Moldova punish lacklustre England

Moldova stunned England by twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw in their opening 2006/07 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier.

Swiss happy
Theo Walcott and David Nugent had scored for the hosts but the visitors refused to lie down, equalising each time through Serghei Alexeev and Alexandru Zislis. Moldova next face Switzerland at home on 1 September, five days before the pool concludes as the Swiss entertaing England. The section winners will progress to October's play-offs for next summer's finals.

Early goal
Having never played a top-flight game for Arsenal FC, Walcott was a controversial inclusion for England's squad at the FIFA World Cup, where he did not play, yet the 17-year-old took just three minutes to become his country's youngest scorer at this level tonight, rising to head in a left-wing cross from Leighton Baines. Central defender Steven Taylor should have doubled England's lead early in the scond half but contrived to miss from two metres after excellent work from Nugent.

Brilliant finish
Alexeev then punished Taylor for a misjudged pass in the 75th minute, brilliantly chipping Scott Carson for Moldova's first goal against England at any level. It was no more than Moldova deserved, but just 62 seconds later Nugent headed in after good work by substitute Cameron Jerome. Moldova were not finished, though, and substitute Zislis side-footed in the final goal of the night with his first touch in the 86th minute.