England have maintained a 100% record in Euro 2024 qualifiers as they recorded a second resounding victory on Sunday, March 26.
Gareth Southgate opened his Euro 2024 qualifiers with a jinx-breaker, harvesting a pound of flesh against the Italians with a 1-2 victory right in front of their home fans at the Maradona Stadium in Naples.
Ukraine lost their opening qualifiers 2-1 to the North Macedonians. Taking on the Three Lions on Sunday was another tough test for the war-ravaged country.
Starting Lineup
England: Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell, Rice, Henderson, Bellingham, Maddison, Saka, Kane.
Ukraine: Trubin, Karavaev, Svatok, Matvienko, Mykolenko, Zinchenko, Stepanenko, Sudakov, Malinovskyi, Mudryk, Yaremchuk.
Before the game, Harry Kane received his golden boat as England’s all-time highest goal-scorer.
A scrappy start for the Three Lions
England got the game underway with a scrappy start with their white shirts and blue shorts while Ukraine emerged all yellow.
The Three Lions could not keep possession as well as their opponents as the match proceeded in jerks and starts.
Both sides failed to create a real chance going forward with a lacklustre performance lacking drive and momentum.
With the half-hour crossed, the scoreline still stood barren with the Three Lions not showing any sign of getting through in the game.
Ukraine have not defeated England away from home but were contented with the swings and turns of the game.
England began to make a bold attacking move after the half-hour
The Three Lions seem to get themselves back into the game after the half-hour mark, pushing earnestly for an opening goal.
Maddison tried to push through the Ukraine defense in the 30th minute but Kane’s attempt foiled his effort as he pokes the ball over.
England’s presence inside the Ukrainian half was growing, forcing a Ukraine defender to clear the ball twice after a double strike in a matter of seconds.
Harry Kane nets opener, his 55th goal.
Kane was awarded England’s golden boot before play as the all-time top scorer with 54 goals.
The Tottenham forward increased his tally to 55 goals in the 37th minute to give England the lead after bundling Bukayo Saka’s cross into the net.
Bukayo Saka hits England’s second after just three minutes.
Harry Kane’s opener opened up Ukraine’s defense as they began to charge upfield in search of an equaliser.
This leaves the visitors’ backline more vulnerable to the pace and dribbling firepower of Saka.
In the 40th minute, Saka netted the Three Lions’ second after he curled a lovely strike into the top corner.
England went into the second half with a convincing 2-0 lead.
More troubles for Ukraine in second half
England still stayed on top of their game in the second half despite taking a two-goal lead.
Bukayo Saka created more problems for the Ukrainian defense as the Three Lions proved too clinical for the visitors going forward.
Ukraine’s Malinovskyi was booked in the 69th minute after he dragged down Bukayo Saka near the penalty box.
Mudryk and Zinchenko where muffled throughout the game. Jude Bellingham won the midfield battle for Gareth Southgate once again. It was the Three Lions all the way!
But the Ukrainians were able to hold off the pressure and prevented the hosts from wrecking more havoc.
The game ended with England grabbing a deserved 2-0 win to continue in their perfect run in the qualifiers while the Ukrainians recorded two losses in two games.
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