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Soccer: Setback as Boro duo rested Jul 21 2005

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  • Soccer: Setback as Boro duo rested Jul 21 2005

    ic Teesside.co.uk, UK
    July 21 2005

    Setback as Boro duo rested Jul 21 2005

    Andrew Haslam In Ballymena, Evening Gazette


    James Morrison and Tony McMahon were both surprisingly rested
    as England's hopes of progressing to the UEFA European Under-19
    Championship semi-finals suffered a setback after Armenia snatched
    a shock draw.

    Both started in Monday's opening fixture - a creditable 1-1 draw
    with France - but the Boro pair were rested for last night's game in
    Ballymena, joining fellow Academy graduate David Wheater on the bench,
    although Andrew Taylor continued at left-back.

    England were expected to close in on a place in the last four with
    victory against finals debutants Armenia.

    The early pressure was all England's, with Sunderland's Grant
    Leadbitter an influential figure at the heart of midfield.

    England had two goals disallowed in the first half.

    Both efforts came from West Ham's Mark Noble with the first chalked
    off because the referee spotted a foul by Dexter Blackstock in the
    build up, while the second was ruled out after Noble was flagged
    for off-side.

    There was further disappointment for England when Leadbitter saw a
    penalty saved by the legs of Armenian goalkeeper Edel Bete early in
    the second period.

    The breakthrough finally arrived with 18 minutes left to play,
    Armenian midfield player Aleksandr Petrosyan turning into his own
    net under pressure from Matthew Mills.

    However, an England defence in which Taylor had been characteristically
    composed and steady then came under increased pressure, and Armenia
    got their reward in the 87th minute thanks to Carl Lombe's strike
    from outside the penalty area.

    While a draw was a disappointment for England, the Armenians almost
    snatched an injury-time winner when Petrosyan broke clear of the
    England backline but keeper David Marton did well to save his shot.

    The result, together with France's 3-1 win against Norway in
    Wednesday's other game, leaves England third in the section on two
    points and means they must beat the Norwegians in Saturday's third
    and final group game to progress.

    Full coverage of the tournament is available on www.uefa.com.

    England: Martin, TAYLOR, Mills, Cranie (capt.), Ifil, Leadbitter,
    Jones (Jarvis 71), Noble, Holmes, Blackstock (Fryatt 61), Smith.Subs:
    Ruddy, McMAHON, MORRISON, Wilson, WHEATER.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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