Delayed; FRIDAY 22 August, 2003. At 20.25pm in a very cold 3 – 4 degrees Cylindro, Montevideo the England selection took the floor for the 1st semi final of the evening and what a match it was to be.
Around 500 spectators stayed to watch a match that the England Juniors grow in both stature and status!
Starting 5 were as before, Ian Smith goalkeeper, James Taylor, Sam Jackson, Matt Oaten & Andrew Sims.
The team was briefed by Coach Galtos to play a very tight zone defense and play on the counter attack, taking no unnecessary risks.
It really was a very cold night, but the lads were warm and well up for this match!
With just 26 seconds on the clock the Portugal no 5 puts the ball past an unsighted Smith to score their 1st goal.
4 minutes in Captain Jorg Silva slaps the ball from close range to make it England 0 – 2 Portugal.
With the action livening up James Taylor gets a yellow card from Kiwi referee Peter Braddock for a tough tackle.
With 12 minutes left of the 1st half, Portugal call a time out as our defense is frustrating their play and they are finding it difficult to put the ball in the cage ( cage is an Australian term for the goal apparently). Galtos tells the team to calm down & keep it tight.
11minutes in and the card happy Colombian referee gives Taylor his 2nd yellow, taking him to a 2 minute blue card suspension. Taylor clearly won the ball, but the professional play-acting of the Portuguese fooled the referee! Galtos had decided before the match, that any player on a blue card would take no further part in the game as tomorrow night’s game is the one we must win.
Lucas Justo Naifsey substitutes for Taylor.
Holding the game at 0 – 2 and 2 minutes of the half remaining the Portuguese captain Silva gets his 2nd of the match in a one on one counter attack, he takes the ball around Smith for Portugal’s 3rd goal.
HALF TIME ENGLAND 0 – 3 PORTUGAL.
An excellent half for the lads who had 50% possession and 6 chances against Portugal’s 12.
4.5 minutes in, and Portugal, are awarded a penalty for high ball by referee Braddock. The player hit’s the post, but gets the rebound to make it 0 – 4.
7 minutes in and Portugal change keepers as we are making chances!
8 minute in & Oaten goes in the note book with his 1st yellow of the night, it’s a very tough match and we are making the opposition work for their result.
12 minutes in and Portugal score their 5th of the evening. Galtos substitutes a tiring Naifsay who has played extremely well and done his job. Young Mike Abelson replaces Naifsay in attack.
7 minutes to go and England pressuring the opposition in their box are awarded a penalty. Andrew Simms steps up to take it and hits a 1st time shot into the top right hand corner. We have scored!!! England 1 – 5. Portugal continue to push for goal, keeper Smith who is playing the game of his life, gets a yellow card giving away a penalty, no problem as Portugal hit the post.
5 minutes remaining and the no 9 for Portugal goes in the book.
With just over 3 minutes on the clock no 9 hits a cracking slapshot through the middle of our defense to end the match at ENGLAND 1 – 6 PORTUGAL.
With around 45% possession in the half and 4 chances against Portugal’s 14, shows how hard the boys played. It was a magnificent team performance against professional players that train every day!
Mum’s, Dad’s & England you can be proud, as I cannot recall the last time an England selection has had such a close score line against probable Champions Portugal!
The 2nd semifinal finished as expected Argentina 6 – 1 France. We now play France today for the bronze medal at 20.10 hours local time and Portugal meet Argentina in the final. The placings have worked out well as Argentina and Portugal are clearly the best 2 teams here.
Steve Taylor in Montevideo.
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Reporter: Kos Galtos
