England’s Patrick Roberts (right) tries to find a way past Portugal captain Ruben Neves, of Portugal. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Portugal 0
England 2
Solanke 52; Roberts 74;

Portugal were yesterday taught a harsh lesson about the importance of taking their chances as England bounced back from a low-key first half to turn the tables on their opponent and advance to next Wednesday’s UEFA Under-17 Championship final.

On a wintry evening at Ta’ Qali, it was the Portuguese who lit up the proceedings in the first half with some delightful moves inspired by rising stars Diogo Goncalves and Alexandre Silva.

They enjoyed a terrific spell midway into the first half, fashioning a spate of chances and hitting the woodwork through Ruben Neves, but failure to convert their opportunities ultimately proved Portugal’s undoing.

England had initially struggled to live up to their billing as favourites but coach John Peacock’s positional adjustments transformed the team in the second half.

Substitute Joshua Onomah impressed in midfield, Patrick Roberts shone in flashes and Chelsea duo Dominic Solanke and Isaiah Brown combined speed and craft as they tore into the Portuguese defenders.

Peacock had made seven changes for the final Group A game against the Netherlands but he reverted to his strongest formation for this semi-final as the likes of goalkeeper Frederick Woodman, Solanke and exciting winger Roberts were restored to the first team.

The big guns in the Portugal squad, including captain Neves, and Benfica’s Silva, were back in the frame after being given a breather for the last group game against Germany.

It was England who shaded the early exchanges but on 15 minutes Portugal came agonisingly close to taking the lead.

Their pressing unsettled England as the impish Goncalo Rodrigues intercepted a pass in midfield and raced forward before serving Silva. The latter’s return pass found Rodrigues unmarked in the box but his effort was repelled by Woodman.

Portugal upped the ante with their technically-gifted players posing endless problems to the overworked England defenders.

Silva shot just wide after being released by Joao Carvalho as England were then reprieved by the crossbar when Neves’s stunning drive came off the woodwork.

Having survived Portugal’s onslaught, England regained a semblance of composure as the first half moved on. With Portugal bossing midfield, Peacock introduced Onomah for injured striker Adam Armstrong.

Four minutes from half-time, Solanke headed just wide from Jonjoe Kenny’s free-kick but, at the other end, Portugal were again left to curse their luck as Goncalves’s rasping drive cannoned off the post and into Woodman’s hands.

Eclipsed by the sprightly Portuguese for most of the first half, England needed to step up their game if they were to reverse the tide.

The early signs after the break were encouraging. Pushing forward from midfield, Onomah fired over from inside the box after receiving from Roberts.

England were now looking much more incisive. Their improvement was rewarded 12 minutes after the restart when defender Taylor Moore played an excellent ball to Solanke who strode into the box and chipped his effort over keeper Fabio Duarte.

Peixe’s boys looked rattled. England threatened to mete out further punishment when Brown squared to Solanke but he lost his balance and scrambled his ensuing shot wide.

There was another anxious moment for England when substitute Buta’s cross from the right soared into the box but Goncalves headed out from point blank.

Goncalves remained Portugal’s most dangerous player. The Benfica winger did well to cut inside the box after England had partially cleared a corner but his rising shot was high.

Portugal’s flat-out approach left them vulnerable at the back.

Gomez ventured forward from defence but his pass just eluded Brown. Roberts then curled his shot wide after good work by Solanke but the Fulham winger killed off Portugal six minutes from time.

Veering inside from the right, Roberts unleashed a shot that dropped into the net after taking a deflection.

Pedro Delgado, who has just entered the fray, almost handed Portugal a lifeline but his grounder was wide.

In stoppage time, Goncalves might have scored a consolation goal but blasted over from underneath Woodman’s goal.

Portugal
F. Duarte, H. Santos, R. Dias, Y. Ribeiro (74 P. Empis), R. Neves, D. Goncalves, G. Rodrigues (54 Buta), A. Silva, R. Sanches, F. Ferreira, J. Carvalho (88 P. Delgado).

England
F. Woodman, J. Kenny, Tafari Moore (72 M. Egbo), R. Ledson, J. Gomez, A. Armstrong (35 J. Onomah), D. Solanke, I. Brown, L. Cook, Taylor Moore, P. Roberts (77 C. Cooke).

Referee: Alexander Harkam (Austria).

Attendance: 2,107.