STERLING SERVICE
RIP-ROARING RAHEEM INSPIRES THREE LIONS TO WEMBLEY STROLL 3 0
RAHEEM STERLING reproduced the form that made him one of the stars of last summer’s European Championship by inspiring England’s 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast at Wembley last night.
The forward has sparkled for Manchester City in recent weeks, having struggled to hold down a place in Pep Guardiola’s side during the first half of the campaign, with the exertions of last year’s tournament perhaps taking a toll. But there is no doubt he is back to his best now and having started the game with the captain’s armband, Sterling led by example with an all-action performance in the first half.
He showed delightful skill to set up the opener on the half-hour when his square ball across the six-yard box set up Ollie Watkins on a plate to score on his first start for England.
Sterling then scored himself just before half-time after club-mate Jack Grealish expertly squared the ball following Sterling’s surging run.
By then the visitors were down to ten men in the first-ever meeting between the two countries after Serge Aurier was sent off for two bookable offences.
The cause of the captain’s second yellow card was not immediately obvious but the former Tottenham man had taken his protests at not being awarded a free-kick too far.
Grealish, whose trickery was tormenting the Ivorians, appeared to join the visitors’ complaints over the red card which felt particularly harsh in the first half of a friendly.
Tyrone Mings’ downward header deep into injury time completed the scoring and supporters’ cheers at that were in contrast to the boos they gave when fellow centre-half Harry Maguire’s name was read out before the game and the muttering continued when the Manchester United captain was on the ball in the early stages.
It seemed strange club rivalries appeared to have come to the fore to target a man who played a leading role in helping his country to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup as well as last year’s Euros final.