Goals in either half from Fraizer Campbell and Craig Gardner gave England U21 a comfortable 2-0 win over Czech Republic U21 at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night. It was England’s first win over the Czechs at this level.
Campbell, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur ,opened the scoring in the 10th minute, coolly chipping the ball over Jakub Divis after Czech defender Jan Halama failed to deal with Joe Lewis’ huge downfield kick.
Peterborough stopper Lewis had to stretchered off with a broken ankle in the 31st minute when he rushed ahead to deny Southampton forward Tomas Peckhart. He was replaced by Frank Fielding.
Aston Villa’s Craig Gardner doubled England’s lead with a well taken free kick, but Jamie O’Hara missed the chance to make it 3-0 from the spot after Campbell had been brought down by Jakub Heidenreich.
England U21 lineup : Joe Lewis (Frank Fielding 31), Martin Cranie (Kyle Naughton 60), Jamie O’Hara (Ryan Bertrand 80), Fabrice Muamba (Jack Cork 61), Richard Stearman, Nedum Onuoha, Aaron Lennon, Craig Gardner (Fabian Delph 86), Fraizer Campbell (Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 69), James Vaughan (Adam Lallana 86), Michael Kightly.
Booked : Fraizer Campbell
Czech Republic U21 lineup : Jakob Divis, Jan Halama, Jakub Heidenreich, Ondrej Mazuch, Michal Svec ( Jan Lecjaks 78), Ondrej Kudela (Jan Polak 87), Tomas Horava, Borek Dockal ( Marcel Gecov 40), Tomas Micola (Martin Zeman 65), Jan Moravek (Jan Blazek 65), Tomas Pekhart (Jakub Reznicek 46).
Booked :Michal Svec,Jakub Heidenreich