Germany 1 England 5
|
|
(© Inpho) |
Michael Owen scored a hat-trick as England thrashed Germany 5-1 to dramatically turn around their 2002 World Cup qualification campaign with an amazing performance tonight.
Further goals by Owen's Liverpool team-mates Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey helped England secure their first win in Germany for 36 years as Sven Goran Erikkson's came back from a goal down.
The victory leaves England's World Cup destiny in their own hands as they seek to win Group Nine.
Eriksson's men must now win their two remaining games at home to Albania and Greece to win the group.
The Germans must hope they score a hatful of goals in their last match at home to Finland or hope England slip up to stand any chance of clinching top spot. However, the runners-up can still qualify if the win a two-legged play-off against either the Ukraine or Belarus.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman was recalled in England's goal while central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell took their place in defence alongside full-backs Gary Neville and Ashley Cole.
England captain David Beckham recovered from the troublesome groin strain he sustained last weekend and started on the right side of midfield together with Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes and Liverpool duo Nick Barmby and Gerrard.
Liverpool players also made up England's forward line with Owen and Heskey selected up front.
For Germany, Bayern Munich's attacking midfielder Mehmet Scholl was ruled out earlier in the week due to an inflamed tendon in his left ankle and was replaced by Schalke 04's Jorg Bohme.
England got off to the worst possible start by conceding a goal after just six minutes.
Michael Ballack chipped the ball into the England box and Oliver Neuville's flicked header landed between the predatory Jancker and Seaman.
The England keeper hesitated allowing Jancker to gain an extra yard and the giant Bayern Munich forward casually slotted the ball home to give Germany the lead.
Despite the early setback England refused to panic and in their next attack found themselves back on level terms.
Gerrard's hopeful high ball found Neville 15 metres outside the German penalty box and he headed the ball towards the penalty spot.
Barmby's intelligent flick across goal found Owen and he slammed in the equaliser with his trusty right foot in front of England's traveeling army of fans.
England were let off the hook after 22 minutes when Jancker's right wing cross fell into the path of Sebastian Deisler five metres out but with just Seaman to beat the Hertha Berlin midfielder somehow sliced his shot wide.
Kahn almost handed England the lead on the half hour after picking up Deisler's back pass to concede an indirect free-kick inside the German area.
Scholes rolled the ball to Beckham whose thunderous shot struck Marko Rehmer's head and away from danger.
Owen looked dangerous every time he received the ball in attack for England while Gerrard and Beckham were winning the midfield contest with Ballack and Dietmar Hamman.
And it was Gerrard who rounded off an impressive comeback by the visitors by firing England 2-1 up in first half stoppage time.
Beckham's chip was headed on by Ferdinand 25 metres out and Gerrrard struck an unstoppable right foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net beyond Oliver Kahn's desperate dive.
Three minutes after the break Owen increased England's advantage.
Beckham had little room to turn out on the right wing but he managed to cross for Heskey whose downward header fell nicely for Owen.
The reliable England marksman drilled home his second and England's third which the despairing Kahn could only palm into his net.
Jancker's diving header flashed wide after 65 minutes and a minute later Owen completed his hat-trick.
Gerrard's through ball found the Liverpool striker free and he rifled home Engalnd's fourth to give the scoreline an incredible look.
Heskey compounded Germany's misery by slotting a fifth and with the home side chasing shadows England played out the remainder of the match without coming under threat. -AFP