England 6 Macedonia 3
By Carly Goodwill
October 10 2009
The England U21’s continued their qualification campaign for the 2011 European Championships v. Macedonia Friday at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. The match featured Premier League & Championship talent from the young Lions & ended up being an exciting & high scoring 9-goal game.
Stuart Pearce chose Newcastle striker Andy Carroll & Arsenal’s Theo Walcott to partner up front with a 5-man midfield consisting of Tom Cleverley & Kieran Gibbs on either flank, with Danny Rose, Jack Rodwell & Jack Wilshire filling out the middle. Pearce's back three consisted of Micah Richards, James Tomkins & Michael Mancienne covering Scott Loach in goal.
After a slow opening 9 minutes, Andy Carroll had England’s first real chance at goal when Tom Cleverley crossed from the wing, Carroll almost nipped in with a header before the Macedonian defence cleared the ball away.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute as two of Arsenal's youngsters teamed up, Danny Rose crossed from central midfield to Cleverley on the right who then slotted the ball diagonally to Walcott, Walcott sent the ball to Gibbs who easily headed past the lone Macedonian defender whose attempt to clear off the line failed giving England the lead.
England went on to double their lead just 7 minutes later when Jack Wilshire took England’s first corner of the match, his quality ball in found Michael Mancienne outside the near post who flicked on just in front of the England Captain, Micah Richards who headed the ball past the keeper.
Macedonia got back into the game in the 41st minute when Cleverly conceded a free kick just outside of the box. Macedonia’s Muarem took a low free kick straight towards the England goal, past two England players and the keeper, it was unfortunately a very soft goal conceded by Scott Loach.
After the break Theo Walcott was replaced by Zavon Hines, Walcott was said to have suffered from a dead leg. The 2nd half featured more of the same from England, who dominated the possession with their well organized 5-man midfield. 3 minutes after the restart, Andy Carroll received a brilliant long ball from Kieran Gibbs but could his strike at goal only found the side netting.
In the 53rd minute the game was back on level terms when Macedonia’s Ibraimi fired home the equalizer, it was a routine long ball that made the score 2-2, but not for long as only seconds later, Andy Carroll struck off a header provided by Kieran Gibbs making it 3-2 to England.
Disaster struck in the 58th when Keiran Gibbs, whilst attempting to clear the ball from the inside of his own penalty area, sliced a Macedonian corner into the back of his own net. Gibbs now with a hand in 3 goals, had made the score 3-3.
England’s 4th of the night came from Zavon Hines in the 67th minute when Tom Cleverely put Hines through and it was one on one with the keeper, Hines slotted home straight through the keepers legs, putting England back in the lead, 4-3.
England continued to press deep into the night & missed plenty of chances before managing their 5th goal of the game, from Carroll in the 87th minute who finished neatly turning back towards goal to elude a Macedonian defender and with the Macedonian defence looking poor, England’s 6th came from Hines again, he sent a volley past the keeper from a neat, chipped ball from Carroll who was on a hat trick himself, but fed the debutante from inside the box, leaving the Young Lions very happy with their 6-3 finish.
Attendance: 20,074
England scorers
Gibbs 22'
Richards 29'
Carroll 54', 87'
Hines 67', 90'
Macedonia scorers
Muarem 42'
Ibraimi 53'
Gibbs 58' (og
Match Officials (all France)
Referee Fredy Fautrel
Assistant Referees Fredji Harchay and Cyril Gringore
Fourth Official Ruddy Buquet
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The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
www.wbabaggies.co.uk