ENGLAND remain unbeaten in Euro 2024 qualifying after beating Malta 2-0 at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s side took the lead through an own goal from Pepe after fantastic work from Phil Foden in the build-up.
Late in the second half, Harry Kane finished off a superb England move to double the Three Lions advantage.
Declan Rice thought he made it three just a minute later but the goal was ruled out for an offside.
- Match result: England 2-0 Malta
- England team: Pickford, Trippier, Tomori, Guehi, Maguire, Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Henderson, Foden, Kane, Rashford
- Malta team: Bonello, S. Borg, Pepe, J. Borg, J. Mbong, Yankam, Guillaumier, Teuma, Camenzuli, P. Mbong, Reid
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That’s all from Wembley
England defeated Malta 2-0 at Wembley to extend their undefeated streak in Group C.
The Three Lions opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Phil Foden’s cross from the right deflected off Enrico Pepe who netted a freak own-goal.
The hosts thought they got a penalty shortly before half-time when Harry Kane appeared to have been fouled by the visitors’ goalkeeper Henry Bonello who lunged with both arms but the referee booked the Bayern Munich star for diving instead.
Kane, though, managed to get his goal and seal the three points for England in the 75th minute.
Kyle Walker moved the ball from the right and found Foden in the penalty area, the Manchester City star switched to Bukayo Saka on the right and the Arsenal star found his captain who hit the back of the net.
England thought they got a third with a stunning effort by Declan Rice outside the box but Kane was caught offside as the ball went past him.
More from Southgate
England boss Gareth Southgate insists his players should have created more chances.
In the second half we could have scored more but they don’t really lose by fives and sixes.
They get a lot of men back.
We obviously didn’t create as many chances as I’d have liked to.
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate reacts
England boss Gareth Southgate admits the performance against Malta wasn’t up to standards.
It was a game that we didn’t start well, and I’ve been in football a long time, if you don’t start well it’s hard to pick the game up.
We got a goal out of nothing. The quality on the ball is not normally at that level, the players knew we could win the game at a canter and we didn’t extend ourselves as we normally would.
They’ve played so many matches and done such a brilliant job, I’m not going to hammer them for that.
We know we should be better, it was one of those days when we really didn’t get going
Gareth Southgate
Updated table
England, who have already booked their place in Euro 2024, remain top of Group C.
The Three Lions also remain undefeated with six wins in seven matches in the qualifying stage.
Malta, on the other hand, are still bottom of the table after losing their eighth and final qualifier.
More below:
England vs Malta stats
England dominated 75 per cent of possession against Malta at Wembley.
The Three Lions registered a total of 11 shots, but only three of them were on target.
The visitors, on the other hand, only managed four shots, all of which were on target.
More below:
FT: England 2-0 Malta
England defeated Malta at Wembley to extend their undefeated streak in Group C.
The Three Lions opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Phil Foden’s cross from the right deflected off Enrico Pepe who scored a freak own-goal.
The hosts thought they got a penalty shortly before half-time when captain Harry Kane appeared to have been fouled by the visitors’ goalkeeper Henry Bonello who lunged with both arms but the referee booked the Bayern Munich star for diving instead.
Kane, though, managed to get his goal and seal the three points in the 75th minute.
Kyle Walker moved the ball from the right and found Foden in the penalty area, the Manchester City star switched to Bukayo Saka on the right and the Arsenal star found the Tottenham hero who hit the back of the net.
England thought they got a third with a fantastic shot by Declan Rice outside the box but Kane was caught offside in the build-up.
FT: England 2-0 Malta
Peep!
That’s full-time at Wembley!!!
90+3 England 2-0 Malta
England are sealing their sixth victory in their group to extend their dominant undefeated streak.
The Three Lions doubled their lead with Kane and thought they got a third with Rice but the hosts’ captain was deemed offside…
90 England 2-0 Malta
Six more minutes of stoppage time to go.
Quite a few paper planes tonight at Wembley as the crowd boos…
88 England 2-0 Malta
Chance
England ace Alexander-Arnold tries a shot from distance, just outside the box, but Bonello palms it away.
85 England 2-0 Malta
Substitution
Another change from Malta boss Marcolini as Attard comes on for Joseph Mbong.
83 England 2-0 Malta
Chance!
Malta move the ball brilliantly down England’s half, the same way the hosts should have been doing more in the second half.
Yankam beeaks from the right and tries a powerful shot from a tight angle but sends it over the crossbar.
80 England 2-0 Malta
Ten more minutes to go, England have finally woken up and Wembley is feeling it.
Still plenty of time for more goals!
79 England 2-0 Malta
Substitution
Another double switch from Malta boss Marcolini as Muscat and Nwoko come on for Jean Borg and Reid.
78 England 2-0 Malta
No goal!!!
What a shame, that was a stunning finish from Rice, who picks up a beautiful ball by Alexander-Arnold and finishes from outside the area!
However, the goal is chalked off as Kane was involved from an offside position.
78 England 3-0 Malta
Goal!
Pending VAR decision…
75 England 2-0 Malta
There’s the England we all know and love! Amazing combination!!!
Walker moves the ball forward from the right, finds Foden in the penalty area, the Man City star passes to Saka on the right and he switches to Kane in the middle from where he hits the back of the net.
75 England 2-0 Malta
Goal!
England double their lead with Kane!!!
73 England 1-0 Malta
The good news for England is that Malta are not at all threatening…
That’s immense considering how fragile a 1-0 lead usually is…
70 England 1-0 Malta
England fans appear to be entertaining themselves with paper airpolanes amid a rather dull second half.
The linesman’s flag also appears to have broken, another highlight!
67 England 1-0 Malta
Chance
Another effort by England ace Alexander-Arnold but his shot goes over the crossbar.
65 England 1-0 Malta
Chance!
Finally a shot on target by England as Alexander-Arnold delivers a volley from the edge of the box that bounces off the ground and into Bonello’s arms.
65 England 1-0 Malta
Rashford couldn’t continue after the collision but received a warm ovation from the Wembley crowd.
Henderson, on the other hand, got booed again after his controversial Saudi Arabia move to Al-Ettifaq.
61 England 1-0 Malta
Substitution
England boss Southgate responds with another double change as Palmer and Rice replace Rashford, who can’t continue after that run-in with Alexander-Arnold, and Henderson.
61 England 1-0 Malta
Substitution
Malta boss Marcolini makes his first changes as Kristensen and London boy Jones, who plays for Notts County, come on for Guillaumier and Paul Ngong.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
