England vs Australia LIVE: Result and reaction as Ollie Watkins’ goal secures Three Lions victory
The Three Lions kick off their October matches with a friendly against the Socceroos at Wembley
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Your support makes all the difference.England edged past Australia in an international friendly at Wembley to keep their recent winning run alive and give them a touch of momentum heading into a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy next week.
After Gareth Southgate named an inexperienced starting XI to take on the Socceroos, the Three Lions took their time to settle. The controlled possession but failed to make much of an impact in the first half with Ollie Watkins - leading the line in the absence of Harry Kane - missing two great chances.
At the other end of the pitch, Australia should have gone ahead through Ryan Strain whose shto from the right side of the box was beautifully kept out by a back-tracking Lewis Dunk.
After the break things were different. England upped the tempo and operated higher up the pitch. Trent Alexander-Arnold found Jack Grealish in the box and the Man City man picked out Watkins at the far post who tapped in the winner.
Relive the action from Wembley and get all the latest odds and tips for the match right here:
England 0-0 Australia
39 mins: Ryan Strain joins Conor Gallagher in the book after Jack Grealish works the ball around the full-back and tries to sprint pass. Strain almost wrestles him to the ground and it’s a clear booking.
James Maddison curls the free kick into the box but Harry Souttar is on hand to flick the ball to safety.
England 0-0 Australia
36 mins: A switch of play from the Socceroos sees the ball come over to Martin Boyle who brings the ball down and quickly shimmies into the penalty area.
Boyle checks to the right and shoots but can’t control the effort sending it wide of the target.
England 0-0 Australia
33 mins: Conor Gallagher gets outmuscled by Craig Goodwin who drives Australia towards the England box. Trying to recover, Gallagher leaps into a tackle and brings down the man earning himself a yellow card in the process.
The resultant free kick is flicked into the penalty area but Sam Johnstone comes out to claim the ball confidently enough.
England 0-0 Australia
30 mins: Chance! England should be one up. Jack Grealish offloads the ball to James Maddison who threads it through the Australian defence with perfection.
Ollie Watkins is the willing runner. He collects the ball and shifts it around Mat Ryan. There’s an open goal ahead of him and Watkins turns the ball towards goal only for his slowly rolling shot to get cleared off the line!
England 0-0 Australia
27 mins: Fikayo Tomori clears a throw in from inside the box and nods the ball behind for a corner. Martin Boyle swings the set piece into the middle but the first ball is dealt with well.
Australia recycle the loose ball and Lewis Dunk’s header is knocked down to Craig Goodwin. He takes a snapshot and just lifts the effort over the top!
England 0-0 Australia
24 mins: Oh wow. Levi Colwill slips the ball down the line to Jack Grealish who works it forward for James Maddison cutting across from a central position.
Maddison takes control of the ball, nips into the box then totally miscues his shot and spoons the ball out of play.
England 0-0 Australia
21 mins: Close! Australia look the more likely team to score here. Martin Boyle brings the ball down the right channel and flicks a lovely cross into the box.
Mitchell Duke meets the ball on the volley and smokes his effort just wide of the far post!
England 0-0 Australia
18 mins: Kye Rowles takes a knock an needs a bit of treatment for the left side of his face. Australia are down to 10-men for the time being as the defender gets a lot of strapping taped around his head.
England press their advantage but can’t find a way through. Jack Grealish is dispossessed inside the box by Harry Souttar who clears his lines.
England 0-0 Australia
15 mins: The rain is pouring down at Wembley adding an extra dimension to the game with the ball skipping across the turf. Trent Alexander-Arnold brings the ball into midfield and slips a forward pass through the lines.
Ollie Watkins chases after it but Mat Ryan is quickly off his line to get to the loose ball first.
England 0-0 Australia
12 mins: Save! England are slow to close down the ball inside their own final third as Australia come forward down the left wing. The ball is given to Keanu Baccus who blazes a shot at goal from a long way out.
He hits it well and forces Sam Johnstone into a leaping stop to his left, the goalkeeper palming the ball wide of the goal.
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