England 3-1 Belgium

UEFA Qualifying Tournament
7.45pm, Tuesday 17 October 2007
Oakwell, Barnsley FC

England rounded off their Preliminary Qualifying Round in style as they defeated a talented and youthful Belgian team to secure top spot and three wins out of three.

Despite having already overcome Iceland and Romania 5-1 and 6-0 respectively, that didn't stop Brian Eastick's players from making it a perfect week and notching up their fourth straight win this season.

The goals came from Bolton's Tope Obadeyi, who grabbed a hat-trick on Sunday against Romania, Reading's James Henry and Birmingham defender Krystian Pearce. But the most memorable strike of the night will undoubtedly be the incredible goal from the Belgian captain Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe who struck from the halfway line.

James Henry went close for England after 23 minutes with a fine run from the right flank that culminated in a dangerous shot that whistled past the near post. The Reading midfielder looked lively in the opening stages of the game and when given the green light by Frederic Frans, Henry was eager to take on the Belgian full back and create opportunities for the home side.

On the half hour mark Bolton's powerful forward Tope Obadeyi lit up Oakwell with a stunning turn and shot. Taking the ball from a Josh Wright header, Obadeyi controlled the ball and turned in one movement, before wrapping his left foot to send an unstoppable shot past Bruzzese in the Belgian goal.

Two minutes before the interval England almost gifted Belgium a root back into the contest when they failed to clear a looping cross. Nill De Pauw came in late at the back post to nod the ball into the six-yard box, but fortunately for Ross Atkins and the Three Lions' defenders there was no support for the young Belgian forward.

After the break England stepped up the tempo and created more chances, although Belgium also threatened through the pace of De Pauw and the threatening shooting of Alderweireld.

Eastick's players were the next on the scoresheet though, doubling their lead thanks to James Henry, though much of the credit will go to Febian Brandy for his fine approach play and through pass. Brandy picked the hole in the Belgian defence and threaded Henry through, once he controlled the ball there was only one outcome and England were two goals ahead.

Belgium grabbed a lifeline just four minutes later when Odjidja-Ofoe hit an incredible effort from 50-yards out, catching Ross Atkins out in the English goal and give Belgium hope of snatching something from the game.

Their hopes were dashed just three minutes later when Krystian Pearce, fresh from his World Cup adventure in Korea, made an incredible run down the right flank and somehow managed to turn the ball into the goal from a narrow angle.

With England through with an 100% record in their group they were reduced to ten men when Febian Brandy was sent off for a second yellow card with just three minutes on the clock.

Teams:

England: 13 Ross Atkins (Derby County), 2 Sam Hutchinson (Chelsea), 4 Jack Cork (Chelsea, on loan at Scunthorpe United), 6 Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), 7 James Henry (Reading), 10 Febian Brandy (Manchester United), 12 Tope Obadeyi (Bolton Wanderers), 14 Josh Wright (Charlton Athletic, on loan at Barnet) (8 Jamie Chandler (Sunderland) 57), 15 Ed Upson (Ipswich Town) (Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal) 78), 16 Jo Mattock (Leicester City) (5 Krystian Pearce (Birmingham City) 46), 17 Jordan Spence (West Ham United)
Subs Not Used: 1 Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)

Goals: Obadeyi 30, Henry 69, Pearce 76

Belgium: 1 Sebastien Bruzzese, 3 Frederic Frans, 4 Cor Gillis, 5 Jeremy Huyghebaert, 6 Vadis Odlidja-Ofoe (c) (7 Anthony Cavallo 79), 8 Stijn Wuytens, 9 Nil De Pauw (18 Ratko Van Simpson 60), 13 Lionel Gendarme, 14 Dwayne Dildick, 15 Eden Hazard, 16 Toby Alderweireld
Subs Not Used: 2 Enrico Pellegretti, 10 Arnaud Gilles Sutchuin Djoum, 11 Yannick Rymenants, 12 Yannick Van Den Eynde, 17 Danilo Maciel Sousa Campos

Goals: Odjidja-Ofoe 73

Referee: Cesar Muniz Fernandez (Spain)

Attendance: 5,993