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Saturday 16 November 2013

Match Report: England 0 - 2 Chile - Sanchez at the double as Chile sink England

England's preparations for next summer's World Cup got off to a disappointing start as Alexis Sanchez's brace gave Chile a deserved 2-0 victory at Wembley.

The Barcelona forward finished off a dangerous attack on seven minutes to give the visitors the lead against a Three Lions team including three debutants.
And he clinched the triumph when he finished off a breakaway move in stoppage time with a delicious dink after a mistake by Gary Cahill.
Roy Hodgson handed opportunities to Celtic keeper Fraser Forster and Southampton duo Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana but it proved a tough baptism for the trio as the South Americans dominated.

Frank Lampard went close with a deflected free kick and Lallana dragged wide on the stroke of half-time, but chances were few and far between for the home team.
The visitors' high pressing game and fast counter attack proved highly effective and Wigan's Jean Beausejour and Eduardo Vargas both wasted good opportunities to extend the advantage in the first period.
England improved after the break but a flurry of substitutions from both sides resulted in a disjointed end to the encounter before Sanchez wrapped up the success with his eighth goal in seven international appearances.
The result sees England lose their first match in 2013 and only their second in 17 outings ahead of Tuesday's mouthwatering showdown with Germany.

MATCH FACTS
England have not scored against Chile since Nat Lofthouse netted back in 1953.
The defeat is England's first in 2013 and only their second under Roy Hodgson.
Chile are now unbeaten in 10 matches.
That was only England's third loss in 32 matches at Wembley.
Alexis Sanchez has scored eight in his last seven internationals.
Chile join Brazil as the only teams from outside UEFA to beat England twice at Wembley (new and old).
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH - A TRIO OF DEBUTANTS. Roy Hodgson was true to his word after promising to run the rule over some new faces ahead of next summer's trip to Brazil. The England boss made eight changes from the crucial qualifying win over Poland and opted to hand senior bows to Celtic stopper Fraser Forster and Southampton duo, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez.
3' DECENT SAVE! - Bravo makes a bit of a hash of pushing Jones' header to safety following a free kick from the left. Fortunately for the visitors no-one is following up to tap home.
7' GOAL! - Sanchez stuns Wembley with a fine header at the back post from Charles Aranguiz's delightful left-wing cross.
14' CONFIDENCE-BOOSTER! - Forster will feel a whole let better as he beats away Beausejour's fizzing shot with one of his few touches in an England shirt. Good hands by the Celtic man but more slack play by the hosts' back four.
20' CLOSE! - Lampard crashes in a 35-yard free-kick that takes a nick off the wall and forces a smart fingertip save from the Chile stopper.
30' SLICK STUFF FROM CHILE - What a goal that would have been! A superb move from back to front sees Beausejour close in on Forster but the Wigan man's touch is poor and the England keeper gets out to force him wide. The cross eventually comes in and Eduardo Vargas sees a shot on the spin blocked. Let off for England.
44' BIG CHANCE! - Wonderful play by Wilshere to chest the ball down and send Rooney surging down the left. The Man Utd man plays a lovely pass into Lallana whose eyes must have lit up but he drags his shot wide via a deflection.
90+5' GOAL! - Game over. 2-0 to Chile. A mistake by Cahill gifts the ball to the away side who sweep forward and finish the game courtesy of Sanchez's wonderful dink over the keeper.

TALKING POINT - Did the new faces stake a claim for the World Cup? Fraser Forster could do little to prevent Sanchez's goals and did produce a couple of smart saves as the game wore on. Adam Lallana grew into the contest and showed some superb touches at times. He also wasted one of England's better chances late in the first period. It was more frustrating for Rodriguez who struggled to make much of an impact.
MATCHCAST: FULL COMMENTARY AND STATS
MAN OF THE MATCH - Alexis Sanchez (Chile) - Took both of his goals with real aplomb and was a constant menace throughout. A class act.
PLAYER RATINGS - ENGLAND: Forster 6, Johnson 5, Baines 5, Milner 5, Cahill 5, Jones 7, Wilshere 6, Lampard 7, Lallana 6, Rooney 6, Rodriguez 5. Subs: Smalling 6, Townsend 6, Defoe 5, Henderson 6, Cleverley 5, Barkley 5.
CHILE: Bravo 7, Mena 6, Gonzalez 7, Isla 6, Vargas 6, Fernandez 6, Beausejour 6, Medel 6, Aranguiz 7, Diaz 6, Sanchez 8. Subs: Jara 6, Carmona 6, Guttierez 6, Munoz 5, Fuenzalida 5.

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