- 75'
Ukraine really haven't offered a lot since about the 20th minute but England have gone about their task tonight well
- 74'
Final substitution for England - I promise - as another youngster, Jenas, enters the fray to give Lampard a well earned rest
- 73'
Defoe, after seeing his good mate score a peach, tries to get in on the act himself. He got into a good position around the edge of the box before letting fly. Decent save to push to ball round the corner by Shovkovsky
- 72'
Wright-Phillips picked the ball in his own half and just set off at pace towrds goal. Jinking and turning in full flight no one offered him a pass so he just went outside on his own and shot low and hard across the keepr into the far corner of the goal. Fantastic stuff - what a talent this boy is. 3-0 England and looking good for it
- 71'
Debut goal for Shaun Wright-Phillips and, my word it's a beauty!!!
- 69'
Rare foray forward from the visitors as a ball into the box was well controlled by Vorobey. He turns sharply to get a shot away but Terry is in close company and blocks
- 68'
Deep free kick from Beckham, for once tonight, is poor but Carragher mops it up and hits the byline before sending over a smart looking cross of his own but no one is there to attack it
- 67'
Band are entertaining/annoying everyone now as England remain fully in control of this game
- 66'
Another substitution - not many more of these allowed now at least - as Rotan, who has looked a classy player this evening, is replaced by Zakarliuka
- 65'
Good work from Dyer on the left. He managed to get a ball across the 18 yard line which very nearly falls to the feet of Wright-Phillips but a strong challenge denies him time and space
- 64'
As ever the substitutions have disrupted the game a little but there is now plenty of young players on the pitch with something to prove
- 63'
Ukraine's turn to make some changes. Off go Nesmachny and Husev. On come Kormilsev and Radchenko
- 62'
Another substitution from England as the impressive Cole ends his night's work and Carragher begins his
- 61'
Wild challenge from Vorobey on Beckham rightly earns a yellow card
- 59'
England are looking good now. Lampard is enjoying himself and it is his cross that caused problems in the Ukraine box. It landed at the feet of Dyer at the front of the six yard box, he played a delicate flick to the path of Defoe, six yards out right in front of goal. In his haste though the Tottenham man rather snatched at it and sent the shot wide. Should have done better but you can forgive him some nerves on what is a big occasion for him
- 58'
defenders attack! Deep, looping cross from Johnson on the right wing was destined for the head of Terry until Shovkovsky plucked it out of the air. Important stop from the keeper
- 57'
Resulting corner sails over the crowded area of the box to the unmarked Tymoschuk but he only found the side netting
- 56'
James shows the area of his game that continues to earn him an England berth. Harmless looking ball into the box squimed its way to the far side of the box and an unmarked Rotan. The Man City keeper was off his line in double quick time to save what would certainly have been a goal
- 55'
Dyer really is getting some rough treatment from the stands as the boos continue to rain down when he has possession
- 54'
Another great cross from the rejuvenated Beckham almost picks out Lampard's clever run into the box but once more it just elludes him when it mattered
- 53'
Substitutions from both sides. England replace Butt with Wright-Phillps whilst for Ukraine on comes Voronin, Shevchenko making way
- 51'
Lampard once more gets forward into a promising position but the ball over the top is just too long for him to profit
- 50'
Purposeful burst forward from Lampard took the ball up field before laying off to Beckham on the right wing. He cut back and strode inside before sending over an inch perfect pass to Owen who had ghosted into the box off the back of his marker and he simply nodded past the helpless Shovkovsky. 2-0 England and the home side are cruising
- 49'
Nothing happening at all in the first five minutes until an England goal made in Madrid. Beckham cross and a decent header from Owen to claim his 27th goal. Are you watching Ronaldo/Morientes/Raul?
