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England are next in qualifying action against Czech Republic in Prague on October 11, while Kosovo play Montenegro in Pristina on October 14.
England secure their fourth win on the bounce in their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, but they were certainly made to work against Kosovo from the off at St Mary's Stadium. Michael Keane's early mistake that allowed Valon Berisha to open the scoring set the tone for a frenetic contest. The Three Lions responded by finding the net five times in the first half. Raheem Sterling equalised before Harry Kane put his team ahead. An own goal from Mergim Vojvoda extended their advantage before Jadon Sancho notched his first two goals for his country, converting two opportunities from close range. England would have been expected to kick on in the second half, but Berisha caused a stir by scoring his second of the evening with a fine strike. Vedat Muriqi then found the net from the penalty spot after being fouled by Harry Maguire. Gareth Southgate's men should have killed off the match, only for Kane to be denied from the spot himself by Arijanet Muric, while Sterling struck the post. However, Kosovo could not add a further twist to the tale, allowing the home side to see out the three points. England need only one more win to qualify for Euro 2020, although Southgate will have huge concerns about the standard of his side's defending after tonight's performance.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 5-3 KOSOVO
90' + 4' Rashford wins a free-kick for England, which should be enough to see out the victory in the corner flag.
90' + 1' England once again attempt to take the pace out of the game. The visitors are not out of the contest with the amount of additional time remaining.
90' There will be five minutes of added time.
88' WIDE! England are caught cold again at the back as Celina surges forward, running at Keane. He opens up space for a strike at goal, but can only bend his effort wide of the right post.
A. Rashkaj
Yellow Card
86' Rashkaj is booked for a terrible challenge on Mount. He is fortunate to escape a red card.
86' SAVE! Mount is brought down by a poor challenge by Rashkaj, but Rashford continues the attack. He cuts in from the left flank to power an effort at goal, but Muric makes a fine stop. Sterling latches on to the rebound, but directs his effort over, although he was offside anyway.
F. Hasani
V. Berisha
85' Berisha is also denied a hat-trick as he makes way for Hasani.
M. Rashford
J. Sancho
85' There will no hat-trick tonight for Sancho as he is replaced by Rashford.
M. Mount
R. Barkley
83' Barkley is withdrawn for Mount in the England midfield.
V. Berisha
Yellow Card
83' Berisha kicks the ball away in frustration after fouling Sterling. He goes into the book for his reaction.
82' The Three Lions are struggling to kill off the game. Barkley wastes a couple of openings in the final third to pick out team-mates.
80' Kosovo continue to threaten as Paqarada finds space down the left flank. His cross into the middle is repelled by Keane heading away from danger.
78' Once again England are attempting to take the pace out of the game. They've not controlled the contest in the second period, which will frustrate Southgate.
76' This is the first England international match to see both sides score at least three goals since June 1995 (a 3-3 draw with Sweden).
74' WIDE! Sterling is inches away from notching England's sixth goal. Sancho leads the break out from the back before he rolls the ball to his team-mate. Sterling squares up his man before going for a strike and it takes a deflection on its way to goal, but it creeps just past the post with Muric beaten.
73' OFF THE POST! Kane robs Halimi in the final third and he releases Sterling into the left inside channel. He goes for a quick strike on his left foot, but Muric gets enough on the ball to deflect it on to the post.
72' Celina lines up a strike from distance, but he can only hammer his attempt harmlessly over the bar.
71' WIDE! Alexander-Arnold goes for goal from the free-kick and he curls his effort around the wall, but he sends his attempt harmlessly wide of the post.
F. Aliti
Yellow Card
70' Aliti brings down Sancho on the charge and he goes into the book for his challenge.
67' Sterling has space on the counter and he surges into the box, but on this occasion his offload lets him down, failing to pick out Kane and Barkley in space.
A. Murić
Penalty Save
65' Muric takes an early step off his line, but there's no VAR to punish him. He dives well to his right to make the stop to deny Kane.
