Macedonia 0-1 England FT
Wednesday, 06 September, 2006
It has ended in Skopje as England grab a crucial victory in Macedonia. Read our minute-by-minute account.
Macedonia 0-1 England
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
8pm, Wednesday 6 September 2006
Gradski, Skopje
Live on Sky Sports 1
90+3' England start their campaign with two wins from two as the final whistle goes in Skopje.
90' Both Stewart Downing and Aaron Lennon show the right attitude in the final moments as they fire the ball high and long to get the ball clear of danger.
88' Andrew Johnson comes on in place of Peter Crouch
87' Steven Gerrard is booked for a high challenge.
85' Michael Carrick comes on in place of Frank Lampard.
83' Macedonia come very close to an equaliser as they seek to rescue a point from the game. Robinson is beaten but Ashley Cole saves his blushes with a vital goalline clearance.
78' Sakiri finds himself in a brilliant position for the home side, he fires a powerful left-footed strike that lashes past Paul Robinson's post but fortunately for England it is just the wrong side.
77' There ensues a period of head tennis before Aaron Lennon intervenes with a fine weaving run down the left flank.
76' Aaron Lennon comes on to replace his Tottenham teammate Jermain Defoe.
74' Artim Sakiri comes on in place of Naumovski.
74' Pandev almost finds a shooting chance but Terry does well to read the move and comes away with the ball. He delivers the ball to Defoe although he is unable to hold the ball upfield.
72' Terry gets on the end of a Frank Lampard corner, and just for an instant it looks like he might add to his account for England but his volley is narrowly wide.
71' It looks like Aaron Lennon and Andrew Johnson could enter the fray as they are warming up on the touchline and in coversation with the coaching staff.
68' Ashley Cole finds space on the left flank as he overlaps Stewart Downing, his header is toward Jermain Defoe but the Tottenham striker is beaten to it by the defender.
66' Pandev is booked for a cynical challenge on Lampard.
65' Macedonia win another corner as they look to test the Three Lions' aerial abililty, but Robinson gets involved and punches the ball clear.
64' Crouch is getting involved well in the attacking football as he grows in confidence from getting on the scoresheet once again, this time he creates an opening for Gerrard whose weak shot is scrambled wide.
62' Macedonia find a hole through the centre of England's midfield, but Rio Ferdinand shows his experience and guides the ball back to a grateful Robinson.
59' Crouch is booked for persistent fouls.
58' Crouch turns fantastically and almost scores another fantastic goal for England, it was a rocket that Nikolevski would not have been able to deal with.
57' Ashley Cole is showing tremendous forward play and his dangerous cross almost gives Defoe his hat-trick. Alvarez is equal to the powerful drive to deny the Tottenham striker.
56' Lampard gives away a foul by pulling the shirt of the substitute Stojkov, he gets to his feet to take the free kick but is unable to beat the first man.
55' Stojkov comes on to replace Maznov for the home side.
52' Downing shows good persistance to take the ball deep down the left flank, he takes his time and picks the right moment to deliver the cross to the back post.
50' Macedonia look to hit back with some more aggresive play as they take the ball further into the England half, but the defence stand firm and deny any easy openings.
49' Macedonia bring on Taveski for Jancevski.
46' GOAL! Peter Crouch gives England a brilliant start to the second period as he powers home from Lampard's pass. The ball bounces down and it is clearly over the line, 1-0 to the Three Lions.
46' No changes from the interval as both sides return to the action looking to break the deadlock.
45' Well here we go then - the second half from Skopje with England looking to take the iniative.
45' The Referee calls time on the first half which has not seen any goals, but plenty of incident.
44' Neville intercepts the ball well and feeds Lampard through the centre of the pitch, his run is strong and he opens himself up to shoot. His left-footed drive looks like it is destined for the bottom corner but Nikolevski makes a superb save.
42' Maznov gets above Terry and Ferdinand from only six yards out, fortunately for the Three Lions the header is off target but the warning signs are there for England.
41' Terry blocks a fine shot from Simulikolski, the effort looks goalbound but the England captain is in the right place at the right time.
40' From a deep cross by Stewart Downing, the ball drops for Owen Hargreaves who works an opening for himself but his left footed shot flies high into the stand.
39' From a long throw by Phil Neville, Peter Crouch gets a good flick on presenting Jermain Defoe with a half chance which he volleys over the bar.
38' Lazarevski is booked for a foul on Ashley Cole.
36' Gerrard sends in a deep free kick that is headed clear for a corner, from the cross by Downing no one is able to make contact and Macedonia launch a counter attack.
