Anthony Gordon goal steers England U21s past Portugal and into EC semi-finals

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Anthony Gordon's second goal of the European Championship secured a 1-0 win over Portugal and booked England Under-21s' place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2017. </p>

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The Newcastle winger, operating as a central forward in Lee Carsley's team, pounced 10 minutes before half-time to clinically finish a good passing move. </p>

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Despite some late Portuguese pressure which saw Henrique Araujo's effort rebound off the crossbar with goalkeeper James Trafford beaten, England - who have yet to concede a goal at the tournament - held on to set up a meeting with Israel, whom they beat 2-0 in the group phase, on Wednesday. </p>

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The only downside on the night in the Shengelia Arena in Kutaisi, Georgia, was a booking for Norwich right-back Max Aarons which rules him out of the semi-final. </p>

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Early exchanges saw Liverpool's Curtis Jones guide a shot wide from just outside the penalty area and Wolves' Pedro Neto have an effort turned around the post by Trafford. </p>

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Gordon's first sight of goal in the 23rd minute from Jacob Ramsey's through-ball was easily saved by Celton Biai but the Portuguese goalkeeper had no chance with his next effort. </p>

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Noni Madueke played in Morgan Gibbs-White and he cleverly cut back the ball to Gordon loitering near the penalty spot to confidently sweep home first time. </p>

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In first-half added time Taylor Harwood-Bellis produced an important block to deny Tiago Dantas and, after Aarons was booked early in the second half, Levi Colwill did similarly to prevent Araujo having a chance to equalise. </p>

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Seconds later the Portugal forward was unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty after a tangle with Harwood-Bellis in the six-yard area as they challenged for a cross before coming even closer to scoring when his header hit the crossbar. </p>

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With seconds remaining of regulation time, Neto drilled a free-kick into England's defensive wall and when Nuno Tavares fired over in the final minute of six added on, Carsley's side were safe. </p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/anthony-gordon-goal-steers-england-u21s-past-portugal-semi-finals">Anthony Gordon goal steers England U21s past Portugal and into EC semi-finals </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>