H. Kane
Penalty Miss
65' MISS! KANE FAILS TO CONVERT FROM THE SPOT! The striker goes to the bottom left corner and does not strike well enough to beat Muric, who gets across with a big hand to make the stop. A vital moment in the game as it keeps Kosovo alive.
L. Paqarada
Yellow Card
65' Paqarada goes into the book for encroachment.
B. Halimi
Yellow Card
63' Halimi goes into the book for dissent following the penalty decision.
63' PENALTY TO ENGLAND! Barkley makes a probing run into the box and goes down under a loose challenge from Rrahmani. The referee points to the spot.
61' England are trying to take the pace out of the game with slow possession across the pitch. They need to re-establish their grip on the contest.
A. Rashkaj
I. Voca
59' Voca makes way for Rashkaj for the visitors.
59' England have conceded three goals in a home international for the first time since losing 3-2 against Netherlands in February 2012.
58' Barkley works the ball to Kane with his back to goal before he offloads to Sancho. The winger stands up a cross into the middle, but Muric comes off his line to claim.
56' Southgate will be furious with his side's start to the second half. England have been sloppy once again at the back.
V. Muriqi
Penalty Goal
55' GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! MURIQI CONVERTS!! 5-3!!! Kosovo are well and truly back in the game as the striker blasts his effort into the net. Pickford gets a hand to the ball, but cannot stop it crossing the line.
53' PENALTY TO KOSOVO! Maguire brings down Muriqi in the box and the referee points to the spot.
51' It is the first time England have conceded more than once in a home qualifying match since drawing 2-2 with Switzerland in June 2011.
V. Muriqi
Assist
49' Muriqi breaks down the left flank and puts in a sublime cross to pick out Berisha, who scores a fine effort.
V. Berisha
Goal
49' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! BERISHA SCORES HIS SECOND!! 5-2!!! Kosovo have a goal back to start the second half, capitalising on a mistake by Rice. The midfielder gives the ball away in the middle of the park allowing Muriqi to break forward and bend a cross to the back post. Berisha pulls into space before controlling the ball and bending an effort into the top right corner.
48' SAVE! Kane threads a pass through to Alexander-Arnold on the right flank. He takes a touch to get the ball on to his left foot before swinging a strike on the half-volley, only to be denied by Muric.
47' Sancho (19y 159d) is the youngest player to score more than once in an international for England since Wayne Rooney in June 2004 for Croatia (18y 241d).
46' We're back underway at St Mary's Stadium.
L. Paqarada
F. Muslija
46' Paqarada replaces Muslija in the final third for the visitors.
Kosovo came out with the intention of playing attacking football against England this evening. It's a bold strategy that has not worked out as the visitors have been victimised by Sterling on the counter. They've looked dangerous at times in the final third, but their defence has been cut open time and again. Bernard Challandes may need to rethink his approach at the break to avoid a complete humiliation.
England started their contest against Kosovo in the worst possible manner, conceding after 34 seconds, but ended it after scoring their fifth goal - in complete command of the game. Michael Keane's error allowed Valon Berisha to slot the visitors ahead in the first minute, stunning the fans inside St Mary's Stadium. It didn't take long for the Three Lions to respond as Raheem Sterling headed home from Keane's flick-on. Harry Kane then put his side ahead with a crisp finish before Mergim Vojvoda put the ball into his own net. Jadon Sancho ended the half of a high note scoring his first then his second international goal after being teed up twice by Sterling.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 5-1 KOSOVO
J. Sancho
Goal
45' + 1' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! SANCHO HAS HIS SECOND!!!!!! 5-1!!! ENGLAND AND STERLING ARE RAMPANT!! The City man is the architect of another goal. He surges past Vojvoda down the left flank, using his blistering pace. Sterling goes for a goal from a tight angle, but sees his effort saved. He gathers the rebound and slides it for Sancho to tap in from six yards out. Simply brilliant from England and Sterling.
45' There will be three minutes of added time.
R. Sterling
Assist
44' Sterling collects Rice's pass and races forward before teeing up Sancho to score.
J. Sancho
Goal
44' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! SANCHO SCORES HIS FIRST ENGLAND GOAL!!!! 4-1!!!!!!!! Sancho notches his first strike at international level, converting from close range following a brisk counter. Rice wins the ball in his own half before releasing Sterling down the left flank. He surges into the box before sliding an offload for Sancho in the right inside channel. He takes a touch before firing past Muric.
42' After their early scare, England are in complete control of the contest heading into the break.
40' Challandes is booked on the sideline for his outburst to the fourth official about England continuing to play on for the goal despite Aliti's injury.
M. Vojvoda
Own Goal
38' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! VOJVODA SCORES AN OWN GOAL!!! 3-1 ENGLAND!!!! The home side have a third goal and Kosovo are not happy about. Aliti goes down with an injury on the left flank, but England continue their attack down the right flank. Sancho probes down the wing before firing a low ball into the middle. Vojvoda steers it into his own net by sticking out a left boot.
37' WIDE! Vojvoda raids forward into a promising position and he goes for a strike at goal with power. Pickford has to get across quickly, but the ball travels wide of the post anyway.
35' OVER! Chilwell floats a cross into the box from the corner and Keane meets it on the charge, only to head his attempt over the bar.
34' Sterling has another dart at the Kosovo defence, running into the left inside channel. He wins a corner off the legs of Rrahmani.
33' Kane has scored six goals in his last four home England appearances.
31' Berisha lines up a strike from distance after being afforded space by the England backline. However, his effort is deflected on its way to the target before Pickford scrambles with a dive to prevent a corner.
30' Henderson tries to thread a pass through to Sterling on the charge, but the City forward just cannot take the ball in stride in the box under pressure from Aliti.
30' Celina breaks into a promising position down the left flank. Alexander-Arnold does well to close to win a goal-kick with a solid challenge.
29' The game has been fairly open since kick-off and England appear to be trying to slow down the tempo with their possession game.
27' Sterling is a danger every time he pushes forward, but on this occasion he gets crowded out before he can threaten on the edge of the box.
25' Rrahmani fouls Barkley in the final third, but the Kosovo defence are able to clear the danger from Chilwell's delivery into the box.
23' England move the ball well across the pitch before Sancho has a dart down the right inside channel. He checks back to tee up Barkley for a strike, but he sends his effort over the bar.
21' A minor scare for the hosts as Berisha gets down the left inside channel and fires the ball across the face of goal. It evades Maguire, but also Muriqi in the middle before the Three Lions clear the danger.
R. Sterling
Assist
19' Sterling bamboozles his marker in the middle of the park before sprinting away to the edge of the box. He feeds Kane before the skipper does the rest.
H. Kane
Goal
19' GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!! KANE BLASTS ENGLAND IN FRONT!!!! 2-1!!! The Three Lions take the lead through their captain courtesy of fine work from Sterling. The City forward turns his man with ease in the centre circle before speeding to the edge of the box. He picks out Kane in the left inside channel, who allows the ball to travel across to his left foot. The England skipper goes for power, smashing his attempt through the legs of Muric.
18' Muric almost endures a calamity at the back as he takes a poor first touch, which sees the ball roll towards the goalline. However, he quicky gets back to clear the danger.
17' Barkley surges through the middle of the Kosovo midfield before teeing up Sterling on the edge of the box. The Manchester City man tries to weave his way through to goal, but is crowded out. Alexander-Arnold then overhits a cross out of play for a goal-kick.
15' Sterling has space on the counter and he has options to the left and right of him. He goes for an offload to Kane, only to be denied by an interception by Aliti.
14' Sterling has scored his first headed goal for England and second of the season for club and country - as many as he managed in all of last season.
12' Chilwell lifts the corner into the box, but Muric comes off his line to make the claim.
