SPAIN 2, ENGLAND 3 (UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE)
England survived a second half onslaught from a shell-shocked Spain to win 3-2, despite another late surge by the Spanish, and earn an invaluable three points in the UEFA Nations League as Raheem Sterling finally broke his international goal drought.
England raced into a 3-0 lead after a first half goal deluge to match the rain in Spain at Seville making light of their recent difficulties in goal by scoring all three shots on target with Sterling scoring either side of Marcus Rashford before the break.
It was the first time Spain had conceded three goals in a competitive home fixture and they pulled one back through Paco Alcacer soon after half time before England survived a massive penalty shout against Jordan Pickford, survived a multitude of Spain shots on goal, with the home side hitting the crossbar, but Sergio Ramos’ late late goal couldn’t prevent England from earning their first victory in Spain since February 1987 when Gary Lineker scored all four goals in a 4-2 win at the Bernabeu.
Gareth Southgate had two enforced changes to make after John Stones and Jordan Henderson were ruled out through suspension. Joe Gomez and Harry Winks replaced them while Kieran Trippier came in for Kyle Walker as England largely stuck with the same side that drew 0-0 in Croatia.
Eric Dier was booked early on as Spain threatened to score first but it was England who broke the deadlock and in some style with a fantastic opening goal by Raheem Sterling.
Raheem Sterling breaks his England goal drought in style
Sterling finally broke his England goal drought with his first goal in 28 appearances after 16 minutes. The City winger took just one touch to set himself up after Jordan Pickford’s forward pass to went to Harry Kane in midfield. The England captain swept the ball out to Marcus Rashford whose cross took out the entire Spain defence allowing Sterling the time to lash the ball into the top corner past David De Gea.
The cathartic reaction from the wide-man said it all after a three years and 1825 minutes since his last goal – at home to Estonia in the Euro 2016 qualifiers – on October 9, 2015.
Spain were roused and redoubled their efforts with Pickford dropping a free kick and being bailed out by Kane while Harry Winks was lucky to not be punished for his own mistake.
Pickford started another move with another powerful ball up which was eventually won by a tenacious Kane. One quick turn and an early pass into the box later and Rashford only needed one touch before beating his Manchester United team mate – his own wastefulness from the Croatia game put behind him in the space of minutes rather than years – for his fourth England goal in his last six starts.
England were under pressure but they were the better in the break, stealing possession just 30 yards out, before the ball went into the box again from Ross Barkley. Harry Kane brought it down and Sterling gobbled up his second chance in the space of 13 minutes from close range.
Marco Asensio’s turn and shot was deflected into the side netting off the post by Joe Gomez as Spain came out in the second half seeking to up their game after a disastrous first half.
Spain got away with a foul on Sterling on the edge of their area before Saul’s shot was saved by Pickford but Luis Enrique had had enough made a couple of changes. Paco Alcacer replaced Iago Aspas while Saul Niguez was replaced by Dani Ceballos.
In-form Alcacer had pulled one back within seconds of coming onto the pitch, getting in front of Kane and glancing Asensio’s cross inside the unguarded far post and with just over half an hour to play it was game on and thoughts of England’s home game against Spain in which the visitors levelled matters with two late goals started to come to mind.
Jordan Pickford escapes red card
Pickford was lucky to get away without conceding a penalty and potentially a red card after losing the ball while trying a Cruyff turn and appearing to commit a foul in his area with a desperate lunge to win it back off Rodrigo.
England had been all action but now the supreme effort was starting to show in Southgate’s team who hadn’t had a shot on target since their first half goals. Marcos Alonso thrashed the ball over the before Alvaro Morata replaced Rodrigo in Spain’s last throw of the dice.
England braced for a late onslaught in response with Kyle Walker introduced for Barkley but Sergio Busquets should have been more heavily punished for pulling back Sterling as the visitors retained a speedy counter attack.
Pickford made a good save from Alcacer as the Spanish siege was well under way in the last ten minutes of the exhilarating contest with Asensio shooting wide as the home side got closer.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was brought on to shore up the right side, replacing Kieran Trippier while Nathaniel Chalobah came on for his first senior England cap – replacing Winks with England hanging on grimly as shots rained in from Spain who had captured almost 73% of the possession, firing in 20 shots on goal to England’s paltry 5.
Asensio’s shot was blocked by Pickford and bounced off Morata just wide as England continued to live dangerously right till the end, even watching Marcos Alonso’s chance hit crossbar before Sergio Ramos’ last gasp goal from another Spain cross was the last action in their first home defeat in 39 competitive games since June 2003.
- The result left England in a solid second position with 4 points in their UEFA Nations League table. Spain stayed on 6 points while Croatia were firmly at the bottom of the league with just 1 point.
- The Croats host Spain on Thursday, November 15 before travel to Wembley for the final league game to play England on Sunday, November 18.
- England could qualify for the play-offs if they beat or match Spain’s points total. Depending on Croatia’s result against Spain, England could avoid relegation to League B by avoiding defeat against Croatia.
MATCH STATS – Spain 2, England 3
Spain: De Gea, Jonny, Nacho, Ramos, Alonso, Alcantara, Busquets, Niguez (Ceballos 57), Aspas (Alcacer 57), Rodrigo (Morata 72), Asensio
Booked: Ramos, Jonny, Ceballos
Goals: Alcacer 58, Ramos 90+7
England: Pickford, Trippier (Alexander-Arnold 85), Gomez, Maguire, Chilwell, Dier, Winks (Chalobah 90+1), Barkley (Walker 76), Sterling, Rashford, Kane
Booked: Dier, Winks, Maguire, Rashford
Goals: Sterling 16, 38; Rashford 29