RAHEEM TAKES A SPAIN KILLER
NATIONS LEAGUE JOY FOR THREE LIONS Ruthless Sterling puts Southgate’s men in dreamland Swiss skate to victory on Ice with top display
RAHEEM STERLING ended his three-year goal drought as England handed Spain their first competitive home defeat in 15 years.
It was an unforgettable night as Gareth Southgate’s men destroyed one of European football’s very best.
And it was the first time the Spaniards have ever conceded three goals at home in a competitive fixture.
The Three Lions were ruthless and produced arguably their most memorable scoreline and performance since thrashing Germany 5-1 in Munich in 2001.
Having managed just two goals in 45 games for England, Sterling suddenly netted two in a blistering opening 45 minutes.
The Man City winger said: “We went at them from the beginning and we were clinical.
“It was a beautiful feeling to score. It means a lot to me. Three years is a long time not to score.”
Marcus Rashford was also on target for the English who stunned the home side with a whirlwind first half.
And yet they started sluggishly with Marcos Alonso and Marco Asensio having to be foiled by Jordan Pickford in the England goal.
But the visitors could toast the opening goal soon after.
Pickford’s pass fell to Harry Kane who found Rashford and his ball inside was collected by Etihad forward Sterling who tucked it away.
And Rashford doubled the advantage before the half hour when he put the finishing touch to another move that started with Pickford.
Spain’s players were shocked, the usually calm Sergio Ramos giving away possession at the start of a move that saw England extend their lead.
Ross Barkley played a lovely ball over the top of a perplexed Spanish defence with Kane flashing the ball across goal for Sterling to finish. Luis Enrique made two changes 10 minutes after the break as Paco Alcacer and Dani Ceballos came on.
And it had an instant effect as the Spanish got themselves back into it when Alcacer headed home from a corner.
Pickford almost gifted them a second as he dawdled in possession and was caught out by Rodrigo only to make a lunging challenge to put the ball behind. Spain were ROUND-UP SWITZERLAND took top spot in UEFA Nations League A Group 2 after a 2-1 win in Iceland.
Haris Seferovic and Michael Lan both bagged second-half goals for the impressive Swiss before Alfred Finnbogason pulled one back in 81 minutes.
Hungary bagged a late leveller as they fought out an action-packed 3-3 draw with Estonia in League C.
Siim Luts put Estonia ahead but Dominik Nagy and Adam Szalai turned the game around.
Artur Pikk and Henri Anier put Estonia ahead before Szalai’s second stole a point.
Finland beat Greece 2-0 at home in the group’s other clash with Pyry Soiri and Dundee’s Glen Kamara netting second-half goals.
And in Group D, Luxembourg beat 10-man San Marino 3-0.
David Turpel hit the first in four minutes and Alex Gasperoni saw red. Danel Sinani and Vincent Thill sealed it.
LAST NIGHT Spain 2, England 3; Iceland 1, Switzerland 2. Estonia 3, Hungary 3; Finland 2, Greece 0. Belarus 0, Moldova 0; Luxembourg 3, San Marino 0. FOOTBALL TODAY (7.45, unless stated)
League D – – UEFA Nations League C – UEFA U-21 Euro 2019 Qualifier
Scotland v England (5.30).
UEFA Nations League A – League B Group 1 – League B Group League C
v Germany; Ukraine v Czech Rep; Rep of Ireland v Wales; Norway v Bulgaria, Slovenia v Cyprus; Kazakhstan v Andorra (3.00), Latvia v Georgia; Armenia v Macedonia (5.00), Gibraltar v Liechtenstein. Belgium v Holland, Brazil v Argentina (6.45), Denmark v Austria, Sweden v Slovakia.
4 – – League D Group 1 – D Group 4 – Friendly – League A –
France
League