England Under 21s won their play-off against Wales 5-4 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at Villa Park.
Pearce's men qualify after 2-2 draw at Villa Park
England Under 21s won their European Championship play-off against Wales 5-4 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at Villa Park to reach next summer's finals in Sweden.
Leading 3-2 from Friday night's first leg at Ninian Park, Stuart Pearce's men were given a major fright as they again conceded two goals in a pulsating first half.
Aaron Ramsey's spectacular goal cancelled out Tom Huddlestone's opener, before Simon Church fired Wales ahead.
Sam Vokes' own goal 10 minutes before the break rescued England and the home side clung on in a tense second half after Huddlestone was sent off.
Confident start
England had made a confident start and took the lead after just 13 minutes when Huddlestone curled a low free-kick round Wales' defensive wall and past an unsighted Owain Fon Williams.
Joe Hart had to be alert at the other end to rush out of his area and clear a wayward Lee Cattermole pass before Church was able to latch onto the ball, but there was nothing the Manchester City goalkeeper could do in the 24th minute as Wales equalised in stunning fashion.
There seemed to be little danger as Ramsey picked up possession 25 yards out but the 17-year-old connected sweetly with a left-footed half-volley to send a ferocious, swerving effort into the top corner.
Church, who bagged a brace in the first leg, then put Wales 2-1 in front on the night four minutes later as he ran onto a precise pass from Ramsey and lifted a shot coolly over Hart.
Stuart Pearce reacted by bringing on Fabrice Muamba for Lee Cattermole and England looked to hit back as Adam Johnson's strike was bravely blocked by Neal Eardley.
England drew level again at 2-2 in the 35th minute when Jamie O'Hara's free-kick from the right was headed back across goal by Steven Taylor and deflected into the net by Vokes.
Fluent
Gabriel Agbonlahor was replaced by Fraizer Campbell at half-time and England briefly took control of proceedings again as they found a fluent rhythm.
Fon Williams appeared vulnerable in the Wales goal and dropped a menacing free-kick from Huddlestone to present a chance to Campbell, only for the referee to rule that the Stockport man had been impeded and award a free-kick to the visitors.
England were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when Huddlestone was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Darcy Blake.
Wales' spirits were lifted and they poured forward in the closing stages in an attempt to capitalise on their numerical advantage and take the tie to extra time.
They came agonisingly close in the 85th minute when Vokes' shot slid past Hart but ricocheted against the bottom of the post, and England then held firm to book their place in next summer's tournament in Sweden.
