Match ends, Czech Republic U21 0, England U21 1.
England U21: Carroll strike secures win over Czech Republic
Last updated on .From the section Football
Tom Carroll's second-half strike gave England Under-21s a 1-0 win in the Czech Republic - and a 12th win in 13 games for Gareth Southgate's side.
The Tottenham midfielder, who is on a season-long loan with Swansea, scored soon after the break in Prague, capitalising on a goalkeeping mistake.
Watford's Matej Vydra went closest for the hosts in the first half when his shot was cleared off the line.
The U21 European Championships will be held in Czech Republic in the summer.
England lost 3-2 in France in their last match in November, after they had won their previous 11 games, but they returned to the winner's circle after a gritty display at the Letna Stadium.
In the 12th minute, Alex Pritchard picked out Cauley Woodrow, who turned and shot just over the bar as England began brightly.
| 2015 European Under-21 Championship draw | |
|---|---|
| Group A | Group B |
| Czech Republic | England |
| Germany | Italy |
| Denmark | Portugal |
| Serbia | Sweden |
However, the Czechs were more dangerous in the rest of first half and Carroll cleared a Matej Vydra shot from a corner off the line shortly before the half-hour.
Three minutes into the second half Gareth Southgate's side edged ahead thanks to an opportunistic goal from the impressive Carroll.
Nathan Redmond did superbly to nip between two players in midfield before he spread the play out to Chambers.
The Arsenal defender's cross was fumbled by Czech goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka and back out into the area, where Carroll arrived to stroke the ball home.
Carroll, who captained the side, was withdrawn later in the half after he picked up a knock and was replaced by Derby's Will Hughes.
But England's players finished the game strongly and apart from Ondrej Petrak's shot, which flashed past the post, England goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli remained largely untroubled.
Line-ups
Czech Rep U21
Formation 4-5-1
- 16Pavlenka
- 14Holes
- 3Kalas
- 19Stronati
- 21Hanousek
- 10Skalak
- 8Zmrhal
- 6PetrakSubstituted forTakácsat 71'minutes
- 20TravnikBooked at 40minsSubstituted forHouskaat 83'minutes
- 11FrydekSubstituted forMasopustat 61'minutes
- 9VydraSubstituted forPrikrylat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Koubek
- 2Jugas
- 4Hruby
- 5Brabec
- 7Houska
- 12Hybs
- 15Baranek
- 17Prikryl
- 18Masopust
- 22Takács
- 23Reichl
England U21
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Bettinelli
- 2ChambersSubstituted forJenkinsonat 61'minutes
- 5Keane
- 6MooreSubstituted forStonesat 70'minutes
- 3TargettSubstituted forGarbuttat 45'minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 10CarrollSubstituted forHughesat 53'minutes
- 4Forster-CaskeyBooked at 31mins
- 11RedmondBooked at 58mins
- 9WoodrowSubstituted forIngsat 62'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 7PritchardSubstituted forLingardat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Garbutt
- 13Bond
- 14Jenkinson
- 15Stones
- 16Hughes
- 17Lingard
- 18Ings
Match Stats
Home TeamCzech Rep U21Away TeamEngland U21
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Czech Republic U21 0, England U21 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jiri Skalak (Czech Republic U21) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Danny Ings (England U21) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Danny Ings (England U21).
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David Houska (Czech Republic U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Czech Republic U21. Conceded by Luke Garbutt.
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Attempt blocked. Jiri Skalak (Czech Republic U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomas Prikryl.
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Foul by Luke Garbutt (England U21).
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Ladislav Takács (Czech Republic U21) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Offside, Czech Republic U21. Tomas Kalas tries a through ball, but Jiri Skalak is caught offside.
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Luke Garbutt (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lukas Masopust (Czech Republic U21).
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Foul by John Stones (England U21).
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Ladislav Takács (Czech Republic U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Jiri Pavlenka.
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Attempt saved. John Stones (England U21) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Tomás Holes.
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Attempt blocked. Jesse Lingard (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.
Substitution
Substitution, Czech Republic U21. David Houska replaces Michal Travnik.
