Source: Eurosport
Greece U21 v England U21 - 8 September
Loach show boosts England[LNB]England goalkeeper Scott Loach put in an inspired display as Stuart Pearce's side earned a creditable 1-1 draw against early pacesetters Greece in their European Championship Group Nine qualifier in Tripoli.[LNB]Daniel Sturridge gave England an early lead after a confident start before his effort was cancelled out by Sotiris Ninis' deflected strike five minutes before half-time.[LNB]Loach then made a string of fine saves to keep out a profligate Greek attack lead by Kostas Mitroglou and earn a point at the Asteras Tripolis Stadium.[LNB]The result means England, beaten 4-0 by Germany in the 2009 finals in June, move up to second in the section - three points behind leaders Greece - having taken four points from their two matches having beaten Macedonia 2-1 last Friday with Portugal third with three points from their one match played.[LNB]England began strongly with 17-year-old Jack Wilshere handed his first start, and the visitors should have been ahead after just three minutes when Sturridge's curling free-kick cracked off the left upright, with James Tomkins blazing the rebound over the crossbar.[LNB]The visitors continued to press and they were rewarded with the opening goal two minutes later.[LNB]Danny Rose was the architect, intercepting Vasilis Pliatsikas' wayward pass and then turning Kyriakos Papadopoulos before sliding in a low centre which Sturridge gleefully tapped home from close range.[LNB]It took Greece 22 minutes to fashion an opening with Olympiacos striker Mitroglou drawing a fine save from Loach with a low snapshot. Loach was called into action again two minutes later, denying Ninis with a brilliant fingertip save.[LNB]Sturridge was forced off with what looked like an ankle problem shortly afterwards, with Manchester United's Danny Welbeck replacing the goalscorer.[LNB]The visitors enjoyed more of the game as the half wore on though, and they levelled five minutes before half-time through good fortune, Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs deflecting Ninis' speculative shot past a helpless Loach after 40 minutes.[LNB]England could then have fallen 2-1 behind on the stroke of half-time, but Loach made a superb point-blank save from Dimitris Siovas' header.[LNB]Rose wasted England's best chance of the second half, firing wide of the left upright after playing a neat one-two with Jack Rodwell.[LNB]Mitroglou was guilty of passing up a golden chance when he intercepted Tomkins' poor pass and advanced on goal, only to be denied by Loach's sprawling save.[LNB]The Watford goalkeeper made yet another fine stop four minutes from time, from another Ninis long range effort.[LNB]Mitroglou then should have won the match for Greece with two minutes when Loach was finally beaten. The Olympiacos striker rounded the keeper - but hit the sidenetting with the goal gaping.
