European World Cup qualifiers: England snatch it at the death

Adam Lallana to the rescue

SAM Allardyce began his World Cup qualifying campaign with England in dramatic fashion following a late win over group opponents Slovakia.

The two sides had played out a 0-0 draw in their previous encounter at Euro 2016, with the game looking to finish with the very same result until a last minute Adam Lallana effort with seconds to go.

In what was Wayne Rooney’s 116th cap, making him the Three Lions’ most capped outfield player, England looked the busier of the two sides, yet failed to find the cutting edge in front of goal with Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Lallana pushing furthest forward.

Slovakia had held on to a 0-0 half-time lead, yet their task became more arduous 12 minutes into the second period as Martin Skrtel received his marching orders for a stamp on England’s Kane.

The hosts remained resilient, until Liverpool’s Lallana – in the fifth of six minutes of injury time – received the pull, and with one touch sixed up a shot on goal, through the keeper’s legs and into the back of the net for his first-ever international goal.

The win secured the three points to leave England as the early pace-setters in Group F, with group rivals Lithuania and Slovenia playing out a 2-2 draw.

Elsewhere, Christian Eriksen’s 17th-minte strike handed Denmark a 1-0 win over Armenia as Group E opponents Kazakhstan and Poland played out a 2-2 draw, while in Group C, Azerbaijan earned a 1-0 away win at San Marino. Kickoff.com

Sunday evening European World Cup qualifiers (early kick-offs):

San Marino 0 – 1 Azerbaijan    
Denmark 1 – 0 Armenia
Kazakhstan 2 – 2 Poland    
Lithuania 2 – 2 Slovenia    
Slovakia 0 – 1 England

Follow us on Twitter on @FingazLive and on Facebook – The Financial Gazette