did not agree.

England took the lead with their first attempt. James Milner played a long ball to Gabriel Agbonlahor who lost his marker inside the box, he squared it to Lee Cattermole who kept it low and it rolled home under Anssi Jaakkola.

The goal settled England down as well as the crowd and gave Stuart Pearce’s side a chance to enjoy some of the possession. Kieran Gibbs passed a lovely ball to Agbonlahor, but it was just too quick for the striker.

Finland won a few free-kicks in good positions and Perparim Hetemaj was the man to get the ball every time. After a high kick by Fabrice Muamba, the midfielder delivered into the England box, but Sadik was unable to send it home.

Sadik was in the midst of it again, in behind Mancienne once more with only Joe Hart to beat, but Mancienne made a challenge, sending him to the floor. The referee signalled immediately for a penalty, and reached for his top pocket and his red card, sending the defender off.  The penalty was taken by Tim Sparv who sent Hart the wrong way and evened up the score.   Pearce made some changes, dropping Milner into the right back position and moving Cranie across to partner Richards.

 
In the break, Pearce made a substitution, taking Walcott off and bringing on Fraizer Campbell to work with Agbonlahor.
Milner almost scored from a set-piece, he found the top corner with a well delivered ball, but the Finnish keeper reached high to push it around the post for a corner.

With just eight minutes gone in the second half of the game Milner drove the ball in which was collected by Micah Richards who headed it inside the post to give the young lions the lead for the second time.
 
With Campbell and Agbonlahor causing problems for Finland they were feeling under more pressure than throughout the first half. Mark Noble teamed up with Gibbs on the left, and the Arsenal full-back fired the ball across the face of goal, but no one was on the end of it.
 
In the closing stages the Finns pushed forward more looking desperate for an equaliser and shooting from anywhere, Richards was injured after a corner that was headed wide by substitute Jussi Vasara, and so Stuart pearce sent on James Tomkins in his place.

Mehmet Hetemaj made one last attempt as Finland threw everything they could at England but the shot went over the bar along with any chance of Finland leaving with a point.  

Full time: England 2        Finland 1                Cattermole 15'   Sparv 33' (pen)
                Richards 53'

 Match Officials

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
Assistants: Gyorgy Ring (Hun) and Jaanus Mutli (Est)
Fourth Official: Markus Strombergsson