England extend run against nine-man Austria
Monday, March 25, 2013
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England 4-0 Austria
England head for this summer's finals on a nine-game winning streak without conceding after a comfortable victory against nine-man Austria.
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England ran out 4-0 victors against nine-man Austria in their final friendly before this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Stuart Pearce's team have now won nine on the trot without conceding. Their latest triumph panned out easier than anticipated, though, courtesy of the dismissals of Austria goalkeeper Richard Strebinger and midfielder Patrick Farkas either side of the break. Goals from Jonjo Shelvey, Josh McEachran, Marvin Sordell and Connor Wickham did the damage.
Prior to Strebinger's red card, Austria had threatened to end England's miserly run. Raphael Holzhauser was twice frustrated by keeper Jason Steele, Andre Wisdom cleared off the line and Robert Zulj fired just wide with only Steele to beat.
England, though, had opportunities of their own, Tom Lees spurning the best when heading over from Shelvey's corner. The classy Nathaniel Chalobah, a calming presence in midfield, failed to keep a close-range shot down and was later denied with a thumping volley. However, Shelvey did find the target before half-time, drilling in the free-kick awarded for Strebinger handling outside the area – the custodian's last act. They were a game-changing few moments.
Any hopes the visitors harboured of a defiant comeback were quashed swiftly after the interval. Farkas was shown a second yellow for a handball inside the box and England substitute McEachran coolly did the necessary from the spot.
It was understandably one-way traffic thereafter. Jason Lowe was thwarted when clean through, but Austria could stem the tide only so long. England added to their tally midway through the second half, Sordell applying a simple finish after Connor Wickham's adroit turn, bustling run and neat pass.
Wickham gilded the lily with a composed fourth to ensure England head for Israel in the highest possible spirits.
England: Steele; Wisdom (Keane 77), Lees (Clyne 74), Dawson (Smith 46), Rose (Robinson 46); Lowe, Chalobah (McEachran 46); Townsend, Shelvey (Sordell 61), Sterling (Henderson 61); Wickham (Delfouneso 77).
