Monday, June 22

Sweden U21s 0-1 England U21s: Late Lingard volley keeps Young Lions alive.

The Manchester United man scored the only goal of the game with just five minutes left to play to keep Gareth Southgate's men in the tournament


Jesse Lingard was the hero for.England Under-21s, scoring a superb late goal as Gareth Southgate's men secured a narrow 1-0 win over Sweden to keep their European Championship hopes alive.

The Manchester United was actually left out of the starting XI as Southgate made two changes to the side that lost their opener against Portugal bringing in Will Hughes and Alex Pritchard with James Ward-Prowse the other man to make way.

England dominated possession in the early stages with Sweden, having beaten Italy already, happy to sit back and allow the Young Lions to play from the back.

Yet despite seeing plenty of the ball England struggled to create anything initially, looking ponderous despite having an extra player in midfield, against a well-disciplined Sweden side.

However, just before the half-hour mark the Young Lions spurned two good chances to score their first goal of the tournament and break the deadlock.

First, Tom Carroll and Nathan Redmond combined to spring Carl Jenkinson down the right hand side who delivered a superb cross for Harry Kane, but his diving header flew just wide of the post.

Minutes later and Pritchard found Hughes inside the box, the Derby midfielder jinking past one challenge only to be denied by a combination of defender Filip Helander and goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren.

Five minutes before the break and England had sight of goal once again, Pritchard wriggling into the box only to see his shot blocked by Joseph Baffo before Kane fired a free kick straight at Carlgen.

Yet Sweden did have chances of their own with Manchester City striker John Guidetti twice testing Jack Butland while Issac Kiese Thelin headed Simon Tibbling's cross over minutes before the interval.

With victory needed Southgate opted to change his team at the break sending on Danny Ings for Hughes as England reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

The striker was swiftly joined by Lingard as England continued to probe, prompted by the lively Pritchard, yet still lacking the urgency that was so sorely required to break down Sweden.

Yet clear-cut chances continued to elude the Young Lions with Baffo marshalling Kane well after good work from Jenkinson and Sweden worrying England with a series of corners.

With time running out Ruben Loftus-Cheek was introduced for the final 20 minutes and the Chelsea youngster enjoyed a bright cameo, with England unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after his ball found Ings in the box and he tangled with Baffo, only for the referee to ignore the striker's appeals.

With five minutes remaining on the clock, a third consecutive group stage elimination looked likely for England, until Carlgren could only punch clear a corner.

The ball fell to Lingard on the edge of the box who fired a superb volley past the Sweden goalkeeper, to keep the Young Lions' hopes alive with England's first goal of the tournament.

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