England booked their place within the European Underneath-21 Championship semi-finals with a effective 3-1 victory over Spain in Slovakia.
Holders England, who subsequent face the Netherlands, benefited from an early let-off after a VAR test resulted in an overturned penalty.
Captain James McAtee opened the scoring within the tenth minute and Harvey Elliott netted his second objective of the match 5 minutes later.
Javi Guerra clawed a objective again for Spain with a Thirty ninth-minute penalty, however substitute Elliot Anderson’s personal spot-kick in second-half stoppage-time assured Lee Carsley’s males of their spot within the ultimate 4.
England received off to an unsteady begin as Spain thought they gained a penalty when Charlie Cresswell – trying like he was making an attempt to get out of the way in which – was penalised with a handball by on-field referee Simone Sozza.
The Italian was known as to the monitor by his VAR compatriot, and England breathed a sigh of reduction when the decision was overturned.
McAtee opened the scoring from an Alex Scott nook after a flick-on by Omari Hutchinson. Spain received a contact, however solely within the course of the alert England skipper, who turned residence from shut vary.
Elliott doubled England’s benefit 5 minutes later, tapping within the rebound after Spain goalkeeper Alejandro Iturbe spilled a save from Jarell Quansah’s long-range effort.
England gifted Spain one other probability from 12 yards, nonetheless, after dropping the ball deep inside their very own third, exacerbating the error when Quansah, who dangled a leg, caught Alberto Moleiro and Sozza instantly pointed to the spot.
Tempers frayed after the ultimate whistle sounded
Guerra stepped up and halved the deficit after coolly sending James Beadle the unsuitable means.
Some nice work from Quansah and Hutchinson after the restart almost arrange Jay Stansfield, who noticed his effort deflect over, shortly earlier than Cresswell nodded a nook into the side-netting.
Beadle twice denied Guerra then gathered up a Mateo Joseph effort, whereas England had been nonetheless looking for a primary shot on the right track since Elliott’s objective with 20 minutes remaining after Morton fired simply broad.
Jack Hinshelwood ought to have prolonged England’s lead however he mistimed a free header over the crossbar.
England hit Spain, who had been looking for a late equaliser, on the counter when Iturbe was punished for bringing down Jonathan Rowe contained in the penalty space, which Anderson slotted residence to seal victory.
Netherlands await in Wednesday’s semi-final after they beat Portugal 1-0 earlier on Saturday.
