Nketiah smashes Shearer’s record
TURKEY U21 By JACK GAUGHAN
FINALLY, he broke the record. Eddie Nketiah had toiled for much of this, a night when England’s Under 21s were drawn into an ugly battle with Turkey. He had missed a penalty, striking the post with seven minutes remaining, and it seemed that surpassing Alan Shearer’s 13-goal haul at this level would have to wait for another night. But Nketiah still had time to make this his night, racing on to a through ball and, when nestled between two defenders, gunning for goal, there is usually only one outcome. The England skipper impishly dinked home, qualification for next year’s European Championships assured. Turkey were impetuous opponents, this a scrappy victory, yet Aidy Boothroyd has what he wanted: two glorified friendlies next month, rather than two important qualifiers. Those will offer a final chance to hone a squad that is expected to far exceed last year’s disappointment.
It was a trying evening with little flow due to a whistlehappy French referee Willy Delajod. Despite that, the hosts led after 17 minutes. Much of it was owed to the combination of James Justin and Ryan Sessegnon down the left, the latter dashing into the box, crossing for Nketiah, only for Huseyin Turkmen to divert past his goalkeeper at the near post. Nketiah then had one disallowed, while Aaron Ramsdale diverted Ahmet Canbaz’s long-range effort from danger. Sheffield United’s No 1 also reacted smartly to a swerving effort by Halil Dervisoglu. Drama followed eight minutes after half-time, Oliver Skipp’s under-hit pass leaving Ramsdale stranded and Dervisoglu capitalising, blatantly diving to the ground despite no contact. Without the assistance of VAR, Delajod grinned smugly as he awarded a ridiculous penalty, one Ramsdale saved from Dervisoglu with embarrassing ease down to his left. Ramsdale smirked back. Justice was done. Nketiah missed from the spot, then scored, before the villain, Dervisoglu, netted a stoppage-time consolation. ENGLAND (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Aarons, Godfrey, Guehi, Justin; Bellingham, Dasilva (Eze 63min), Skipp; HudsonOdoi (McNeil 85), Nketiah, Sessegnon. Subs not used: Austin, Bursik, Davies, Panzo, Surridge, B Williams, R Williams.