Delfouneso sends England to U-19s final

Gordon Tynan
Friday 31 July 2009 00:00 BST
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England qualified for the European Under-19 Championship final for the second time with a 3-1 extra-time victory over a France side that finished with only eight men yesterday.

England, beaten by France in their only previous final four years ago, fell behind after only eight minutes in Donetsk when Magaye Gueye steered home Yacine Brahimi's cross. Henri Lansbury, who had been the star of England's 7-1 win over Slovenia in their final group game on Monday, drew Brian Eastick's side level in the 37th minute, firing into the bottom corner.

England pushed for the winner, Remi Pillot denying Danny Drinkwater and Lansbury again, and their chances increased when France right-back Sébastien Corchia picked up a second yellow card for a tackle on Nile Ranger. France held on to force extra-time but England went in front two minutes in when the Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso tapped in after Pillot had parried Joe Mattock's shot.

Delfouneso struck again in the dying seconds of the first period of extra time when he dribbled around Pillot and coolly shot home for his fourth goal in two games.

France then let frustration get the better of them with the final whistle imminent as Ryad Boudebouz and Abdel El Kaoutari were both sent off. England will face Ukraine in Sunday's final, after they overcame Serbia 3-1.

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