Lescott In England U21 Action

Great Future
By Scott Cooper
September 6 2002

Joleon Lescott nearly kicked off his England U21 career with a goal after only playing for a short spell as he represented club and country at the Reebok Stadium.

Lescott was one of many players to make an appearance in the second half of the Englans U21 game at the Reebok tonight(Friday).

Stuart Parnaby, Joleon Lescott, Shola Ameobi, Matthew Etherington and Shaun Wright-Phillips all saw second half action and it was the diminutive Manchester City winger who would bring celebrations to the home side after England went one down just before the break.

Danko Lazovic collected the ball 30 yards from goal, set himself and rocketed ball past the helpless Kirkland. The goal was reward for some positive, slick first half moves by the Yugoslav's, who had defended patiently as England had the majority of the possession and then struck well on the break.

H.T 0-1

The second half was to be won by England. Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips scored a goal in the 75th minute to keep the game even.

Good work by Jermaine Jenas found Wright-Phillips in space on the right hand side of the penalty area, from where he powerfully shot low in to the far corner of the net. The coolness with which he found the target having only been on the field for a few minutes would have impressed manager David Platt.

England could have the won the game as Joleon Lescott out-jumped the 'keeper only for his header to clip the top of the crossbar. That would have been hard on Yugoslavia who gave a good account of themselves and tested the new look England side.