Tataev strikes as Russia end England reign
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Article summary
England 0-1 Russia
Both teams had penalties saved and England twice hit the frame during an eventful contest settled by Aleksei Tataev's first-half header.
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• Russia ride their luck to end England's hold on the European Under-17 title
• Aleksandr Maksimenko saves Nathan Holland's 24th-minute penalty
• Aleksei Tataev soon heads Russia into the lead from Georgi Makhatadze's corner
• Boris Tsygankov has late spot kick saved; Tayo Edun is sent off
• Russia meet Germany in the semi-finals on Tuesday
Aleksei Tataev's first-half header ended England's reign in the last eight and moved Russia on to the brink of a return to the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final.
The contest in Burgas turned on a frantic four-minute spell in which Russia keeper Aleksandr Maksimenko saved Nathan Holland's penalty, Stephy Mavididi struck the rebound against a post and Tataev headed in from a left-wing corner. Russia, winners in 2006 and 2013, can look forward to a semi-final meeting with Germany on Tuesday.
Yegor Denisov, scorer of two of Russia's four Group C goals, forced an early save out of Paul Woolston from the right corner of the penalty area. Denisov struck in the 2-0 defeat of Greece on Wednesday, with Dmitri Pletnev getting the decisive second that took Mikhail Galaktionov's team through. Tricky right-winger Pletnev, however, lasted only 12 minutes here, hobbling off after rolling his ankle in an innocuous-looking challenge.
A sedate contest burst into life when Mavididi gave Tataev the slip with a clever turn and was halted in the penalty area by Georgi Makhatadze. The Russia captain was reprieved by Maksimenko, who repelled Holland's firmly-struck spot kick. Mavididi, first to the loose ball, smacked the upright.
Then came Tataev's Lazarus act. Having cleared off his line moments earlier following a mix-up in the Russia defence involving Amir Gavrilov, Maksimenko and the FC Krasnodar centre-back, Tataev headed the two-time winners into the lead from Makhatadze's corner, despite the efforts of Holland on the far post.
John Peacock's side – lacking the finishing touch to their tidy approach play – forced their opponents back in the second period, the woodwork coming to Russia's rescue for a second time when Holland rattled the bar. Their grip on the trophy slipping, England upped the tempo, with Easah Suliman firing at Maksimenko and another replacement, Ike Ugbo, forcing the FC Spartak Moskva custodian to tip an angled drive away.
Boris Tsygankov spurned the chance to seal it, his penalty stopped by Woolston after Denisov raced down the left and squared for Ivan Galanin, who was brought down by Tayo Edun. It mattered not as Russia survived five added minutes. England, who lost Edun to a second yellow, must turn their attention to the FIFA U-17 World Cup play-offs.
