England have sealed their place in the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship for the first time since 2017 after a nervy 1-0 win over Portugal.
The Young Lions will face a second meeting of the tournament with Group C rivals Israel in Wednesday’s last-four clash in Batumi after a brilliantly-worked first-half goal from Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was enough to see off the 2021 runners-up at Kutaisi’s Ramaz Shengelia Stadium on Sunday night, despite a one-sided second half.
Lee Carsley’s England - who have still yet to concede a single goal at the tournament - will now be confident of reaching the final of this competition for the first time since 2009, having already seen off Israel 2-0 in the group stage last weekend courtesy of goals from Gordon and Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
The only downside on the night for England against Portugal was a booking for Norwich right-back Max Aarons which rules him out of the semi-final.
With Carsley having reverted back to the same team that lined up for England’s opening win over the Czech Republic, 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 James Trafford.
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.
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.
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 former Watford loanee Henrique Araujo having a chance to equalise.
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.
With seconds remaining of regulation time, Neto drilled a free-kick into England’s defensive wall and when Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares fired over in the final minute of six added on, Carsley’s side were safe.
