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England national football team
European Under-21s Championship | Qualifiers
Nov 16, 2015 at 5.45pm UK
 
Switzerland national football team

3-1

Ward-Prowse (82' pen.), Watmore (85'), Akpom (91')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Tarashaj (45')

Live Commentary: England Under-21s 3-1 Switzerland Under-21s - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of England Under-21s' come-from-behind 3-1 win over Switzerland Under-21s at the Amex Stadium.
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England Under-21s scored three late goals to secure a 3-1 win over Switzerland Under-21s in their 2017 Under-21 European Championship qualifier at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.

Shani Tarashaj put the visitors ahead shortly before half time, lobbing the ball beyond Jordan Pickford from the edge of the box.

Duncan Watmore came off the bench to inspire the England comeback though, winning a penalty for James Ward-Prowse to convert and setting up a Chuba Akpom goal while adding one himself.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good evening! England Under-21s and Switzerland Under-21s will both be hoping to extend their unbeaten starts to the qualifying campaign for the 2017 Under-21 European Championships in Poland when they meet in Brighton this evening. Let's start with a look at the team news.

ENGLAND UNDER-21S STARTING XI: Pickford, Iorfa, Targett, Baker, Chambers, Chalobah, Swift, Ward-Prowse, Solanke, Loftus-Cheek, March

SWITZERLAND UNDER-21S STARTING XI: Nganoma, Hadergjonaj, Angha, Akanji, Gulen, Bertone, Garcia, Zakaria, Tabakovic, Araz, Tarashaj

ENGLAND UNDER-21S SUBSTITUTES: Aina, Walton, Cargill, Forster-Caskey, Watmore, Akpom, Woodrow

SWITZERLAND UNDER-21S SUBSTITUTES: Salvi, Withrich, Untersee, Custodio, Follonier, Khelifi, Ajeti

Gareth Southgate makes two changes to the side that shared a goalless draw with Bosnia last week, as John Swift and Solly March come into the side. Chuba Akpom drops to the bench, while Jack Stephens misses out after picking up a red card last time out.

Meanwhile, there are three changes for the visitors, who have not played since their 1-1 draw with Norway last month. Musa Araz comes in to partner Shani Tarashaj up front, while Manuel Akanji comes in at the back.

Here's the home squad arriving at Brighton & Hove Albion's stadium a little earlier:


So, England come into this match at the top of Group 9, with two wins and a draw from their first three matches. Switzerland have the same record, but the Young Lions' slightly better goal difference puts them at the top of the standings. Anything other than defeat will keep the home side top this evening.

Switzerland were the runners-up in this competition in 2011, but they have not qualified since. Only the group winners will automatically secure a spot in the Poland tournament in 2017, while the runner-up will have to hope they secure a place in the playoffs.

England's four goals in their first three matches have all come from different sources, with James Ward-Prowse, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan Redmond and Chuba Akpom all finding the back of the net so far.

The players make their way out of the tunnel at the Amex Stadium, led by captain James Ward-Prowse. There's a good amount of noise for the team, despite the stadium only being half full.

The national anthems for both sides are played ahead of kickoff. The teams are also posing for their pre-match photos, with kickoff just a few moments away now. Prior to kickoff though, there is going to be a minute's silence for those who lost their lives in Paris on Friday.

After an impeccably observed minute of silence, the teams come together again for a final few words. Both teams are also wearing black armbands this evening.

KICKOFF! England get the action underway in Brighton.

England are on the attack from the start, with Dominic Solanke charging down the left for the home side, but he's unable to get the cross in. Incidentally, the Brighton pitch is still showing a few scars from the Rugby World Cup matches that it played host to recently.

Zakaria makes a charge forward for the Swiss side, but his path is halted by Matt Targett, immediately handing possession back to England. Iorfa brings it forward, trying to pick out Loftus-Cheek with a through-ball, but Manuel Akanji makes the block. It's all very open so far, but neither side have created anything to trouble the keepers in the opening few minutes.

Targett comes down the left flank before providing a wonderful cross towards Loftus-Cheek, but Angha just does enough to block the Chelsea man's effort. It's only cleared as far as Solly March, but his half-volley is just wide of the left upright. England are just starting to take control of the match, having seen the majority of the possession so far.

England have had plenty of success down the left, and they make another run out wide as Nathaniel Chalobah charges down the flank before attempting to pick out Ward-Prowse, but the captain can't quite get to it. March is waiting behind him, but Angha is first on the scene to nod it clear.

A sloppy backpass from Florent Hadergjonaj forces Yvon Nganoma to turn the ball around the post, giving England the first corner of the match, but Iorfa's delivery back into the box is easily dealt with by the Swiss captain and keeper.

