New Delhi: England have beaten Russia 3-0 to move to the second place in Group E of the Euro 2008 qualifiers. The home side took the lead in just the seventh minute when Michael Owen sent the ball into the nets past the Russian goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev.
And his second of the night took Owen's international goals tally to 40, a mark that only Jimmy Greaves, Sir Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker have reached for England.
Defender Rio Ferdinand capped an England victory with a stunner in the 84th minute to seal the win over the Russians.
In another Group B match, world champions Italy beat Ukraine 2-1.
Even though hosts Ukraine dominated the early stages, Italians fired in the first salvo with their first chance in the game just five minute before the half-time.
Andrea Pirlo's curling cross found Antonio Di Natale who scored his first of the night. Ukraine were desperately looking for an equiliser which eventually came in the 72nd minute when Andriy Shevchenko scored past Gianluigi Buffon.
Di Natale struck again for Italy with just 10 minutes remaining to give them a 2-1 win that secured them a second place in the group.
And Scotland stunned France to move to the top of Group B with 21 points from nine games. After a quiet first half the action picked up and it was Scot goalkeeper Craig Gordon's day.
He first came up with two excellent saves and then in the 64th minute his long kick was picked up by Everton striker James McFadden who put it past the French goalkeeper Mickael Landreau to score the only goal of the game.
Even though the French pressed hard for an equiliser they were denied once again. Scotland have now beaten France both at home and away in this qualifying campaign.
Comments
0 comment