Defiant Irish down England

Republic of Ireland 3-2 England
The Republic of Ireland came from two goals down to beat England 3-2 and seal a place in Sunday's third-place play-off by coming second in Group B of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Germany slip needed
Both sides took to the sun-drenched pitch of the Hønefoss stadium knowing that they were reliant on Germany slipping up against Belgium to have any chance of reaching Sunday’s final against Spain.

Bragging rights at stake
However with local bragging rights at stake, to say nothing of a place in Sunday's bronze medal match and FIFA World Youth Cup qualification, it was always going to be a fiercely contested game whatever happened in Lillestrøm.

Ireland chances
Both sides attacked the game from the off, with Ireland creating the better chances early on as a Liam Kearney shot forced Lee Grant to save well low down while Jonathan Daly headed into the side-netting after getting on the end of a high cross. A slip in defence by England's Stephen Capper then gave Sean Thornton an opening but Grant saved again.

England take the lead
Against the run of play England took the lead on eleven minutes, as Darren Carter ran on to Michael Chopra's through ball and poked it past Brian Murphy. The goal gave the English added confidence and they began to find their rhythm in midfield, with the lively Stephen Cooke coordinating many of their best moves.

Ashton doubles lead
Clear-cut chances at either end were few and far between. However in added time of the first half, England doubled their lead after goalkeeper Murphy, who had picked up a knock earlier in the half, got to the ball second and brought down England's John Welsh in the area. Dean Ashton duly stroked his third goal of the tournament from the penalty spot.

Murphy makes way
Murphy made way at half-time for Wayne Henderson, as England, mindful of the fact that Germany were drawing 1-1, looked to go in search of the goal that would put them into the final if the score stayed the same in Lillestrøm.

Dramatic comeback
Instead they found themselves on the receiving end of a dramatic comeback by the Irish. On 54 minutes Ryan Garry committed a foul in the penalty box and Daly sent Grant the wrong way from the spot to register his third goal of the tournament.

Ireland boss the midfield
Ireland were increasingly bossing the midfield exchanges by now, and they drew level in the 73rd minute when Paisley powered a header into the net from a free-kick. Now fully in command, the green shirts poured forward in numbers and took the lead within a minute of the restart when a header from Stephen Kelly looped over Grant.

Irish in party mood
England made a rash of substitutions but there was no denying the resurgent Irish, who chased every lost cause, and sucked the life out of any England attack. On the final whistle the sizeable Irish contingent in the crowd went into party mood, despite the news that Germany's 2-1 victory against Belgium had denied them a place in the final.

Slovakia await
Nevertheless Ireland will still be a part of Sunday's showpiece at the Ullevaal, as they square off with Slovakia for third place. Meanwhile for England there is the consolation of knowing that they have secured third place in the group, and with it qualification for the FIFA World Youth Championship.

Consolation achieved
"That was the main aim," England coach Martin Hunter said after the game. "If we could have got to the final that also would have been great but I thought the Irish played well in the second half and once again we've surrendered a cushion of a two-goal lead so I'm very disappointed about that."