England seal European U21 Championship glory thanks to Curtis Jones goal and late penalty save

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James Trafford saved a stoppage-time penalty to earn England European Under-21 Championship glory for the first time in 39 years as they edged past Spain. </p>

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The Burnley goalkeeper repelled Abel Ruiz's spot-kick, awarded after a VAR review in the sixth minute of added time, and then kept out substitute Aimar Oroz's follow-up at the end of a pulsating contest at the Batumi Arena in Georgia. </p>

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In the process, he became the first man to keep six clean sheets at the finals to help his side claim glory courtesy of a 1-0 victory, having not conceded a single goal at the tournament. </p>

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Liverpool Curtis Jones' had earlier given England, playing in front of senior boss Gareth Southgate, the lead in first-half stoppage time when he deflected Cole Palmer's free-kick past keeper Arnau Tenas. </p>

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A third title and a first since 1984 was delivered on a dramatic evening in Georgia which saw England coach Ashley Cole and one of his Spanish counterparts, as well as substituted midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Spain's Antonio Blanco, sent off on the sidelines. </p>

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Newcastle's Anthony Gordon made his presence felt early on, cutting inside from Emile Smith Rowe's pass to force Tenas into a fifth-minute save, with Palmer unable to convert the rebound, then turning smartly and crossing unselfishly to hand Gibbs-White a tap-in, had it not been for defender Jon Pacheco's intervention. </p>

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The Spanish response was concerted as Manchester City's Sergio Gomez and Braga striker Ruiz brought their influence to bear. </p>

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Trafford was sent sprawling across his goal by Alex Baena's 16th-minute strike before defender Aitor Paredes glanced Gomez's corner across goal, with Ruiz unable to reach the ball before it ran out of play. </p>

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England, who had been guilty of repeatedly surrendered possession cheaply, started to fire, Palmer warming Tenas' hands with a well-struck 25-yard drive and defender Levi Colwill heading Palmer's free-kick against a post with the keeper beaten. </p>

<p>But the Manchester City man played a key role as the deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time. After Palmer had been tripped by club-mate Gomez, Jones, making a nuisance of himself in front of the defensive wall, unwittingly deflected his free-kick past the helpless Tenas.</p>

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<img class="lozad img-responsive thumbnail center-block" itemprop="image" src="https://www.planetsport.com/image-library/land/500/e/englands-curtis-jones-celebrates-following-the-euro-under-21-championship-final.jpg" alt="England's Curtis Jones celebrates following the Euro Under-21 Championship final">

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Colwill and Oihan Sancet were booked and England coach Cole and one of his Spanish counterparts sent off amid a melee in the wake of the goal, but the former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back's side led at the break. </p>

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Ruiz thought he had levelled within six minutes of the restart, but his bullet header from a Gomez free-kick was correctly ruled offside, although England looked rattled with Spain making a big push in the early stages of the half. </p>

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However, they rallied and, with full-back Max Aarons providing another outlet down the left, began the threaten once again and Gibbs-White might have done better from Gordon's 64th-minute pull-back, with the Spanish stretched. </p>

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Tenas kept Spain in it by clawing away Jones' attempt at the end of a pacy break seconds later and Ruiz should have levelled when he got his head to to Gomez's 68th-minute cross, but missed the target by inches. </p>

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But as the clock ticked towards the 96th minute, Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was advised to take a second look at Colwill's challenge on Ruiz and ultimately pointed to the spot, but Trafford's heroics sparked wild English celebrations. </p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/england-seal-european-u21-championship-glory-thanks-curtis-jones-goal-late-penalty-save">England seal European U21 Championship glory thanks to Curtis Jones goal and late penalty save </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>