The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sterling ends goal drought as England shock Spain
NATIONS LEAGUE: Southgate’s side hold on after stunning three-goal first half
Gareth Southgate’s men stunned Spain in Seville last night to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Nations League finals.
Raheem Sterling scored two goals in the opening 45 minutes, having only scored twice in his previous 45 international appearances, with Marcus Rashford sweeping home in an extraordinary first half at Real Betis’ Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Talk of relegation from the top tier was replaced by hope after some nervy second half minutes as Spain laid siege to the England goal.
Paco Alcacer netted shortly after his second-half introduction to ratchet up the pressure, and although Sergio Ramos scored with the last act of the game Southgate’s young side passed this test of resilience.
England’s maiden Nations League win will not be forgotten in a hurry, with Spain conceding three goals in a competitive home match for the first time ever as the Three Lions were rewarded for their first half display.
Sterling ended a superb team move – and his 1,102-day wait for an international goal – in the 16th minute, with Rashford then getting in on the act having missed two glaring opportunities in Friday’s goalless Group A-4 draw in Croatia.
The visitors grabbed a third as Ross Barkley’s cross was knocked down by Harry Kane for Sterling to score on a night that got jittery once Alcacer reduced the deficit in the 57th minute.
Jordan Pickford nearly played himself into trouble and there were some other nervy moments, with Ramos heading home at the end of a match that saw Southgate’s men display strength and a streetwise edge that belied their inexperience.
Sterling was pleased to have finally ended his long international drought.
He told Sky Sports: “It was a beautiful feeling. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get into the box and try to score goals.
“Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it doesn’t but I’m in the position to score goals and I need to keep that going.
“It means a lot to me. It is three years since I last scored and it means a lot in a game like this.”
England now move on to four points, two behind group leaders Spain and three ahead of Croatia who have played a game less.
The Croatians visit Wembley next month in the final game after hosting Luis Enrique’s side.