Racist chants mar England victory
Leroy Lita scored England's opening goal
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Monday, 18, Jun 2007 10:47
A number of racist chants from Serbian supporters marred a 2-0 victory for England's under-21s, which saw them progress to the semi-finals of the European Championships.
Uefa is set to investigate the chants, which prompted an announcement over the public-address system at the De Goffert Stadion in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, requesting that the chants stop or those responsible leave the ground.
Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha was targeted from the stands while Arsenal full-back Justin Hoyte was also allegedly abused by the Serbian players in the tunnel.
An early goal from Reading striker Leroy Lita opened the scoring for England in the fifth minute, as the player reacted first to Newcastle defender Steven Taylor's towering header at the far post.
Then more controversy followed later in the match as Matt Derbyshire scored England's second while Serb defender Slobodan Rajkovic was lying injured.
Rajkovic had picked up an ankle injury but, as is now common practice in the Premiership, England played on and the Blackburn Rovers forward was played through on goal and coolly slotted the ball into the far corner.
However, as he ran off to celebrate he was rounded on by several red shirts as the Serbian players were incensed that the ball had not been put into touch.
Nevertheless the goal stood and despite a sending off for Tottenham Hotspur's Tom Huddlestone, who came on as a late substitute, England held on for the win which sees them through to the last four where they will play hosts Holland on Wednesday evening.