International friendly: England v Hungary full time report
England 2 Hungary 1
England were involved in another goalline controversy in their first match since the World Cup, but two superb goals from Steven Gerrard ensured that they beat Hungary at Wembley.
Skipper Gerrard scored twice inside four minutes midway through the second half, firstly smashing a brilliant 30 yard effort into the top corner, before wriggling past three Hungarian defenders and poking home the second from close range.
The goals were a timely boost for England, who were largely impressive throughout the night, but had fallen behind just after the hour mark when a Phil Jagielka deflection from a Hungarian cross was ruled to have crossed the line, despite replays showing that Michael Dawson had appeared to have prevented the goal.
Adam Johnson wasted a good chance for England in the first half, while debutant Bobby Zamora twice came close in the second period.
But the night was to belong to Gerrard. The captain had admitted that – after the dismal World Cup campaign – even he would boo England were he in a fan in the stands tonight, but in truth there were barely any audible jeers heard, and certainly none for the Liverpool man’s two great goals.
Despite widespread fears that Wembley would have many empty seats, a 72,000 strong crowd were in attendance, and England looked eager to impress them in the opening moments. Wayne Rooney was just marginally offside when played through by Gerrard after just three minutes, before Jagielka poked an effort into the side-netting after a corner wasn’t cleared.
The Three Lions were looking more fluid than at any time during the summer, and Glen Johnson and Theo Walcott linked up well to present Adam Johnson with a great chance, only for the Manchester City winger to sidefoot over when he should have done better, before Hungary finally threatened at the other end, as Balázs Dzsudzsák’s effort was deflected wide by Jagielka.
Dzsudzsák was carrying the Hungarians’ only real threat, and he saw an effort come off Ashley Cole and loop over, before Frank Lampard’s through ball was close to putting Gerrard clean though at the other end.
Gerrard was soon testing Hungary goalkeeper Gábor Király with a curling free kick that the former Crystal Palace man did well to turn over, and despite England dominating play for large periods of the half, many England supporters chose to boo their side off at half time.
Zamora, Dawson and Kieran Gibbs came on at half-time for their England debuts alongside Ashley Young, ensuring that England switched to the kind of 4-4-2 formation that they used in South Africa.
Rooney and Zamora linked up well initially, but hesitation saw a good chance deteriorate into a long range Gerrard effort that looped over, before Adam Johnson smashed a left footed effort over the bar after his initial free kick was blocked, and then saw a curling effort easily saved by Király, but drama was just around the corner.
The Hungarians had still barely threatened, but a slip by Dawson allowed captain Zoltan Gera to run at the England defence, and after a left wing cross deflected off Jagielka and went goalwards, Dawson had appeared to have cleared the ball off the line, but the officials gave a goal.
Capello’s response was to replace Rooney with James Milner, but it wasn’t long before his side were in front thanks to two fantastic goals in four minutes from the England captain.
For his first, Gerrard collected the ball 30 yards out before arrowing a powerful right footed effort into the top corner of the net and charging off in an emotional celebration, a celebration that appeared to release all of the pent up frustrations of the past few weeks.
As if to emphasise the point, he then scored a brilliant second.
Taking a Young pass, he danced into the box showing excellent close control, before wriggling past three Hungarian defenders and poking home an effort at the near post. It was as breathtaking as the first, but in an almost completely different way.
Zamora fired over soon afterwards, but the next loudest cheer was for Gerrard’s withdrawal to a standing ovation with around eight minutes remaining. His replacement Jack Wilshere came on for his debut.
Gera could have stolen a draw for Hungary late on but for a good save from a largely underworked Joe Hart, before Zamora came close again at the other end with a header from Adam Johnson’s cross.
The final whistle was met with cheers from the Wembley crowd. Gerrard’s brilliant brace has restored a feelgood factor to English football for now at least.
Not even their harshest of critics could have booed those goals.
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