Late-on Baines boosts England U21s

By MARTIN HARDY

Last updated at 22:57 06 October 2006

Under 21s: England 1 Germany 0

Leighton Baines will strike few sweeter or more timely shots than the one which could give Peter Taylor a victorious swansong.

Taylor is likely to be replaced by a full-time manager if England make it to the European Championship finals.

But he will leave a happy man if his young side carry this form to Leverkusen for the second leg on Tuesday. Baines waited until 13 minutes from time to unleash a venomous drive from 30 yards that finally had the beating of the outstanding Michael Rensing.

Taylor said: "So far, so good. I'm very pleased to have won the game. I thought it might be 0-0. We wasted some great chances. Still, what a goal it was to win it. Perhaps we are slight favourites now, but they are a very good side, as everyone could see."

Until Baines hit his thunderbolt, it had looked for all the world like another night of frustration.

Remember Rensing's name, as in years to come it could fit alongside Oliver Kahn as one of Germany's great goalkeepers.

There was something all too familiar for long spells about a German spirit that refused to buckle. They did not play well. They could not match England's passion, passing or the deftness of a young side who ooze confidence. Yet their resilience was typically Teutonic and, even though England should have been well in front by half-time, Rensing proved invincible.

Tom Huddlestone and Micah Richards had tried their hand in the early minutes, Tottenham's Huddlestone drawing a neat save from Rensing to his right and Manchester City's Richards then heading wide at the left post.

But it was from the quarter-hour mark that there was real intent in England's play.

Only the heavy touch of Theo Walcott denied them an opener at that point. The Arsenal youngster lost control as he broke through a cluster of German defenders following good work by David Nugent.

Four minutes later a fine ball from Baines had his opposite number Patrick Ochs in all kinds of trouble. Ochs lost the ball in the air and with his first touch Wayne Routledge went past him and unleashed a fine, angled drive that was blocked by an excellent challenge from Marvin Matip.

Germany's responses were limited to a few shots from distance. Kevin-Prince Boateng ballooned one over the bar from 25 yards and Mario Gomez rounded off tidy interplay with Aaron Hunt, the Werder Bremen striker with an English mother, by dragging a weak shot wide.

Normal service resumed after the half-hour. The ever-busy Nugent found Baines unmarked to his left and the Wigan man's drive forced a fine save from Rensing. A goal seemed inevitable and was only prevented by the brilliance of the Bayern Munich youngster.

In the 34th minute Matip inadvertently glanced a header from James Milner's cross to the unmarked Anton Ferdinand on the edge of the six yard area. This time Rensing had an acrobatic answer to the point-blank header and tipped it over.

England pushed for the decisive goal after the interval. Routledge appeared to have little on in the 58th minute but he fired a right-foot shot that cannoned back off the woodwork. Still Taylor's men would not give up. Five minutes later captain Nigel Reo-Coker was almost rewarded when his angled drive from close range was superbly saved by Rensing, diving to his right.

Steven Taylor headed on to the top of the German net and Milner fired over before Baines finally found the finish that not even Rensing could match.