(Reuters) – England edged Spain 1-0 in the Under-21 European Championship final on Saturday to lift the title for the first time in 39 years thanks to a goal from Curtis Jones in Batumi, Georgia.
Lee Carsley’s side executed a flawless campaign that did not see them concede a single goal, with five-time winners Spain unable to find the back of the net in the final.
Jones broke the stalemate four minutes into first-half stoppage time when Cole Palmer’s free kick was deflected off his back and into the net.
Abel Ruiz thought he had equalised six minutes after the break with a header from a free kick, but VAR ruled he was offside.
Five minutes into stoppage time, Spain were awarded a penalty after Levi Colwill tackled Ruiz inside the box. However, keeper James Trafford became the hero when he saved Ruiz’s shot.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; editing by Clare Fallon)
