What a fantastic match it was to lose on penalties after
extra time is heartbreaking & the England team played
their hearts out!!

6 players rotated in the match, Dan Barton goal keeper
and captain, Daryl Pearce, Joe Wheatley, Neil Austin,
James Taylor & Matt Oaten. Yet the whole team
supported their efforts throughout the match.

A game where Andorra clinically took players out with
strong fouls resulting in 7 yellows & a blue to Andorra of
which 4 were for faults on young James Taylor who laid
on countless opportunities for his team mates.

The 1st goal went to Andorra with a hard shot along the
floor. With 3 minutes of the first half to go a 3 pass move
started by Taylor to Pearce to Wheatley for his 1st goal
of the tournament.

Throughout the half we had up to 70% possession and
more chances on goal than Andorra which were not
converted!

Half time score 1 – 1.

Into the 2nd half and we are pressuring them all the
time. When Andorra managed a counter attack they are
dangerous, but our man to man marking is working
well.
7 minutes to go and the Andorran no 3, scores from a
good slapshot which keeper Dan Barton could not see.

20 seconds after a perfectly good England goal by
Wheatley was disallowed, Austin with just 3.53 minutes
remaining on the clock, hits a cracking slapshot to even
the score 2 – 2.

There are now a good 2.000 in the stadium with the
majority supporting the better team ENGLAND!

Into extra time at 2 – 2.
James Taylor in badly sticked in the pelvic region! And
the Andorran is given a yellow! No direct and no red
card, unbelievable!!

Next the Andorran keeper hits Wheatley with his stick in
the area, is given a yellow, but no penalty! And these
are the best referee’s in the World???

Taylor get his 2nd yellow with just 3.14 minutes of the
2nd period to go, no-one apart from the referee seems
to know why! Blue card and he misses tomorrows
match against Colombia.

All the pressures on Andorra who continue to hold out.

1 minute to go & Taylor’s back on he gets the ball beats
3 players to lay on a shot from Wheatley which draws a
great save from the keeper!

Into penalties. Andorra score their 1st 2, Daryl Pearce
makes it 1 for England, It’s not enough and we go out
after probably the best game of the competition so far 3
goals England to 4 Andorra.

At the post match debrief Coach Amaral, who has done
all he can to keep England up, thanks everyone for
their efforts and support.

More info: By: Steve Taylor in Oliveira de Azemeis
Reporter: Kos Galtos