England under 21’s easily overcame their Icelandic counterparts in a 5-0 win at Colchester last night.
Marvin Sordell opened the scoring after 40 minutes before Martin Kelly doubled the lead with a good finish in the second half. Three late goals, one from Craig Dawson and two from substitute Gary Gardner probably flattered England who continued their 100% winning start to the 2013 European Championship qualifiers.
Having won 3-0 in Iceland just a month ago, Stuart Pearce’s side were in confident mood ahead of the game and their fourth straight win ensures qualification is firmly in their hands.
Sordell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin missed early opportunities as Iceland frustrated their hosts early on; however as half-time approached Sordell opened the scoring. Captain Jordan Henderson did brilliantly to find the Watford man who smashed home the opener.
Iceland failed to cause England any real trouble, having lost most of their 2011 European Championship side to the senior squad, the gulf in quality was evident.
England didn’t have to wait long in the second half for them to double their lead, which came via an unlikely source in Kelly. A rampaging run which started in his own half saw the Liverpool centre half finish well past Arnar Petursson in the Iceland goal.
The hat-trick hero from the 3-0 win in Iceland, Oxlade-Chamberlin was again denied before Dawson continued his fine goal scoring form for the under 21 side with his third in just five games, an impressive feat for a centre half, after his looped header found the top corner.
In injury time Gardner, brother of Sunderland’s Craig Gardner, scored twice to add gloss to the score line. Firstly Gardner superbly curled home a free-kick, before smashing home a fine fifth.
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