Molineux Friday, October 10th, 2014 k/o 17:45   European Championship Qualifier Attendance: 23,107       England Under 21 2-1 Croatia U21
2014 /15

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England came from behind to edge the first leg of their UEFA European Under 21 play-off against Croatia with Saido Berahino tucking away a late penalty to complete the comeback and give his side a 2-1 lead to take into next Tuesday’s return. The first chance fell to Berahino who fired wide of the far post after being played in by Will Hughes. England had enjoyed most of the possession in the opening stages but the Molineux crowd were stunned into silence as Croatia moved into a 13th minute lead. Filip Bradaric’s left-wing corner was helped on by Niko Datkovic to Marko Livaja who was waiting at the back post to head home. There was a chance of a quick response after Hughes had been fouled on the edge of the area but Harry Kane’s free-kick sailed high over the bar. Luck was against the home side in the 21st minute after Hughes and Berahino combined to give Luke Shaw a run into the left of the Croatia box. From a tight angle the Manchester United defender hit a terrific shot that keeper Dominik Livakovic touched onto the inside of the far post before it bounced out and was hooked clear. Nathan Redmond tested Livakovic with a ferocious effort from the corner of the area that was brilliantly turned over by the keeper. England were pressing but Croatia were dangerous on the break and twice Ante Coric was a matter of inches away from increasing his side’s lead shooting narrowly wide and then just over the bar. Shortly before the break Kane’s shot on the turn was deflected over the bar for an unproductive corner. Half-Time: England 0 Croatia 1 Eric Dier was a replacement for Michael Keane at the start of the second half which was four minutes old when Dario Zuparic was yellow carded for pulling back Kane. Hughes, who appeared to have picked up a knock, was replaced by Tom Ince on 56 minutes just before England drew level as Kane glanced a header into the net following a cross from Berahino. Kane almost did it again after Livakovic failed to hold a long range effort from Redmond but the keeper recovered to take the ball at the striker’s feet. In the 69th minute Dier was booked for tugging at Ante Rebic and, before play resumed, Drazen Bagaric replaced goalscorer Livaja. Kane just failed to reach a low cross from Redmond before Livakovic scrambled clear then, at the other end, Matej Mitrovic powered a header wide following a Bradaric corner. Two Croatia bookings came within the space of a minute – Rebic for a high challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey and Bagaric for dissent. Tom Carroll just failed to meet a low cross from Redmond and then Liam Moore went into the book for a heavy challenge on Rebic. Five minutes from time the game swung the way of England. After Berahino was fouled by Livakovic deep inside the box he got up and despatched the penalty himself (pictured) to seal victory in front of a partisan crowd. England: Butland (capt), Keane (Dier 45), Shaw, Hughes (Ince 56), Gibson, Moore, Berahino, Forster-Caskey, Kane, Carroll, Redmond. Unused subs: Bond, Garbutt, Lascelles, Baker, Bamford. Bookings: Dier (69 – foul), Moore (84 – foul). Croatia: Livakovic, Zuparic, Milic (Milos 90+1), Bradaric, Datkovic (capt), Mitrovic, Pjaca, Pavicic, Rebic, Livaja (Bagaric 69), Coric (Pasalic 63). Unused subs: Delac, Perica, Caktas, Brucic. Bookings: Zuparic (49 – foul), Rebic (75 – foul), Bagaric (76 – dissent). Referee: X.E. Fernandez. Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/england-u21-v-croatia-u21-2010030.aspx#kdz4iIzqFJFDYpHE.99