Plenty of the lads got game time at the weekend. Gabor Kiraly we already know about – here is the round-up of the rest from the Club:
”Lasse Vigen Christensen played 70 minutes of Denmark Under-21s’ 2-2 friendly draw with the Czech Republic in Prague. Jens Joensson put Denmark in front with just two minutes played but Vaclav Kadlec levelled things up a quarter of an hour later. The visitors went into half-time in front, though, courtesy of a Jeppe Andersen strike – a goal which looked to have won the game until Laco Takacs popped up in the 89th minute to equalise.
Back in the UK, Patrick Roberts played just over an hour of England Under-19s’ impressive 3-0 victory against Italy at Rotherham United’s New York Stadium. Chelsea’s Izzy Brown scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes to put the Young Lions in good stead; the first he lashed in after club teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek had seen his header saved, the second a sublime curling effort from the edge of the box. Loftus-Cheek then wrapped things up with a composed left-footed finish after being played in by Brown on 64 minutes.
Australia Under-23s kicked off their Four-Nation International Friendly tournament in Wuhan, China, with a 2-2 draw against Brazil. Cameron Burgess was involved from the off, and the Olyroos went in front on 21 when former Fulham striker Corey Gameiro netted, although the South Americans turned the game on its head with strikes just before half-time and in the 66th minute. But a foul on Gameiro in the penalty area on 90 minutes saw Brazil reduced to 10 men and allowed Borussia Dortumund’s Mustafa Amini to dispatch the equaliser from 12 yards.
The following day, Elsad Zverotić played 90 minutes as Montenegro played out a 1-1 home draw with Sweden in Group G of Euro qualifying. The visitors went in front with just nine minutes played courtesy of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal. Montenegro’s biggest threats were arriving from Zverotić’s set-pieces, with the Fulham man’s corners creating chances for Stevan Jovetić and Marko Baša which were saved, and Stefan Savic who headed against the bar. But they eventually secured the point their play deserved, when Jovetić scored from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining after Vladimir Jovović had been fouled.
The result leaves Montenegro level with Russia after their defeat in Austria, a point behind Sweden – for whom Alexander Kačaniklić was an unused substitute.
Angola’s hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations hang by a thread after they were held to a goalless draw at home by Gabon. Mananga Jonathan Buatu was involved from kick-off and helped his side to a clean sheet, but they really needed to win to stand a good chance of qualifying for the Finals. With Gabon and Burkina Faso now confirmed as the top two in Group C, Angola’s only hope is that they end up being the best third-placed team. They’ll need to beat Burkina Faso on Wednesday and hope plenty of results in other groups go their way for that to be a likely scenario.
Noe Baba captained the Republic of Ireland Under-19s to the 4-1 win over Gibraltar which ensured their progression to the Elite Round of qualifying for the UEFA U19 Championship. Goals from Reece Grego-Cox and Eoghan Stokes had put Ireland in control of the game, although Gibraltar did pull one back through Jayce Consigliero on 37 minutes. The two-goal lead was restored shortly before half-time, though, with Baba the architect as his cross was turned into his own net by Gibraltar defender Ethan Jolley. Stokes got his second goal in the second half to make it 4-1 – a result which, combined with Switzerland’s win over Malta, earned them progression with a game left to play.
Elsewhere in the competition, Slovakia had already qualified and so Marek Rodák was rested for the 3-0 win against Hungary which maintained their 100 per cent record in Group 4.
Emerson Hyndman played 90 minutes in Marbella {not sure why since he was red carded in the last game} as the US Under-20s defeated the Republic of Ireland Under-21s 1-0 in their second match of the International National Teams Football Tournament. Dembakwi Yomba scored the only goal of the game on 13 minutes when he intercepted a weak backpass before burying his finish, although the States did rely on several good saves by goalkeeper Santiago Castaño to preserve their lead.
On Sunday, George Williams came on as a half-time substitute as Wales secured an impressive 0-0 draw away at Belgium in their European Championship Qualifier. In the first half, Tottenham Hotspur winger Nacer Chadli was denied by Crystal Palace stopper Wayne Hennessey, and Nicolas Lombaerts hit a post, but Wales had chances of their own after the interval. Gareth Bale – who had seen a free-kick saved earlier on – fired wide at the end of a mazy run, before Hal Robson-Kanu was denied by Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.
Williams was then involved in a nasty clash of heads with Dries Mertens. The Belgian attacker had to be stretchered from the field of play and Williams, despite the accidental nature of the incident, was booked for his part in it.
Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke almost won it for the home side in stoppage time, but Bale was on hand to clear his header off the line to preserve the Dragons’ unbeaten record in Group B – although they now sit second following Israel’s 3-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Bulgaria’s qualifying hopes took a hit when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Malta in Group H, with Nikolay Bodurov playing the full 90. Andrej Galabinov had given Bulgaria an early lead and the same man went close to doubling the advantage 26 minutes in when his shot rattled the crossbar.
Malta were level four minutes after half-time, though, when Clayton Failla converted a penalty after Paul Fenech had been brought down by Bulgaria skipper Ivelin Popov. Popov could have made amends but the ball just would not go in for him as he saw his header hit the woodwork, before blazing over a penalty on 76 minutes that was awarded for a foul on Ilian Micanski.
Bulgaria now sit six points behind Croatia and Italy who currently occupy the top two spots.
On the same day, Australia Under-23s played their second game in China but went down to a 3-1 defeat by the host nation. Cameron Burgess was involved again from the start, and his side were one down after 11 minutes when Xie Pengfei netted. Australia hit back quickly and were level when Travis Cooper headed in, but two second-half goals earned China the victory."
