Berahino rescues ten-man England in Finland
Monday, September 9, 2013
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Finland 1-1 England
Saido Berahino cancelled out Moshtagh Yaghoubi's opener but the ten-man visitors could not inflict a first loss on the Group 1 pacesetters.
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Saido Berahino struck for the second successive game to rescue a point for England, who were unable to end Finland's unbeaten start to UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 1.
West Bromwich Albion FC striker Berahino, who got the winner for Gareth Southgate's men against Moldova on Thursday, struck in the 67th minute to cancel out Moshtagh Yaghoubi's first-half effort. The point moves Finland a point clear of second-placed Lithuania after four games, with England four points behind having played just twice.
The visitors started brightly but were unable to create anything of note, while Nikolai Alho tested Jack Butland for the hosts with a stinging drive. The England No1 was caught out of position by Yaghoubi on 15 minutes however. With the keeper anticipating a free-kick to be crossed into the area from the left the winger instead whipped a shot inside the near post.
James Ward-Prowse twice went close for England before the break, but Berahino was on hand to turn in Wilfried Zaha's low cross midway through the second period to square it up. Andre Wisdom received a red card for the visitors on 74 minutes which all but spoiled their chances of finding a winner.