England 1-0 Portugal: Anthony Gordon nets winning goal as Young Lions advance to U21 Euros semi-finals

England are through to the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship following a hard-fought 1-0 win over 2021 finalists Portugal.

Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon scored what proved the winning goal in the 34th minute as James Trafford kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet in the tournament.

England boss Lee Carsley made eight changes from the side that beat Germany in their final Group C game but only two from the side that overcame Israel, with Max Aarons and Jacob Ramsey coming in for Ben Johnson and Emile Smith-Rowe.

Portugal fashioned the first opportunity when James Garner sliced a clearance with Pedro Neto pouncing on the half-volley and forcing Trafford into a save at his near post.

Gordon tested Portugal goalkeeper Celton Biai with a first-time angled shot before breaking the deadlock from 10 yards out from a Morgan Gibbs-White cross.

It was a much-improved performance from Portugal after the restart as they played with more urgency. There was a scare for the retreating Young Lions when Levi Colwill’s clearance was blocked inside his own penalty area and deflected into the hands of a grateful Trafford.

Francisco Conceiceo almost levelled with a curling shot that drifted just wide as Portugal ramped up the pressure.

Portugal had two appeals for a penalty turned away and when Henrique Araujo’s header struck the crossbar, an equaliser felt extremely likely.

But England managed to weather the storm and even managed to safely negotiate six minutes of injury time to seal their place in the last four.

It is the 10th time they have reached the semi-finals but the first since 2017.