England U21 1-1 France U21

Ambrose's strike could be vital heading into the second leg

Darren Ambrose rescued a draw for the England U21s in the first leg of their European Championship play-off against France at White Hart Lane.

Anthony Le Tallec had put the visitors ahead with a vital away goal when he sidefooted in a near-post shot.

Darren Bent and Tom Huddlestone both had headers cleared off the line for England before Ambrose struck in front of a record 34,494 crowd for the U21s.

Ambrose slid in to score after Peter Whittingham's scuffed shot across goal.

The equaliser came as a reward for England's late surge after Le Tallec's opener had sparked the home side into life.

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Bent had a header brilliantly cleared off the line by Ronald Zubar as the home side pressed for a leveller before the striker disappointingly volleyed over from close range.

It seemed England would head to Nancy for the return leg needing to overturn a deficit when Huddlestone's effort was also desperately cleared by France before Ambrose saved his side's blushes.

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England U21 manager Peter Taylor:
"I'm pleased because I know we can do 10 times better.

"I told them I was delighted with the way they worked to get a draw and I know all of them can play better than they played.

"That's the positive thing, when we go over there we have to say that to ourselves, I think we can get an away win.

"The character and the attitude of the players was excellent because we kept going and created chances."

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England: Carson, Ryan Taylor, Whittingham, Dawson, Ferdinand, Huddlestone, Milner (Ashton 79), Ambrose, Cole, Bent, Richardson.
Subs Not Used: Onuoha, Camp, Davies, Hoyte, Welsh, Moore.

Booked: Richardson, Dawson, Whittingham.

Goals: Ambrose 88.

France: Gavanon, Sagna, Clichy (Berthold 45), Zubar, Badiane, Mavuba, Faubert, Toulalan (Didot 23), Briand, Ribery (Bourillon 84), Le Tallec.
Subs Not Used: Faty, Mandanda, Fauverge, Sinama Pongolle.

Booked: Faubert, Briand.

Goals: Le Tallec 47.

Att: 34,494

Ref: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden).