England returned to winning ways as they beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in Prague in the UEFA Nations League to bounce back from previous disappointing result.
Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane scored in the second half to give Thomas Tuchel’s side three important points after their 3-2 defeat to Spain in their opening game.
The Three Lions controlled much of the first half and created several good chances, but they were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Matěj Kovář, who was solid in goal.
The hosts also made life difficult for England by defending deep and looking to attack on the break. The visitors came close to opening the scoring in the 16th minute.
Anthony Gordon delivered a low cross into the box and Morgan Rogers struck the ball on the turn, but his effort hit the far post. Elliot Anderson followed up, but his shot was blocked before Bukayo Saka also saw his effort stopped.
Gordon then came close himself when he received the ball after Lewis Hall won possession high up the pitch. The three Lions forward cut inside and curled a shot just wide of the far post.
The biggest moment of the first half came in the 24th minute when Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Sulc was sent off.
Sulc was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Elliot Anderson, but after a VAR review, the referee upgraded the decision to a straight red card.
Sulc had caught Anderson on the Achilles with his studs, leaving the Czech Republic with 10 men. England had a man advantage but still struggled to break through before half-time.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked in the 35th minute for a late tackle on Lukáš Červ. Morgan Rogers also had a chance shortly before the break when he headed a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross wide.
Harry Kane came close to scoring just before half-time. The captain turned well on the edge of the box and sent a curling effort towards goal, but Kovář made a good save to push the ball around the post.
The England national team made a change at the start of the second half, with Eberechi Eze replacing Lewis-Skelly. The change quickly helped them find the breakthrough.
Just 47 minutes into the match, they took the lead. Alexander-Arnold collected a loose ball on the right and sent a fine cross into the penalty area of the host.
Anthony Gordon read the delivery perfectly and headed the ball past Kovář to make it 1-0. It was an excellent assist from Alexander-Arnold and a well-taken finish from Gordon.
England continued to push for a second goal in the match. Lewis Hall had a good chance in the 52nd minute after combining with Gordon, but his left-footed effort went wide of the far post.
The Czech Republic nearly conceded again in the 61st minute when Hall sent a dangerous low cross into the box. Ladislav Krejčí tried to clear the ball but accidentally directed it onto his own post.
The ball bounced away and the hosts survived. Harry Kane finally doubled England’s lead in the 69th minute with an incredible finish.
Eberechi Eze played the ball into the area for Morgan Rogers, who was challenged by Krejčí. The loose ball fell to Kane, who made no mistake with his first-time left-footed finish into the far corner.
The goal was Kane’s 87th for the Three Lions national team. The home side tried to respond late in the match which almost gave them something to celebrate.
Adam Hložek forced James Trafford into a comfortable save with a long-range effort, but England remained in control.
Thomas Tuchel then made further changes, with Jude Bellingham, Rio Ngumoha and Alex Scott coming on in the 71st minute for Kane, Anderson and Saka.
The visitors managed the final stages well and kept their first clean sheet in seven matches. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 win for England over Czech Republic.
Gordon’s goal, Alexander-Arnold’s assist, Kane’s 87th international goal and Sulc’s first-half red card were the main talking points from the encounter which wasn’t that bad for both teams.
The victory gives the Lions their first Nations League win of the campaign and puts them back on track in Group A3. England will now turn their attention to their next Nations League fixture against Croatia.
Meanwhile, Czech Republic will have to regroup and try to see what they can make happen in their upcoming games in the group.
