Greece leave England trailing in their wake

Greece are five points clear of England at the top of UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 9 after a 2-1 win against Stuart Pearce's side at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

Vassilis Koutsianikoulis and Kyriakos Papadopoulos both tried their luck in a dominant start by the visitors, who took a deserved 28th-minute lead when the latter thumped past Scott Loach after Jack Wilshere's weak clearing header. The goal spurred England into action, with Lee Cattermole twice testing goalkeeper Asterios Giakoumis. Greece responded, however, and duly grabbed a second four minutes after half-time through Giannis Papadopoulos, who poked home following a misunderstanding between central defenders Micah Richards and Christopher Smalling.

Pearce threw caution to the wind by introducing strikers Daniel Sturridge and Nathan Delfouneso, and his gamble paid off when the latter reduced the deficit on 80 minutes after Giakoumis failed to hold Jack Rodwell's effort. Greece, though, resolutely preserved their lead to advance their claims for next summer's finals in Denmark.