Young Lions edge out Portugal

Rose: Winning goal

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Danny Rose scored the only goal of the game as England Under 21s claimed victory over Portugal in their European Championship qualifier at Wembley.

The Spurs youngster produced a cool finish from close-range after Andy Carroll's knockdown had left him free in the penalty area.

It proved to be enough to dispatch Portugal and extend Stuart Pearce's side's unbeaten run to four qualifying matches.

England now sit three points behind Group Nine leaders Greece ahead of the trip to Lithuania on Tuesday.

A crowd of over 30,000 turned out at Wembley to watch the two sides play out a lively opening to the contest.

Blustery

However, the blustery conditions soon started to come into play as Portugal forward Ukra drifted over a looping cross that Watford keeper Scott Loach did well to palm away to safety.

England then went on the offensive and were unfortunate not to take the lead when a low cross through the six-yard box by Rose just eluded the outstretched boot of Newcastle front-man Carroll.

The Spurs man was involved again on 23 minutes when his header came back off the underside of the crossbar following a deep ball in from Manchester United prospect Tom Cleverley.

It was then Portugal's turn to miss a golden chance when Yazalde Gomes side-footed over having been played in by Bruno Pereirinha from the right.

England eventually went ahead five minutes before the break when defender Michael Mancienne, on loan at Wolves from Chelsea, sent a long ball forward into the Portugal box.

Carroll rose to flick the ball on and Rose dispatched the ball past Hugo Ventura with a neat finish.

Chances

England started the second half well, with a Carroll effort just missing the target from a Cleverley corner before Rose was played through the right channel, leaving Portugal captain Daniel Carrico to make a timely challenge.

At the other end, defender Miguel Vitor headed a corner onto the roof of the England net.

With 20 minutes left, there were appeals for a penalty when Cleverley went down under a challenge from Fabio Faria, but German referee Thorsten Kinhofer waved away the protests.

Pearce made a double change on 76 minutes, when Rose was given a well-deserved rest and replaced by Jack Cork, the 20-year-old on loan at Coventry from Chelsea, while Spurs defender Kyle Naughton came on for Mancienne.

England finished strongly and stretched the Portuguese defence as the visitors tired, but the home side had already done enough for victory.