Friday 5 September 2014 19:48, UK
Harry Kane came off the bench to score the only goal of England's 1-0 victory over Lithuania and will no doubt be hoping his match-winning effort caught the eye of Roy Hodgson.
It took the visitors a frustrating 80 minutes to break down a spirited Lithuania side to win their European Under-21 Championship qualifying tie in Kanaus, with Kane's late header proving the difference on a day where Hodgson's attacking options among his senior squad were severely weakened.
The Football Assoication announced earlier on Friday that Daniel Sturridge will miss the Euro 2016 qualifying opener in Switzerland following a thigh injury and that no replacement would be called up for the crocked Liverpool forward.
But Tottenham striker Kane will be hoping Hodgson had at least one eye on his efforts at the sparse Darius and Girenas Stadium as he continued his impressive goal-scoring feats at this level.
With England already qualified for next summer's tournament in the Czech Republic and Lithuania unable to make it, the game carried the distinct feeling of a dead-rubber and failed to shake that off for much of the contest.
Gareth Southgate named a strong starting line-up for the visitors too but, like their senior counterparts in Wednesday's friendly victory over Norway, they struggled to stamp their quality on an inferior side.
After failing to make an impression in the first half, England looked much sharper after the break as Saido Berahino came to life and Nathan Redmond hit the woodwork before Kane's headed effort settled the match.
England had started on the back-foot as a poor goal-kick from captain Jack Butland was picked up by Lithuania, but Tomas Birskys wasted a fine opportunity to give the hosts an unexpected lead as he lashed over from the edge of the area.
As Southgate's Young Lions searched for a breakthrough, Lithuania looked dangerous on the counter-attack and broke quickly after a James Ward-Prowse free-kick was easily cleared, with Ernestas Veliulis forcing a low save out of Butland on the half-hour mark.
The threat of the hosts continued with Lukas Baranauskas latching onto a cross from Ovidijus Verbickas only to see his close-range volley pushed away by Butland - who was proving to be the busier of the two goalkeepers.
With Nathaniel Chalobah and Tom Ince firing efforts wide before the interval, it was Saido Berahino - who scored twice in the 5-0 reverse fixture in October - who worked Tomas Svedkauskas fully for the first early in the second half.
The West Brom striker saw an angled shot pushed away - with Luke Garbutt's follow-up from distance easily held by the Lithuanian stopper before Berahino missed another chance moments later.
Norwich's Redmond saw his low effort hacked off the line as England began to turn the screw but the hosts looked lively whenever they got in and around Butland's goal and it was Baranauskas again causing concern as he arrowed a shot wide with the England skipper at full stretch.
Both Ince and Berahino came agonisingly close to turning home Garbutt's low cross but were left sprawled at the back post - with Southgate introducing Kane in place of Ben Gibson with 64 minutes gone as he looked to capitalise on England's domination.
The Tottenham forward was involved immediately as he flicked the ball on to Redmond, whose shot into the ground came back off the crossbar as the visitors came ever-closer to opening the scoring.
But England's long-awaited breakthrough finally came with 10 minutes remaining as Kane rose highest to glance a header home from Ward-Prowse's inch-perfect cross.
Much like Hodgson's senior side had dominated against Norway only to win 1-0, so Southgate's under-21s followed suit. But, for Kane, his fourth goal in six caps at this level could prove a catalyst for bigger things in the future - if not on Monday night in Basle.
A late Tim Vayrynen equaliser denied Wales victory against Finland in their penultimate game in this season's UEFA Under-21 qualifying campaign.
Robin Lod put the hosts ahead after 19 minutes in Turku before Wes Burns and Lee Evans brought Wales back into the match midway through the second half. However, Vayrynen's leveller three minutes from time handed both sides a point from a 2-2 draw.
Although Geraint Williams' team cannot progress from Group One, the emphasis was still on a strong finish - they end their campaign against Lithuania next Tuesday - to help with future ranking positions.
The hosts took the lead after 19 minutes when midfielder Lod collected Vayrynen's ball and put his side 1-0 up.
In the 65th minute Wales struck back with the first of two goals in a frantic five-minute spell.
Burns netted the equaliser from Morgan Fox's corner, then before Evans' free-kick turned the contest on its head.
followed up his side's first as he sent home his free-kick - conceded when Thomas Lam was cautioned - to hand the away side the lead for the first time.
However, Finland levelled three minutes from time as Vayrynen got on the end of Lam's corner.
The Republic of Ireland under-21s wrapped up their European qualifiying campaign with a 2-0 loss to Germany.
Noel King's men end Group Six with eight points from eight games.
Germany's goals came in the second half, with Philipp and Jonas Hofmann scoring within three minutes of each other.
Philipp Hofmann actually had a legal goal disallowed for offside in the sixth minute, so it was justice done when the Kaiserslautern man opened the scoring two minutes after half-time.
Jonas Hoffman - on loan at Mainz from Borussia Dortmund - then edged Germany further ahead three minutes later.
There would be no Irish response and they finish fourth in their group of five, with Germany runaway leaders.
