International Football February 2009

Super Spain too strong for England

Spain 2 England 0 (Seville 11 February 2009)
A solid performance by the European champions Spain ended England's 11 month unbeaten record. Gareth Barry delivered a cross in the 6th minute which Agbonlahor volleyed just wide of the post, but it was the hosts who took the lead in the 36th minute when David Villa collected a ball from Alonso and showed good control to shrug off 2 England defenders and pass it into the corner of the net. England made five changes at the start of the second half but could not change the outcome of the match. Xavi floated in an 82nd minute free-kick onto the head of Llorente who powered the ball beyond Robert Green in the England goal. With 2 minutes remaining David Beckham, making his 108th appearance to equal Bobby Moore's record, delivered a magnificent pass to set Carlton Cole free, but having rounded Pepe Reina, the debutant was denied by a sliding off-the-line clearance which ensured another Spanish clean sheet.

Llorente seals Spanish victory with header

In other international matches Christian Grindheim slid in at the far post for Norway to upset hosts Germany with single goal, and Diego Maradona's Argentina scored at the end of each half to beat France 2-0 in Marseilles. A 57th minute corker from Rasmus Elm and a superb free-kick from Kim Källstrom 6 minutes later gave Sweden victory in Austria while the Netherlands could only draw 1-1 in Tunisia. Eduardo made a return after breaking his leg a year ago to help Croatia win 2-1 in Romania. On Tuesday Manchester City players Elano and Robinho scored at the Emirates as Brazil defeated world champions Italy 2-0.
In World Cup qualifiers Robbie Keane rescued Ireland with 2 late goals in Dublin after the Irish had fallen behind to a first minute Georgia goal. In the Asian section Mahmood Abdulrahman broke Uzbek hearts scoring the only goal deep into stoppage time for Bahrain while Japan and Australia played out a goalless match in Yokohama. Saudi Arabia returned from North Korea with a 1-0 defeat while Park Ji Sung silenced the crowd in Tehran with a late goal for South Korea cancelling out Nekunam's earlier free-kick for Iran. In North America El Salvador came from 2 down against Trinidad and Tobago to earn a point at home with 2 late goals from Osael Romero who was one of 3 two-goal heroes in the region as Andy Furtado and Michael Bradley scored twice for their countries as Costa Rica and the United States enjoyed 2-0 home wins over Honduras and Mexico respectively.