34' An injury to Sedloski causes a moment of brief pause in the game, as England seek to get started in a game that has not yet burst into life.
33' The bumpy pitch is not helping the control of the ball as a number players find it difficult to keep the ball clear of their opponents - as a result the ball is spending a lot of time in the air.
31' Macedonia retreat slightly after enjoying some decent possesion further up the field, it doesn't please the home fans but it will undoubtedly give more opportunities to Gerrard and Lampard to carve out openings.
29' Naumovski and Pandev combine to open England up and create a heading opportunity, although somehow the effort from the Macedonian striker goes in the opposite direction.
28' The games starts to open up with England finding more space, but equally the home side are finding more joy as the likes of Hargreaves and Lampard start to play further forward.
27' Jermain Defoe almost spectacularly opens the scoring for England with a brilliant overhead kick attempt, though he makes a decent connection it drifts wide of the target.
25' Rio Ferdinand takes charge of possesion and finds Peter Crouch well setting England on the attack and the tall striker holds the defenders off well.
24' Petrov recovers from a mistake to challenge Steven Gerrard but the ball drifts out for a throw-in, which Phil Neville delivers long and Peter Crouch heads the ball on target but Nikolovski is equal to it.
22' England look to frustrate the crowd with a spekk of possesion football involving all the players in midfield and defence, although as soon as they look to move forward they are unable to retain the ball.
20' Terry Venables has come down from his seat in the stand to join the coaching staff on the touchline, Rio Ferdinand predicted it would be one of the hardest games in the group and it looks to be the case.
18' Defoe takes down a long ball from Ashley Cole instantly, he in turn finds Neville who is unable to reach a strong forward run by Gerrard.
17' Gerrard takes a grip of the ball and finds Downing in space on the left flank, although he loses possesion Hargreaves is able to present him with another chance to stretch his legs and he delivers a looping cross towards Peter Crouch.
15' Neville gives away another free kick within range for the Macedonian attack, although the delivery again frustrates their attackers.
14' Petrov takes the ball past Neville and delivers a devilish cross that John Terry does well to clear with his head.
12' Phil Neville is late in the tackle on Naumovski and Pandev delivers the free kick. Lampard does well to deal with the danger and England breath again.
11' Lampard and Hargreaves look to assert themselves on the game with some confident possesion in the central areas, although Macedonia are quick to supress any attacking ambition.
10' Macedonia have made a bright start as they look to upset England in Skopje, they have had the better of the play in the early stages with Steve McClaren's men yet to settle.
8' Peter Crouch looks to hold up the ball for the Three Lions but the referee penalises him for a foul.
6' Steven Gerrard makes a fine tackle to rob Pandev of the ball, the crowd are calling for a foul but it was fine challenge and the Liverpool skipper comes away with the ball.
5' Ferdinand wins the ball well after a testing cross from Macedonia's right wing, from the clearance the ball is in the air for a succession of headers.
4' Frank Lampard looks long for Steven Gerrard although the ball carries too long and Sedloski is able to shield the ball out for a goal kick.
3' Owen Hargreaves is fouled after some fine passing down England's left flank, from the free kick Steven Gerrard almost lays on the perfect cross for Peter Crouch.
1' Naumovski is booked early on for a challenge on Paul Robinson.
1' With Israel winning 4-1 against Andorra early tonight England find themselves in second place needing a win to retake top spot in the group.
1' Macedonia kick-off this crucial Euro 2008 qualifier, with both sides having picked up three points already it could be an early advantage for the team who emerges with three points tonight.
Macedonia: Nikolovski, Noveski, Petrov, Sedloski, Igor Mitreski, Lazarevski, Jancevski (Tasevski 49), Sumulikoski, Naumoski (Sakiri 74), Maznov (Stojkov 66), Pandev.
Subs: Pacovski, Aleksander Mitreski, Vasovski, Grozdanovski.
England: 1 Robinson, 2 P Neville, 3 A Cole, 4 Gerrard, 5 Ferdinand, 6 Terry (c), 7 Hargreaves, 8 Lampard (15 Carrick 85), 9 Crouch (18 Johnson 88), 10 Defoe (16 Lennon 85), 11 Downing
Subs: 12 Bridge, 13 Foster, 14 Brown, 17 Bent.
Team Colours:
Macedonia: Red shirts, red shorts, red socks, GK all black or grey tbc
England: White shirts, blue shorts, white socks, GK all blue
Match Officials:
Referee: Bertrand Layec Assistant Referees: Patrick Reinbold, Franck Leloup Fourth Official: Damien Ledentu (All from France)