Targett, Ward-Prowse and Swift pass the ball around the middle looking to find a way through for the home side, but Switzerland have tightened up at the back after finding themselves under pressure in the opening quarter of an hour of this contest.

Switzerland have started to see more of the ball, with Araz and Tabakovic trying to get forward. Tarashaj tries to cross the ball in from the right, managing to wrong-foot Targett, but there's no-one there is the middle to turn if past Jordan Pickford.

Bertone gets it back on the left for the visitors and makes his way to the edge of the box before playing the ball inside to Tarashaj, but his first-time strike to easily dealt with by Chambers.

Chances really have been scarce so far, but it's still England who are dominating possession, with Targett, Baker and Chalobah trying to work the ball out from the back, but Switzerland are continuing to leave few options open for Southgate's side.

Ward-Prowse gets the ball to Targett out wide, but the defender's cross back in towards Solly March is swiftly cleared. Switzerland immediately break down the other end, with Bertone teeing the ball up for Tabakovic, but the forward's first touch was lacking.

The visitors are enjoying a decent spell of possession as Gulen and Zakaria play the ball through the middle, but Chambers wins the ball back for England before Garcia blasts the ball out trying to win it back for the visitors, giving England a throw in.

Solly March loses the ball near the corner flag as he tries to create space to get a corner in, but Ward-Prowse soon has it back for the hosts. Swift attempts to play it through to Chambers, but the defender gives away a free kick instead.

Swift and Ward-Prowse team up in the centre again to try to get the ball forward towards Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who hasn't had much of the ball in the first half. Swift eventually does get a ball through, but Angha is on hand to clear.

As it has been for the majority of the first half, England are continuing to dominate possession, but Switzerland aren't letting them get the ball forward with ease. Swift is forced to play the ball back towards Iorfa, before March manages to make a run forward, but he's soon held up. Swift eventually tries his luck from 25 yards out, but the finish is high and wide.

GOAL! England Under-21s 0-1 Switzerland Under-21s (Shani Tarashaj)

Right on the cusp of half time, Switzerland break the deadlock with a simple counter-attacking move. A high ball comes over the top to Shani Tarashaj, but manages to sprint away from Chalobah before spotting Pickford rushing off his line. The striker lobs the ball over the keeper to beat Calum Chambers, who tries to get back to clear it off the line. However, it looks like it will be the striker's final contribution, as Pickford collided with him on the edge of the box. The stretcher is being brought on.

The Grasshopper forward really does look like he's in quite some pain, clutching his left side as he's stretchered off the pitch. He's given his teammates a potentially vital lead though, with so few chances having come in the opening 45 minutes.

HALF TIME: England Under-21s 0-1 Switzerland Under-21s

So, the late goal from Shani Tarashaj separates the sides at the interval in an otherwise uneventful opening 45 minutes in Brighton. England had dominated possession throughout, but didn't really test the keeper, leaving the visitors to capitalise on the counter-attack.

Gareth Southgate will probably want a word with his goalkeeper. Jordan Pickford has been in phenomenal form for Presotn in recent weeks, but coming so far off the line without a defender back was always going to play into Tarashaj's hands.

England have created more chances than the visitors, with six to Switzerland's two, but just one of England's has been on target.

Switzerland have left a couple of players out to warm up, with one presumably getting ready to replace the injured goalscorer for the second half.

The players are making their way back out ready for the start of the second half.

RESTART! Switzerland get the second half underway.

SUB! Joel Untersee takes the place of Tarashaj, who was stretchered off in the closing moments of the first half.

CHANCE! Switzerland make a lively start to the second half, with Zakaria making a charge down the left before firing a cross in towards the near post, but Jordan Pickford is able to deal with it for the home side.

CHANCE! Lewis Baker unleashes a shot from the edge of the box on the volley after Chalobah pulls it back to the on loan Chelsea man, but it's just wide of the target. That's probably the closest England have come to finding the back of the net so far though.

England continue to press for an equaliser, with Swift attempting to set up Solanke, who was quiet in the first half, for a shot, but Akanji beats him to the ball, allowing the visitors to press back down the other end, where they force a free kick.

Tabakovic gets away from Solanke attempting to get a shot away, but he's flagged offside for the second time in this match, although the shot was going wide anyway. England pile back down the other end, with Lewis Baker getting a sight of goal, but his finish is blocked. Meanwhile, it looks like Chuba Akpom is getting ready to come on for the home side.

SUB! England are indeed making a change, with Solly March making way for Chuba Akpom, who scored on his debut for the Young Lions last month.

