Sterling job as stand-in skipper nets one and sets up another
3 Watkins 30; Sterling 45; Mings 90
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Stand-in skipper Raheem Sterling set up one and scored another as England cruised to victory in a friendly against Ivory Coast after Serge Aurier’s sending off.
Gareth Southgate made 10 changes from saturday’ s come back win against switzerland as World Cup preparations continued with a first-ever senior meeting of these nations.
Sterling crossed for ollie watkins’ opener and added a second shortly after Aurier’s first half sending off, with many having left Wembley by the time Tyrone Mings headed home to make it 3-0 at the death.
Former England international Wilfried Zaha was absent for 51st-ranked Ivory Coast, who were second best from the outset.
Impressive Jude Bellingham hit the post before Watkins tapped in following excellent work by captain Sterling, who scored one of his own on the stroke of half-time by turning home a Jack Grealish cross.
The Ivorians had been reduced to 10 men minutes earlierafter ex- tottenham defender Aurier was sent off for two bookings and the second half began by giving away a penalty.
That decision was overruled after Fousseny Coulibaly’s challenge on impressive Bellingham was reviewed, with paper planes raining down on the pitch as south gate turned to the likes of Harry Kane.
Mings managed to score a third at the end of a drab second half as attention turns to Friday’s eagerly-anticipated World Cup draw in Qatar.
That event will dominate the talk after Tuesday’s friendly, while fans’ initial reaction for Harry Maguire is also sure to be brought up.
A smattering of boos greeted the substitute’ sn a me on Saturday and there were more before kick-off against Ivory Coast as the under-fire Manchester United captain made his first international appearance of the year. There were even some jeers during Maguire’s first few touches of the ball.
A great move saw teenage star Bellingham play an excellent one-two with Sterling, only to be denied his first international goal as Badra Ali San ga returned his close-range shot onto the post.
Captain Sterling unlocked the Iv or ian defence on the half-hour following excellent foot work by sending a low ball over to Watkins to turn in from close range.
Having collected his first yellow card in the 32nd minute, Aurier received a second booking eight minutes later for dissent.
Even Grealish appeared to be appealing for referee Erik Lambrechts to allow former Spurs defender to stay on. The decision ended the friendly as a contest and England added a second before half-time.
Sang are stopped sterling’ s initial strike but the ball ballooned up in the air and Grealish cut back for his Manchester City team-mate to strike. The goal was given after a VAR review.
Southgate made a quadruple substitution in the 62nd minute, including bringing on record-chasing Kane.
Unmarked Simon Deli blazed over ivory coast’ s best chance of the evening from a 77 th minute free-kick as fans headed for an early tube home.
E mile smith rowe’ s stoppage times hot from a Kyle Walker peters cross was deflected wide and, from Phil Foden’s corner, Mings rose to head home.