September 07, (THEWILL) — England maintained their flawless record in 2026 World Cup qualifying with a commanding 2-0 victory over Andorra at Villa Park.
The Three Lions dominated proceedings throughout, though they initially struggled to convert their territorial advantage into clear-cut opportunities against resolute opposition.
The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute when Noni Madueke’s delivery from the right flank caught the Andorra defence off guard.
Christian Garcia’s unfortunate intervention saw the ball deflect into his own net, providing England with the opener their early pressure had merited.
England’s second-half performance continued similarly, with the hosts enjoying 83% possession and persistently testing Andorra’s defensive resolve.
Declan Rice doubled the advantage in the 67th minute, connecting perfectly with Reece James’s precise cross to power a header beyond the goalkeeper.
Elliot Anderson earned his first England cap with a starting position, whilst substitute Anthony Gordon spurned a gilt-edged chance to extend the lead.
The former Newcastle United striker miscued a close-range header off his shoulder moments after entering the contest, denying England a more emphatic scoreline.
The victory maintains England’s perfect start atop Group K ahead of Tuesday’s away fixture against Serbia. Andorra remains at the bottom of the qualifying group, having yet to register a point in their campaign.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
