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England’s quest to end a long World Cup drought began in style on Monday with Gareth Southgate’s side claiming a crucial three points in Group B action.
Bukayo Saka scored twice and four other England players added one each as the Three Lions won 6-2 in Match 2 against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium. Mehdi Taremi scored two goals for Iran.
Jude Bellingham started a strong performance from England’s attack, hitting a header into the back of the net in the 35th minute. Luke Shaw’s cross was deflected into Iran’s goal by the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, leaving Hossein Hosseini to watch as England celebrated the win.
Bukayo Saka doubled England’s lead in the 43rd minute, heading in Harry Maguire’s back pass. Maguire rose above a set piece to watch the Arsenal forward double the Three Lions’ lead.
England added a third goal before half-time through a link between Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Kane’s square pass allowed Sterling to tee up Hosseini to give the Three Lions a 3-0 advantage at half-time.
Saka added his second goal of the day in the 62nd minute to make it 4-0 England.
Taremi scored a goal for Iran in the 65th minute after a great job by Ali Gulizadeh, but England added more damage to the Iranian team.
Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish both added goals for the Three Lions in the final 20 minutes of the match before Taremi made it 6-2 with a late penalty.
England face the USMNT on Friday while Iran face Wales.
Senegal 0, Netherlands 2
(Cody Gakpo 84′, Davy Klaassen 90+9′)
The Netherlands were hopeless for more than 80 minutes in Monday’s Group A match with Senegal, but eventually scored two late goals in a 2-0 victory.
Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen both scored in the space of 15 minutes as the Dutch put Ecuador on top. It was also Qatar’s second shutout in the opening five matches of the group stage.
After both teams struggled to test each other in the final third, Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert was saved by a club in the 65th minute. Noppert beat Boulaye Dia’s shot and denied Idrissa Gueye in the 73rd.
Finally, in the 84th minute, the Dutch scored the winning goal with Gakpo’s goal. Frenkie De Jong’s killer cross allowed the PSV man to beat Nampalys Mendy in a race to hammer home the opening goal.
Davy Klaassen came on the scene in the 99th minute to slam the door on Senegal’s comeback chances. Memphis Depay’s early shot was denied by Edouard Mendy, but the veteran midfielder pulled it back for Holland’s insurance goal.
Senegal will face Qatar on Friday and the Netherlands will face Ecuador.
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