England could not find their way past a dogged Turkey side

Turkey U21s 1-0 England U21s

England's disappointing Euro 2004 Under-21 campaign fizzled out with a lacklustre defeat at the hands of Turkey in Istanbul.

A single goal by Fatih Sonkaya after just two minutes was enough to secure maximum points for Turkey, who will now go to the finals in Portugal as strong contenders.

To make matters worse for the visitors, defender Glen Johnson was sent off in the dying minutes after being awarded two yellow cards in quick succession.

England had already blown their chances of qualification by losing 2-1 to Portugal last month.

David Platt made six changes for the game with Turkey, with Middlesbrough defender Andrew Davies and Portsmouth's Matthew Taylor lining up in a new-look defence.

But England's backline was breached ater just two minutes, when Turkey defender Sonkaya drilled a low shot beyond Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant from a tight angle.

KEY MOMENTS 2 mins: Sonkaya breaks free down the right and scores to put Turkey ahead 6 mins: Jagielka hits the cross-bar with a looping effort 71 mins: Wright-Phillips shoots wide after a brilliant run 80 mins: Defoe one-on-one with keeper but his shot is stopped

The home side continued to press forward, with Okan Koc looking the home side's chief threat.

England had just one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, Phil Jagielka's looping ball back into the area clattering against the cross-bar in the sixth minute.

Shola Ameobi and Johnson had chances to equalise before Shaun Wright-Phillips went agonisingly close on 71 minutes.

The Manchester City midfielder jinked his way through the Turkish defence only to clip his right-foot shot just inches wide of the left-hand post.

Jerman Defoe had another opportunity to salvage a point in the 80th minute, but he blasted his shot straight at the Turkish keeper.

Johnson was then dismissed six minutes from time. His first yellow card was awarded for dissent, the second for a foul on Sinan Kaloglu.

England U21:

Grant, Johnson, Taylor, Sidwell, Davies, Jagielka, Wright-Phillips, Jenas, Ameobi, Defoe, Prutton. Subs: Ridgewell, Burch, Whittingham, Reo-Coker, Ambrose, Bent, Ashton.

Turkey U21:

Biler, Sonkaya, Balci, Cetin, Mercimek, Toroman, Aslan, Sahin, Altintop, Inceman, Koc. Subs: Demirel, Yavuz, Usta, Sumer, Korkmaz, Sarioglu, Kaloglu.