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England Exit Euros
Written by Newcastle Utd
Newcastle goalkeeper Paul Woolston saved a penalty but England were knocked out of the European Under-17 Championships by Russia
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Paul Woolston saved a penalty but holders England were knocked out of the UEFA European Under-17 Championships at the quarter-finals stage on Saturday.
Newcastle goalkeeper Woolston had only conceded once in three group games and kept his place for the last-eight clash against Russia in Bulgaria.
And he was called into action in the opening exchanges as he tipped a Yegor Denisov shot around the post.
Then the Young Lions were awarded a spot-kick when Arsenal teenager Stephy Mavididi was fouled but Russian keeper Aleksandr Maksimenko saved from Nathan Holland before Mavididi's follow-up rebounded back off the woodwork.
And five minutes later, Aleksei Tataev headed home what proved to be the only goal of the game - although England argued that the whole of the ball had not crossed the line.
The luckless Holland hit the bar in the second half before Russia were presented with an opportunity to seal the win when Denisov went down under Tayo Edun's challenge.
Woolston made a great save from Boris Tsygankov, but England couldn't force an equaliser and Edun was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.
John Peacock's side will now meet fellow losing quarter-finalists Spain in a play-off on Tuesday to try and secure a place at the Under-17 World Cup finals in Chile this October.