Youth internationals: Debut goal for Bischoff

There were five Arsenal youngsters on show during Tuesday night’s youth international matches. Read on for news of debuts for Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and also Amaury Bischoff, who marked the occasion with a goal.

Amaury Bischoff
Portugal U-21 3-1 Switzerland U-21
Tuesday, February 10
It took Amaury just four minutes of his full Under-21 debut to open his international goalscoring account. The midfielder capitalised on some slack defending to curl a superb effort in off the post to get Portugal on their way.  Tiago Pinto doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark, bursting in off the left-hand side to slam a shot past the goalkeeper. Yazalde made it three after 59 minutes before Igor pulled one back for Switzerland five minutes from time.

Kieran Gibbs
England U-21 2-3 Ecuador XI
Tuesday, February 10
Kieran played the last half hour as an experienced Ecuador side fought back from two goals down to win in Malaga. Middlesbrough’s Adam Johnson and Tottenham’s Fraizer Campbell both struck before the interval to hand Stuart Pearce’s men a two-goal advantage. However, a superb fightback from an Ecuador side containing Everton’s 26-year-old midfielder Segundo Castillo, turned the game on its head. Joffre Guerron and Pablo Palacios struck twice in two second-half minutes to level matters before Man City striker Felipe Caicedo hit the winner eight minutes from time. Gibbs replaced Joe Mattock on the hour-mark and turned in a solid performance on the left of defence.

Jack Wilshere, Henri Lansbury, Fran Merida
England U-19 0-3 Spain U-19
Tuesday, February 10
Jack Wilshere played the full 90 minutes of his Under-19 debut alongside captain Henri Lansbury as England were comprehensively beaten by Fran Merida’s Spain at Dean Court, Bournemouth. A mix-up in the England defence allowed Juventus winger Iago Falque to slot Spain into a fifth-minute lead. Lansbury almost equalised within moments, but his bouncing shot was well saved by Diego Marino. The Arsenal duo combined well over a free kick in the 16th minute with Wilshere shooting narrowly over. The visitors then doubled their lead 15 minutes later when Jordi Pablo arrowed a ferocious drive into the top left-hand corner from 25 yards. Fran Merida was replaced at half time by Raul Ruiz and he added Spain’s third shortly after the hour-mark.

[Wednesday, February 11, 2009]

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