In a tense showdown at the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, the England Under-21s secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Under-21 Euro 2023 Championships with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Portugal Under-21s. The deciding factor in the match came from Anthony Gordon’s goal in the first half, as the Young Lions displayed remarkable resilience to withstand Portugal’s relentless pressure in the second half.
Having made extensive changes to the lineup in their previous group game against Germany, coach Lee Carsley fielded his strongest XI for this crucial quarter-final encounter against the 2021 silver medallists. The decision proved to be a wise one, as his refreshed squad immediately made an impact on the game.
Early in the match, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones narrowly missed the target with a shot from outside the box. However, Portugal began to find their rhythm and tested England’s goalkeeper, James Trafford, who made an impressive low save from Pedro Neto’s tight-angled attempt.
Despite Portugal’s efforts, it was England’s strike partnership that ultimately broke the deadlock. Noni Madueke orchestrated a swift attack, providing a perfect pass to Morgan Gibbs-White on the right side of the penalty area. Gibbs-White quickly cut the ball back for Gordon, who found himself in an abundance of space and calmly side-footed the ball into the net from 12 yards out.
Portugal attempted to respond before halftime but failed to convert their chances. Pedro Neto wasted a free kick by sending it over the crossbar, and Tiago Dantas was denied by a brilliant save from Taylor Harwood-Bellis just before the whistle blew.
During the halftime break, Portugal’s coach, Rui Jorge, must have delivered an inspiring speech to his players because they emerged as a reinvigorated side in the second half. Substitute Paulo Bernardo had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 59th minute, but his header drifted wide of Trafford’s far post.
England found themselves constantly under siege from Portugal’s attacks, and their defensive struggles were compounded when Jacob Ramsey, a midfielder from Aston Villa, was forced off the field due to a foot injury. Emile Smith Rowe, the prolific Arsenal forward, replaced him.
In the 69th minute, Henrique Araujo, who had recently come on as a substitute for Portugal, unleashed a powerful shot that rattled off the crossbar. Nine minutes later, Nuno Tavares attempted a header that failed to trouble Trafford.
England’s attempts on goal were few and far between in the second half, with Gordon’s long-range effort failing to test Portugal’s goalkeeper, Celton Biai. However, the Young Lions managed to survive six minutes of injury time and secure their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2017.
Their next challenge awaits them on Wednesday when they face Israel in the semi-finals. The victory over Portugal will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they strive to achieve success in the tournament. The England Under-21s’ journey continues, and fans eagerly await their next thrilling performance.