12' Chilwell has a dart down the left flank and he fires a low ball towards the middle, forcing Rrahmani to stick a leg out to send it behind for a corner.
10' It has been a frenetic start to the contest, but England are slowly beginning to assert their authority over the visitors.
M. Keane
Assist
8' Keane atones for his error by winning a header and teeing up Sterling to find the net.
R. Sterling
Goal
8' GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!! STERLING EQUALISES!!! 1-1!!! England are back on level terms within seven minutes. Barkley hangs a cross from his corner to the back post where Keane rises to head towards the six-yard box. Sterling meets the header of his team-mate, nodding his effort past Muric from close range.
7' Barkley and Henderson combine to release Sancho down the right inside channel. The winger goes for a low cross into the middle, but sees the ball diverted behind by Hadergjonaj.
5' The home side are trying to establish a possession game, knocking the ball patiently around the pitch. Southgate will be keen to see a quick response from his team.
3' England have been rocked by Keane's early mistake. He did receive a poor pass from Barkley, but he should have done a lot better with his offload. The Three Lions have to battle adversity not for the first time in the group stage.
V. Muriqi
Assist
1' Muriqi collects the loose ball and tees up Berisha to score.
V. Berisha
Goal
1' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! BERISHA PUTS KOSOVO AHEAD!!! Stunning scenes at St Mary's as the visitors lead after 34 seconds. Keane plays an awful cross-field pass straight to Aliti. The midfielder finds Berisha in front of goal and he needs no second invitation to race through on goal before slotting his strike into the left bottom corner.
1' We're underway at St Mary's Stadium.
This is England’s second match at St. Mary’s Stadium and first since October 2002, when they drew 2-2 with Macedonia in a Euro 2004 qualifier. They also played at Southampton’s old ground, The Dell, for one game in March 1901, winning 3-0 against Ireland.
Berisha and Muslija come into the fold for Kosovo in the final third this evening in two changes from their win over Czech Republic. Bernard Challandes has altered his options as Zhegrova and Rashani drop to the bench.
England have made three changes to their side that beat Bulgaria with ease last time out. Southgate has rotated his full-backs, moving Alexander-Arnold and Chilwell into the line-up at the expense of Trippier and Rose. Sancho gets the nod in the final third ahead of Rashford, who drops to the bench.
KOSOVO SUBS: Samir Ujkani, Ibrahim Dresevic, Anel Rashkaj, Florent Hasani, Elbasan Rashani, Visar Bekaj, Leart Paqarada, Mirlind Kryeziu, Atdhe Nuhiu, Edon Zhegrova, Bernard Berisha.
KOSOVO (4-2-3-1): Arijanet Muric; Mergim Vojvoda, Amir Rrahmani, Fidan Aliti, Florent Hadergjonaj; Idriz Voca, Besar Halimi, Florent Muslija, Bersant Celina, Valon Berisha; Veda Muriqi.
ENGLAND SUBS: Kieran Trippier, Tom Heaton, Danny Rose, Joe Gomez, Tyrone Mings, Harry Winks, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Nick Pope, Callum Wilson.
ENGLAND (4-3-3): Jordan Pickford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell; Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Ross Barkley; Jadon Sancho, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling.
Kosovo have been one of the surprise packages of qualifying thus far, sitting in second place only one point behind England. They've taken eight points from their opening four matches, including an impressive victory over Czech Republic last time out. Vedat Muriqi and Mergim Vojvoda found the net to guide their side to a 2-1, keeping the momentum building after previously Bulgaria. However, the challenge of the Three Lions will be their toughest one yet.
England continued their impressive start to their qualifying campaign againt Bulgaria last time out, earning their third win on the bounce. Gareth Southgate's men claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory courtesy of a hat-trick from Harry Kane, while Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet. The Three Lions can take a large stride towards Euro 2020 with another win tonight.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Euro 2020 Group A qualifying match between England and Kosovo at St Mary's Stadium.
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