Solanke controls a brilliant ball forward from Ward-Prowse, turning towards the Switzerland box looking to get his shot away, but Swift, who is waiting to his left, was offside, so the referee intervenes. England have continued much as they were in the first half, dominating possession, but not creating much with it.

Akanji is forced to concede a corner as Swift looks to pounce from close range, but Ward-Prowse's delivery from the set piece is straight into the keeper's hands. The Swiss captain really hasn't had much to do between the posts.

SUB! Switzerland are making their second change as Olivier Custodio makes his debut, taking over from Musa Araz.

CHANCE! England are starting to show a little more urgency as Loftus-Cheek tries to get a shot away after being played in by Solanke, but it's turned behind for a corner. The home side can't make the most of it though, as Calum Chambers is penalised for a shove on Gulen as the ball comes in.

Switzerland still look dangerous when they have the ball at their feet though, with Zakaria making another run on the counter-attack. He loses his footing in the penalty area though, eventually leaving England to scramble it clear. The 18-year-old has been one of the busiest players for Switzerland this evening.

Swift wins a free kick when he's tackled late on Bertone, allowing him to take it quickly in a bid to set up Ward-Prowse for a quick attacking, but the home side don't have enough players forward, leaving the visitors to get the ball clear.

SUB! Ruben Loftus-Cheek heads off for England, with Sunderland's Duncan Watmore taking his place.

CHANCE! Watmore almost makes an immediate impact for the hosts, spotting some space from the edge of the box, but his curling finish is just wide of the top corner. What an opportunity for the substitute!

Tempers flare as Switzerland are unhappy England don't put the ball out while one of the visiting players is down injured. It doesn't appear to be a head injury, so the referee was happy to let play continue, but the Swiss side were angry, and the officials have to step in to separate the two sides.

BOOKINGS! The referee dishes out two yellow cards following the skirmish, with Nathaniel Chalobah and Martin Angha both going in the book. Meanwhile, Haris Tabakovic appears to have recovered from the injury that left him on the ground and resulted in the players clashing in the first place.

PENALTY TO ENGLAND!

BOOKING! Yvon Nganoma rushes off his line to try to stop Watmore getting his shot away, and he gets nothing on the ball, conceding the spot kick.

GOAL! England Under-21s 1-1 Switzerland Under-21s (James Ward-Prowse PEN.)

It's a clinical spot kick from James Ward Prowse as the captain hammers the ball to the right hand side of the target. Nganoma dived the right way, but just couldn't stretch far enough to keep it out. Ward-Prowse now has five goals for the Unders, and two in this qualifying campaign, both of which have come from the penalty spot.

GOAL! England Under-21s 2-1 Switzerland Under-21s (Duncan Watmore)

What an impact Duncan Watmore has had. Just a few minutes after winning the penalty that got England back on level terms, the Sunderland striker has put the home side ahead, with Matt Targett squaring the ball to the forward for a shot from the edge of the box, which takes a deflection on it's way into the back of the net. That's Watmore's first goal at this level for England.

SUB! England have made their final change following the goal, with Jake Forster-Caskey coming on for Solanke.

SUB! Switzerland are sending on a fresh set of legs up front as Albian Ajeti takes the place of Lemi Zakaria.

BOOKING! The players have to be separated again as Targett reacts angrily to a late challenge from Untersee, which earns the Swiss player a booking.

England look a different team to the one that played the first 75 minutes as they are finishing the match with plenty of pace and intent, while Switzerland look shell-shocked. There are four minutes of stoppage time for England to hold on to the lead.

GOAL! England Under-21s 3-1 Switzerland Under-21s (Chuba Akpom)

Duncan Watmore has been just sensational since coming on just 15 minutes ago, and he's involved in the goal yet again, rounding the defender before cutting it back to Chuba Akpom, who slices it into the bottom corner to surely put the win beyond doubt for England.

CHANCE! Switzerland just can't keep Watmore off the ball as he picks it up again before drifting inside. The crowd urge him to shoot from 25 yards out, and he obliges, but this time the finish isn't there for the Sunderland forward.

FULL TIME: England Under-21s 3-1 Switzerland Under-21s

What a comeback from England; the home side score three goals late on to come from behind and beat Switzerland, taking control of Group 9 in their 2017 Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign. Duncan Watmore really made the difference for the home side, creating two goals and scoring one in a 15-minute performance off the bench for the Young Lions.

That's all from this match, but stick around to see if the Republic of Ireland can qualify for Euro 2016, and join us again tomorrow when England's senior side will be in action against France. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

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James Ward-Prowse of England during the International friendly match between England U21 and USA U23 at Deepdale on September 3, 2015 in Preston, England
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