Stand-in skipper Michael Owen’s 28th goal for England was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in difficult conditions in Baku on Wednesday.
The Real Madrid striker rose to joint eighth in his country’s all-time scoring charts by heading home Ashley Cole’s cross midway through the first half, and a disciplined performance ensured England never looked like relinquishing their lead.
”It was a great ball from Ashley but it was difficult because the ball was swirling about all over the place,” said Owen.
”It was important for us to win the game, that’s the main thing. The fact I scored was secondary. A game is not just about scoring. I can play well and not score, or allegedly not score, like I did against Wales.
”It was also a great honour and responsibility to be captain.”
The win leaves England clear at the top of group six with 10 points from their first four games. And with four of the remaining six at home, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side will be confident of going on to tie up their place in Germany with at least a couple of games to spare.
A combination of temperatures hovering only just above zero and a near-gale-force wind ensured it was never going to be a night for pretty football in front of a stadium that was only two-thirds full.
In fact, the match was only given the go-ahead after a pitch and safety inspection.
Eriksson can take heart from what was another assured performance from his defence, which comfortably ensured Azerbaijan were restricted to a series of optimistic, long-range efforts.
The atrocious conditions had very nearly gifted England a lead in the first five minutes when the wind whipping in off the Caspian Sea caused Gary Neville’s low cross to swirl away from goalkeeper Jahangir Hasanzade, forcing the goalkeeper to throw himself full length to intercept as Owen threatened.
The ‘keeper was less impressive as he flapped at an Owen cross shortly afterwards as England quickly began to make the gulf in quality between the two sides count.
A long-distance effort from Emin Guliyev that skidded wide provided the home spectators with a brief moment of excitement, but England immediately returned to the offensive, Jermaine Jenas thumping a left-foot shot at Hasanzade after being set up by Owen.
Jenas had been a surprise selection to fill the right midfield berth created by David Beckham’s injury/suspension. But an assured start vindicated Eriksson’s choice and the Newcastle midfielder was involved in the build-up to England’s opening goal.
A slick sequence of passes saw the ball worked out of defence to the right, then quickly switched to the left touchline, from where Ashley Cole’s cross found Owen peeling away from his markers.
With no challenge to trouble him, the Real Madrid striker was able to nod the ball past Hasanzade’s right hand.
There was more good work from Jenas when he robbed Kamal Guliyev and fed Defoe, who duly set up Lampard for a shot that Hasanzade gathered comfortably.
Wayne Rooney had been conspicuously quiet up until that point, but he made himself noticed with a viciously swerving free kick that Hasanzade could only punch away before, less than a minute later, cutting down Anatoly Ponomaryov to earn himself a yellow card.
England had another chance just before the break when they were awarded an indirect free-kick just outside the six-yard box after a passback straight to the goalkeeper.
Butt touched the ball to Rooney, but the teenager’s blast was bravely blocked by Azeri defender Mahir Shukurov.
Azerbaijan’s best period came at the start of the second half, triggered by an under-hit pass from Sol Campbell that would have given Sahir Aliyev a clear run at goal but for a stumble which allowed Rio Ferdinand to snuff out the danger.
Aliyev did better a minute later when he sent a low shot whistling narrowly wide and Attandil Hajiyev forced Paul Robinson into his first save of the evening — a block with his legs — after the England defence failed to clear a dangerous cross from the right.
The storm was weathered and Lampard helped England reassert themselves with a fiercely struck free-kick from 35 yards that Hasanzade could only palm over his crossbar.
That was to prove the last meaningful effort from either side until Rooney drew another save from the goalkeeper with a curling late free kick.
England had their three points, Azerbaijan had avoided disgrace: a satisfactory outcome for both parties but not a match to live long in the memory. — Sapa-AFP