Match report: England MU21s 1-2 Slovenia
Cameron Archer’s late shot failed to save the English men under 21, as Slovenia gave up the undefeated qualifying campaign for the UEFA U21 EURO with a 2-1 victory over the Young Lions.
England have already secured qualifiers with eight wins and a draw in the first group G, but because of Slovenia at Huddersfield Town FC they have repeatedly found themselves frustrated.
The guests stunned the audience when they took the lead in the first minute, with an own goal by Djed Spence, and then they doubled the lead with a great header by Marko Zabukovnik.
But Archer came off the bench and gave the hosts hope for a late fight, only for Slovenia to withstand the late rally of England, as Milenko Ačimovič’s team celebrated excellently away.
The Young Lions have already entered the game with a guaranteed appearance in the U21 European finals next summer in Romania and Georgia, as they recorded three wins in three matches this month.
And England quickly remembered the Slovenian threat in the opening minute in Huddersfield, which lagged behind Spence’s shocking own goal.
The goal came in unusual circumstances, as Vešner Tičić’s free kick nodded to Spence in his own net, leaving Josef Bursik powerless with 54 seconds on the clock.
After an unfortunate start to the evening, Spence responded by connecting with Morgan Gibbs-White on the right before the latter hit right next to the goal.
Slovenia looked comfortable in possession, as they held close to the back, but England threatened again in the 12th minute through Curtis Jones, but Liverpool slipped into the penalty area after exchanging a pass with Folarin Balogun.
The visitors were very close to gaining the lead with a marvelous free kick after 22 minutes, but Nino Zugelj made a beautiful one-handed save.
As they struggled in the introductory parts to find a rhythm against a well-disciplined Slovenian team, England began to rejoice as they approached half an hour.
First, Gibbs-White and Spence put together Jacob Ramsey, who was only able to attract a shot, and then the latter again refused in a one-on-one match with Slovenian goalkeeper Martin Turk.
This turned out to be England’s best chance at halftime, as Slovenia saw the rest of the first third without another real fear of taking a 1-0 lead in the break.
Carsley remained believing in his starting lineup to reboot and soon the Young Lions created another chance when Emile Smith Rowe shot past Balogun’s absence.
But Slovenia continued to reject everything England threw at them, much to the disappointment of the hosts, as Gibbs-White entered the referee’s book due to a late challenge.
The changes came just after an hour when Carsley threw the dice with a triple substitution, with Max Aarons, Harvey Elliott and Cameron Archer equalizing.
However, Slovenia was the one who achieved the most important next goal, and Zabukovnik scored his first goal at the MU21 level brilliantly past Bursik and left England with a mountain to climb.
The arrival of Keane Lewis-Potter brought almost an immediate response for England, but Cresswell saw that his header was deflected off the line, while Slovenia celebrated with every block and showdown.
England finally managed to break through the visitors ’defense with a clock on the red when Lewis-Potter broke the ball to Archer, who beat the goalkeeper at a nearby goal.
But it was too little, too late for Carsley’s men, who could not repeat Slovenia’s return with two goals in the previous meeting, as the qualifying campaign ended in defeat.
England (4-3-3): 1 Josef Bursik (Stoke City); 12 Grandfather Spence (Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough loan); 15 Charlie Cresswell (Leeds United); 5 Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City), 16 Ben Johnson (West Ham United); 8 Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa), 6 James Garner (Nottingham Forest, loan from Manchester United), 17 Curtis Jones (Liverpool); 7 Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 9 Folarin Balogun (Arsenal), 10 Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
Substitutes: 2 Max Aarons (Norwich City) for Spence 61 ‘, 21 Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) for Ramsey, 14 Cameron Archer (Preston North End, loan from Aston Villa) for Balogun, 23 Keane Lewis-Potter (Hull City) for Garner 74 ‘, 20 Angel Gomes (Lille) for Smith Rowe 78’
Unused substitutes: 13 Carl Rushworth (Brighton & Hove Albion), 3 Luke Thomas (Leicester City), 18 Tommy Doyle (Manchester City), 19 James McAtee (Manchester City)
Goals: Archer 90 + 1 ‘
Attention: Cresswell 8 ‘, Morgan Gibbs-White 57’, Garner 68 ‘, Aarons 70’, Gomez 90 + 1
Manager: Lee Carsley
Slovenia (4-3-3): 1 Martin Turk; 13 Mitja Ilenčič, 3 Dušan Stojinović, 6 David Zec, 15 Mark Spanring; 4 Benjamin Markus, 8 Luka Vesner Ticic, 19 Mark Zabukovnik; 11 Nino Žugelj, 18 David Flakus Bosilj, 19 Aljoša Matko
substitutes: 22 Amir Feratovič for Stojinović 46 ‘, 14 Almin Kurtovič for Matka 71’, 9 Nik Prelec for Flakus Bosilj 71 ‘, 20 Aljaž Antolin for Vešner Tičić 80’, 2 Žan Trontelj for Žugelj 83 ‘
Unused substitutes: 12 Jean-Luc Leban, 5 Žiga Laci, 7 Tjaš Begić, 10 Svit Seslar, 22 Amir Feratovič
Goals: Spence 1 ‘og, Zabukovnik 64’
Attention: Rabbit 86 ‘, Markus 90 + 1
Manager: Milenko Ačimovič