WC Qualifiers: Grealish bags first international goal as England rout Andorra

Jack Grealish completed a 5-0 routing of Andorra in the hands of England as the Manchester City midfielder scored his first international goal on Saturday in Group I match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. 

Ben Chilwell and Bukayo Saka scored in the first half against the side ranked 156th in the world then Tammy Abraham, James Ward-Prowse and Grealish scored after the break.

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Andorra were the second-best team throughout the match as England opened the scoring early through Chilwell. The adventurous Chelsea fullback got into the opposition box and was set up by Jadon Sancho for a simple tap-in.

Just ahead of the half-time whistle, Saka doubled the lead after bringing down a lobbed chip from Phil Foden and smashing it past Andorra’s keeper Josep Gomes. In the first 45 minutes, England enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and had nine goal attempts.

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Phil Foden was the architect of both first-half goals, providing the ball for Chilwell’s first international goal and then Saka’s thumping strike.

After the break, England continued the domination as Abraham, making his first international start in four years, turned home a cross from Sancho in the 59th minute.

The Europe Group I match saw Ukraine’s Kateryna Monzul become the first woman to referee a senior England men’s match.

Grealish was brought down in the box and Ward-Prowse scored from the rebound after his penalty was saved.

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Grealish scored his first England goal in the 86th, striking low beyond Gomes after collecting a long throw from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

England kept a national record 12th clean sheet in a calendar year.

With only the group winners automatically qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar next year, England is four points ahead of second-placed Albania.

Albania won at Hungary 1-0 through Armando Broja’s goal in a stadium closed to fans due to a racist punishment.

Poland is a point further back in third place after routing San Marino 5-0.

Just 2,285 were in attendance at Estadi Nacional, where the hosts worked overnight to repair the damage caused by the touchline fire around the TV gantry area on the eve of the game.

With inputs from the Associated Press