Marcus Rashford nets winner as England defeat Slovakia

England came from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1 at Wembley and take a step closer to qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

Stanislav Lobotka gave Slovakia an early lead before Eric Dier equalised before half time. Marcus Rashford then scored the winner with a brilliant shot into the bottom corner.

Lobotka gave Slovakia the lead inside the first three minutes. He combined with Adam Nemec before finishing past Joe Hart from six yards

Rashford, who gave the ball away in the build-up to Slovakia’s opener, responded immediately but his low shot was straight at goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Harry Kane then had his first shot of the night but it was deflected wide from a corner.

England broke on the counter in the 15th minute but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wasted the opportunity when three on three by firing high over the bar.

Rashford went close again when he dragged a shot wide but England were level soon after.

Dier equalised seven minutes before half time when he finished from close range at the near post after Rashford’s corner.

Ryan Bertrand forced Dubravka to tip his shot over the bar and the goalkeeper was in action again before half time to keep out Rashford’s shot towards the bottom corner.

Jordan Henderson could have put England into the lead from the restart, latching onto a low Rashford cross before firing wide.

England attacked some more through Dele Alli and the ball fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left side of the box after the Spurs midfielder was tackled but the shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Rashford began to pull the strings from the left wing. He cut inside but Dubravka was equal to the shot.

Slovakia countered though, and England needed a solid save from Hart to keep the score level. A cross from the left fell to Nemec who unleashed a powerful volley towards the far post but Hart was able to tip the ball behind.

Alli had a superb chance to score in the 56th minute but could not control Kane’s cross and the ball bounced wide.

Rashford scored his first ever goal for England in the 59th minute when he collected the ball on the edge of the area before striking across goal into the bottom corner.

England finished the match comfortably. Oxlade-Chamberlain saw a shot blocked and substitute Raheem Sterling forced a save from Dubravka before victory was confirmed.

Cover Photo: Wembley by Georges-adrien Carcanis under license from CC BY NC-ND 2.0