England came from behind to beat Montenegro 5-1 in Podgorica on Monday, as Ross Barkley played a crucial role for the Three Lions.
Match Events
17' GOAL! Montenegro 1-0 England (Vesovic)
With their first attack, the hosts cut England open, who show a worrying lack of organisation at the heart of their backline.
After Hudson-Odoi loses a header, Vesovic cheekily nutmegs Keane on the edge of the box and it opens up for him on his right with Maguire nowhere. He steadies himself and bends a cute finish from 15 yards past Pickford.
30' GOAL! Montenegro 1-1 England (Keane)
The defender atones for his error with a bullet header to level it up!
Walker wins his team a foul on the right wing. Barkley takes charge of the situation and bends in a fantastic set-piece which is gagging to be attacked.
Keane rises like a salmon at the back stick and powers a header into the bottom corner. His first goal for his country - at a crucial time, too.
38' GOAL! Montenegro 1-2 England (Barkley)
Hudson-Odoi marks his debut with an assist! He looks far more comfortable off the left and cuts in after a nice pass from Kane. Montenegro back off and he looks to curl one towards the far corner.
As the defence are so deep, Barkley gets into the six-yard box and is on hand to poke home from four yards out.
59' GOAL! Montenegro 1-3 England (Barkley)
That should be the game. Barkley grabs his second with a crisp finish.
This time Sterling shows his skill down the right, twisting and turning his man before rolling a ball across goal which somehow is missed by Savic and Barkley has all the time in the world to curl home from 10 yards.
Southgate asked him to be more positive in his play and he's answered the call. Two goals and an assist.
71' GOAL! Montenegro 1-4 England (Kane)
Hudson-Odoi almost puts Keane in trouble with a loose pass which gives Montenegro a sniff. They then lose the ball and Henderson plays a wonderful ball in behind for Sterling to chase.
He waits for Kane in the middle and slides one across for him. The skipper doesn't miss from eight yards. England have now scored nine in two games this week. Ruthless.
81' GOAL! Montenegro 1-5 England (Sterling)
Henderson has been outstanding with his distribution. He threads a perfect ball in behind the full-back and Sterling is away, one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
In his current form, there's only going to be one result. Goal. He nutmegs Petkovic with a cool finish.
Match Report
Ross Barkley was decisive with two goals and an assist as England thrashed Montenegro 5-1 in Podgorica on Monday to make it two wins from as many games in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Barkley – like full debutants Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi – was starting due to injuries, and he took full advantage of his opportunity, inspiring the rampant Three Lions by having a hand in three goals.
Marko Vesovic's well-taken opener had England on the back foot early on, but they went into the break ahead thanks to Michael Keane's first international goal and an instinctive finish from Barkley, who set up the equaliser.
England's play became sloppy at times early in the second period but Barkley effectively ended Montenegro's chances just before the hour, before Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling wrapped up the victory to add to Friday's 5-0 demolition of the Czech Republic at Wembley.
Line-ups
Montenegro XI: Petkovic, Stojkovic, Savic, Simic, Tomasevic, Marusic, Ivanic, Vukcevic, Vesovic, Beciraj, Mugosa
Subs: Mijatovic, Ljuljanovic, Boljevic, Kopitovic, Bakic, Jankovic, Djordjevic, Jovovic, Kajevic, Kosovic, Scekic, Radunovic
England XI: Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Keane, Rose, Rice, Barkley, Alli, Hudson-Odoi, Sterling, Kane.
Subs: Heaton, Butland, Trippier, Henderson, Tarkowski, Chilwell, Ward-Prowse, Sancho, Wilson.
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