Europe majestic in Meridian opener
Tuesday 27 February 2007
e-mail
Print
Digg
Save
Manuel Fischer celebrates scoring his second and Europe's fourth (©Sportsfile)
Europe's Under-18 selection produced a scintillating display of attacking football to sweep aside their African counterparts and take a firm grip on the 6th UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup in Barcelona.
First-half flurry
Four goals in the first 38 minutes were the foundations for Europe's victory, with Aarón Ñiguez giving them an early lead before German striker Manuel Fischer twice found the net and Ramahlwe Mphahlele put through his own goal. Although Cameroon's Dipanda Pierrick got Africa on the scoresheet with a well-worked goal in the half's final seconds, Bojan Krkić came off the bench to add a fifth a minute past the hour before Aleksandr Prudnikov rounded off an impressive evening's work for Iñaki Sáez's side in the final minute.
Perfect start
Europe began at breakneck speed and, having threatened within the opening seconds, it was little surprise when they took the lead in the third minute. Captain Jan Hable was the architect, with the defence unable to properly clear his right-wing cross and allowing Aarón to fire high past Habib Tounsi. The right flank proved a fruitful source for the European side throughout the opening 45 minutes with Marko Marin a particular threat, drilling one shot narrowly wide in the 13th minute. Aarón then forced Tounsi into a smart low stop, but the goalkeeper was beaten again in the 22nd minute, failing to hold Marin's cross and Fischer turned in from close range.
Fischer prize
It was three five minutes later with Marin's cross again doing the damage, although Fischer's shot needed an unfortunate deflection off Mphahlele to totally wrongfoot Tounsi. The two Germans combined again for the fourth goal seven minutes before half-time, Marin crossing for Fischer to turn the ball into the net at the second attempt. The African side had shown glimpses of their attacking threat, however, and deservedly pulled one back before the interval as Etienne Emmanuel Eto'o produced a clever turn to give substitute Felix Donkor the chance to slide a perfect pass for the advancing Pierrick to beat Evgeni Pomazan.
Bojan bonus
After such a breathless first period, perhaps unsurprisingly the second began in more sedate fashion, although the noise levels increased when FC Barcelona forward Bojan restored Europe's four-goal margin just past the hour. A swift counterattack culminated in Prudnikov setting his fellow half-time replacement in on goal and the Spanish forward – whose five goals in last summer's UEFA European Under-17 Championship all came as a substitute – duly made no mistake. Prudnikov made the final score 6-1 with a fine piece of skill in the 90th minute, helping Europe establish a comfortable cushion ahead of Thursday's second leg.
©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.
