Montenegro 1-5 England: Ross Barkley shines in Euro 2020 qualifying win
Ross Barkley scored as many goals in Montenegro as he had in his previous 26 games for England
England survived an early scare to mount an impressive comeback and outclass Montenegro in Podgorica, making it maximum points - and 10 goals - from their first two Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Manager Gareth Southgate gave first starts to youngsters Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi but England were stunned after only 17 minutes when Marko Vesovic gave Jordan Pickford no chance with a precise, curling finish.
The visitors kept their composure to respond emphatically with confidence, class and power.
Everton defender Michael Keane headed home Barkley's free-kick for his first international goal on the half-hour, before the midfielder turned in Chelsea team-mate Hudson-Odoi's shot to give them the lead before the break.
Montenegro posed only a fleeting threat and Barkley effectively wrapped up the victory with a powerful finish after determined work by Raheem Sterling on 59 minutes.
England emphasised their vast superiority when Sterling was provider once more for Harry Kane's simple finish before the Manchester City forward got on the scoresheet himself.
However, the victory was marred by an unsavoury conclusion with Sterling clearly responding to taunts from the home fans with his goal celebration, while Hudson-Odoi had to retrieve an object thrown on to the pitch.
And the Montenegro supporters also aimed unsavoury chants in the direction of Danny Rose after he was shown a yellow card late on, casting a cloud over another great night for Southgate and his team.
England's show of strength
England were presented with a test of their confidence and resilience when Montenegro, backed by noisy and passionate support, snatched that early advantage.
While Friday's 5-0 win over the Czech Republic had been a romp, they now faced a test of their character and ability to respond to such a setback.
And they had do it in surroundings that had proved difficult for the Three Lions on their previous two visits, when they had drawn qualifiers for the Euros and the 2014 World Cup.
The reaction was exactly what Southgate would have demanded as they shrugged off going behind to gather themselves, reassert their authority and then going on to win with ease.
Sterling showed his class as a creator and goalscorer with his 25th goal of the season, while captain Kane has now scored 17 goals in 20 games under Southgate.
Southgate will regard this as another mark of England's development as they made it 41 European Championship and World Cup qualifiers without defeat since the loss to Ukraine in October 2009.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Montenegro
1Petkovic
2Stojkovic
15Savic
22SimicSubstituted forJovovicat 74'minutes
6Tomasevic
23Marusic
20Ivanic
4Vukcevic
7VesovicSubstituted forBoljevicat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins
11BeqirajSubstituted forJankovicat 61'minutes
9Mugosa
Substitutes
3Boljevic
5Kopitovic
8Bakic
10Jankovic
12Mijatovic
13Ljuljanovic
14Djordjevic
16Jovovic
17Kajevic
18Kosovic
19Scekic
21Radunovic
England
1Pickford
2Walker
5Keane
6Maguire
3RoseBooked at 90mins
8BarkleyBooked at 52minsSubstituted forWard-Prowseat 82'minutes
4Rice
10AlliSubstituted forHendersonat 64'minutesBooked at 90mins
11Hudson-Odoi
9KaneSubstituted forWilsonat 83'minutes
7Sterling
Substitutes
12Trippier
13Heaton
14Henderson
15Tarkowski
16Chilwell
17Ward-Prowse
18Sancho
19Wilson
20Butland
Referee:
Aleksey Kulbakov
Match Stats
Home TeamMontenegroAway TeamEngland
Possession
Home27%
Away73%
Shots
Home9
Away12
Shots on Target
Home2
Away6
Corners
Home3
Away6
Fouls
Home10
Away14
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Montenegro 1, England 5.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Montenegro 1, England 5.
BookingPosted at 90'+3'
Danny Rose (England) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Danny Rose (England).
Posted at 90'+3'
Aleksandar Boljevic (Montenegro) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 90'+2'
Jordan Henderson (England) is shown the yellow card.
BookingPosted at 90'+2'
Aleksandar Boljevic (Montenegro) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+2'
Jordan Henderson (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Nikola Vukcevic (Montenegro).
Posted at 86'
Corner, England. Conceded by Zarko Tomasevic.
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, England. Callum Wilson replaces Harry Kane.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Raheem Sterling (England).
Posted at 82'
Zarko Tomasevic (Montenegro) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, England. James Ward-Prowse replaces Ross Barkley.
Goal!Posted at 80'
Goal! Montenegro 1, England 5. Raheem Sterling (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a through ball.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Harry Kane (England).
Posted at 79'
Nikola Vukcevic (Montenegro) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Callum Hudson-Odoi (England).
Posted at 76'
Aleksandar Boljevic (Montenegro) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 75'
Corner, Montenegro. Conceded by Michael Keane.
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Montenegro. Vladimir Jovovic replaces Marko Simic.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Danny Rose (England).
Posted at 74'
Filip Stojkovic (Montenegro) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal!Posted at 71'
Goal! Montenegro 1, England 4. Harry Kane (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling following a fast break.
Posted at 70'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Montenegro. Aleksandar Boljevic replaces Marko Vesovic because of an injury.
Posted at 68'
Delay in match Marko Vesovic (Montenegro) because of an injury.
Posted at 67'
Attempt blocked. Stefan Mugosa (Montenegro) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Raheem Sterling (England).
Posted at 66'
Marko Vesovic (Montenegro) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Callum Hudson-Odoi (England).
Posted at 65'
Filip Stojkovic (Montenegro) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 64'
Harry Kane (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Marko Simic (Montenegro).
SubstitutionPosted at 64'
Substitution, England. Jordan Henderson replaces Dele Alli.
Posted at 63'
Danny Rose (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Adam Marusic (Montenegro).
Posted at 62'
Danny Rose (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 62'
Foul by Adam Marusic (Montenegro).
SubstitutionPosted at 61'
Substitution, Montenegro. Marko Jankovic replaces Fatos Beqiraj.
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Source: bbc.com
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