Terry strikes late as England win again
Wednesday 1 April 2009
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John Terry scored a late winning goal as England defeated Ukraine 2-1 at Wembley to make it five victories from five in Group 6 and take another significant step towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.
Unbeaten record
Ukraine arrived with an unbeaten record in the section but were undone by an 86th-minute strike from the England captain, a similar set-piece to Peter Crouch's opening goal on the half-hour. Substitute Andriy Shevchenko equalised on his return to London in the 76th minute but his former Chelsea FC team-mate's late intervention left Ukraine eight points adrift of the Group 6 leaders ahead of their next qualifier in Croatia on 6 June, when England head to Kazakhstan.
Impressive Rooney
Wayne Rooney scored twice in Saturday's 4-0 friendly thrashing of Slovakia and was hungry for more on the occasion of his 50th cap, his confidence typified by an overhead kick on seven minutes which looped just the wrong side of the crossbar. The 23-year-old also won the corner from which England broke the deadlock. Frank Lampard swung it deep to Terry whose cushioned header fell perfectly for Crouch to score his 15th goal in 33 international appearances.
National icon
Rooney continued to carry the fight in the second half, shooting wide from distance following a mazy run early on and then drawing another foul in a dangerous position from Taras Mikhalik just past the hour. David Beckham, on for Aaron Lennon, curled it over. It was another substitute and national icon who threatened to have a major say on the outcome, however, as Shevchenko reacted sharply to turn a loose ball in after hesitant defending from Glen Johnson, 19 minutes after replacing Andriy Voronin.
Terry winner
It was Ukraine's first goal on English soil following two previous defeats in 2000 and 2004, but it was not enough to earn them a first point as Terry hooked in Gerrard's knock-down from a Beckham free-kick with his left foot to keep England on course for South Africa, five points clear of Croatia.
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