Reported by Joe Grant
England play their first match at Wembley, since the start of the pandemic in March, against fellow home nation Wales, who have won their last four games in a row. England are using the game to prepare for their upcoming nations league games against Belgium and Denmark. Whereas, Wales have Ireland and Bulgaria to play in their Nations League group.
STARTING LINE UPS
Gareth Southgate has picked a young inexperienced England side, with debuts for Buyako Saka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whilst Wales are without injured talisman Gareth Bale. World cup hero Kieran Trippier captains his country for the very first time, against ex club mate Ben Davies, who captains Wales.
Embed from Getty Images1′ Kick off
Wales kick off this friendly match, after the players take a knee to show their support for the No Room For Racism campaign.
4′ Wales Corner
Both sides start the game looking to slowly grow into the game, before Tyler Roberts blocked shot leads to the first corner of the game for Wales, after Moore had ran in behind the England defence.
7′ England Chance
England’s first corner of the game almost leads to an early chance; with the ball just slightly too high for Keane, who rose to head the ball, but not quite high enough, causing the ball to skim off the top of his head and out of play for a throw in.
12′ England Chance
Calvert-Lewin is slotted in behind the Welsh defence by Ings and rounds Hennessey, looking for a debut goal, but the angle is too tight and the ball rolls into the covering defenders feet to clear.
17′ Stalemate
Both teams are cancelling each other out in the early part of this game, with little space or gaps available in either sides defence. Very much the feel of a friendly so far…
21′ Huge chance!
Moore looked certain to open the scoring for Wales, after the ball fell to him in the box, from a poor defensive clearance by young debutant Saka, but the Cardiff City striker volleyed wide from close range. Could he rue that missed chance?
26′ GOAL! Calvert-Lewin debut goal!!!
What a moment for the Everton striker! Calvert-Lewin does what he has done all season for Everton and buries a brilliant header past Hennessy to put England ahead in this first half. A piece of magic from Grealish created the golden chance, after he shimmied past Davies in the box and placed the ball perfectly on to Calvert-Lewin’s head, who could not miss. Great start for England thanks to their two in form players.
Embed from Getty ImagesGrealish showing Southgate why he should be starting. Arguably England’s most creative player is pulling the strings all over the pitch, much to the delight of England fans. What a week for the Aston Villa captain!
30′ CHANCE!
Wales almost strike back straight away… Moore is yet again played in behind a seemingly shaky England defence, but Pope shows why many have been calling for him to start, as he rushes out quickly and smothers the chance to keep England ahead.
35′ Moore problems for England’s defence
Moore is making life difficult for those three England central defenders, with Wales midfield constantly looking to play the big striker in behind and playing the ball into the box. Gomez deals with a dangerous ball in well and stops Moore getting up to gain any power on his header, causing it to drop safely in to Pope’s arms.
38′ Nearly another debut goal for England!
After some scrambling in the box, the ball falls kindly to Coady, who had come up for the corner, but the chance is wasted as the Wolves captain leans back too far and blazes the chance to make it 2-0 over the bar. The dangerous Moore goes down injured and is replaced by young Liverpool full back Williams.
42′ Booking!
Connor Roberts puts in a nasty challenge on Saka and deservedly receives a yellow card. The Arsenal Wing Back shows good spirit to get straight back up.
45′ Half time!
Despite a promising early start for Wales, England go into the break with a half tine lead, after a brilliant debut goal for Calvert-Lewin. Two of the most in form players in the premier league combined for The Three Lions, after Grealish worked some space in the box, before placing the ball perfectly on to the England number 9’s head, for him to open England’s account.
46′ Kick off!
England start the second half, looking to extend their first half lead. No changes to the home side, but a double change for Wales. Morrell and rumoured Tottenham target Rodon are replaced by Levitt and Cabango.
49′ Half chance!
Tyler Roberts skips past Coady outside the box to create space for himself and decides to take a shot on, with no support from the other welsh forwards, but his shot is weak and dragged wide of Pope, in the England goal.
53′ GOAL!!!! COADY!! Another debut goal for England!!
Connor Coady fires home for his first England goal! Kieran Trippier did what he does best and floated a delightful cross towards the back post, after Grealish had won a free kick down the right flank and Coady made no mistake with the finish. What a moment for the Wolves captain!
Embed from Getty Images58′ Yellow card!
Ampadu is finally put into the book for yet another foul on Grealish, who has been dragging him all over the pitch. England make a triple substution; Mount, James and Mings replace goal scorer Calvert-Lewin, Trippier and Gomez.
62′ Yellow card!
Another Welsh player goes into the book; Roberts this time trying to get too close to the England midfielders. Ampadu is replaced by Vaulks, as Giggs looks to avoid Ampadu receiving a second yellow.
63′ GOAL!!! WHAT A FINISH BY INGS!
Ings scores a sublime overhead kick to fire home past Hennessy, to seemingly bury this match. The ball was delivered to the far post from an England corner, Mings leapt to win the header, which fell into the grateful Ings’ path, who acrobatically leapt and fired the ball into the back of the net. Another of the in form premier league players performing for their country…
Embed from Getty Images70′ CHANCE!
Almost another England debut goal! Grealish yet again pulling the strings in midfield, drives England forward, before he plays in substitute Mount, who slotted the ball into Saka’s path, but the young wing backs driven shot was well kept out by the experienced Hennessey.
73′ Wales substitution
Gunter enters the action to make his 97th appearance for his country and midfielder Williams replaces Smith
75′ Another England debut!
Gareth Southgate makes yet another triple substitution, with the weekend in mind; Barnes makes his debut after impressing for Leicester at the start of the season, replacing the sublime Grealish. Southampton skipper Ward-Prowse replaced the busy Winks and Maitland-Niles replaced his club team mate and Saka.
81′ CHANCE!
Ings almost gets his second of the night, in an impressive performance from the Southampton forward; his curled shot looks set for the far corner, but Hennessey is equal to it.
86′ Injury
Mepham goes down injured, after seemingly twisting his knee, trying to steal the ball from Ings, but bravely returns to the pitch.
90′ Chance!
Mount plays the electric Ings in behind, who looks to return the favour for the Chelsea midfielder, but Wales ever present Gunter, does well to get back and prevent a fourth England goal.
90 +2′ Chance!
Ward-Prowse strikes from distance late on, but Hennessey is yet again there to prevent another England goal.
FULL TIME: England 3-0 Wales
England start the October international break in the perfect way with a 3-0 victory over fellow home nation Wales. An impressive performance for the Three Lions, but a disappointing night for Wales, who never really got going in the game and evidently missed their star men; Bale and Ramsey. England’s debutants impressed and really laid down their mark on the squad, pushing for a starting place in Gareth Southgate’s team for the nations league game against Belgium.