- 48'
Cole does well on a couple of occasions to retain possession on the left as he, Owen and Dyer try to get things going down England's left
- 47'
The boo boys make themselves heard when Dyer gets a touch as the match gets off to a flat start. Very unforgiving in these parts
- 46'
Dyer - after supposedly refusing to play on the right for his club when he wants to play in a central position - has taken up a position on the left for his country. Oh, the irony of it all...
- 45'
Just the three substitutions from the uncommonly restrained Eriksson. Off go Neville, Gerrard and Smith to be replaced by Defoe, Johnson and Dyer - who receives a smattering of boos from the Geordie public
- 45'
Ukraine came out of the blocks on fire from the off in this game and the early passages of play saw the two sides exchange chances in a very open game. Ukraine were perhaps the better team in that time but the goal changed everything and since then it has been England's match. Still, a lot of space given to the visitors and they still carry a goal threat. Gerrard has been the man of the match so far by a distance
- 45'
Whistle goes with England on top and they take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room
- 44'
Wonderful skill from Gerrard out by the left touchline. He cut back and then pulled off a Cruyff(ish) turn to sell the defender the wrong way. He then drove into the box before his low cross just failed to pick out a teammate. Gret stuff from Gerrard who is all over the pitch
- 43'
Cole got forward on the left well to support the forwards. England men were queing up in the centre for a change but the defender failed to get past the first defender. Very disappointing in the end
- 42'
Smith gets a first real sight of goal after a delicious slide rule ball from Butt put him behind the Ukraine defence. Smith took it well to let the ball roll past him before shooting but Shovkovsky stood up big and strong to block the goalbound effort
- 41'
Beckham was afforded plenty of space in the Ukraine half and, once he got within 30 yards it was a case of head down and strike it but his effort was easily blocked by the recovering defender
- 40'
Lampard, proding and probing on the edge of the box missed a good chance to release Gerrard who, for once, had taken up a position on the left
- 39'
The band is playing in the stands but there is not much of an atmosphere in St James' due to plenty of empty seats
- 38'
The pace of the game has fallen away a bit but there are goals coming from either side I'm sure
- 37'
King, looking composed and comfortable, brought the ball a long way out and promted an attack that finished with a sharp turn and shot from Gerrard that he just got underneath. Nice build-up
- 35'
Corner to England caused problems for the Ukraine defence. Good delivery towrds the penalty spot saw Terry rise and win the header but the ball flew a yard the wrong side of the goal from and England prospective
- 34'
From the free kick Beckham lines it up - 40 yards out and the visitors have set up a wall(???) - and picks out Neville on the right side of the box. He did well to win the header but couldn't get enough power on it to trouble the keeper
- 33'
Gerrard off the pitch receiving treatment for a gash on his chin
- 32'
Second booking of the night and it's a Ukrainian again. Rather wild, clumsy challenge from Tymoschuk floors Gerrard and rightly is punished
- 31'
I'm not sure what position Gerrard is supposed to be playing as he is appearing everywhere. Taking possession in the centre circle he released Owen who's path to goal was blocked. Lay back to Butt tempts the Newcastle man to shoot but it's not the best part of his game
- 29'
Goal was perhaps cruel on the visitors who have been very bright so far. They continue in the same vain after the restart but Vorobey's effort is sliced high and very, very wide
- 28'
Shovkovsky took a knck during the goal being scored and has to receive a bit of treatment. His pride hurt a bit more than his body I think..
- 27'
After a lull for the home side Terry found himself breaking forward down the right. He looked up and sent over a low cross to space and Beckham slid to get there just before Shovkovsky in the Ukraine goal. 1-0 England
- 26'
I spoke too soon. Pin point cross from John Terry (???) finds Beckham scoring from open play. What's going on here?
- 25'
It's all gone a bit quiet on the England front and Ukraine are on top
- 24'
England's defenders are in real trouble when the Ukrainians attack. Shevchenko and Vorobey are linking up well and the former's angled pass to the latter results in a near post shot that James does well to save
- 22'
Husev is getting some joy down the right as Gerrard is wandering away from his notional left flank position. Great ball over the top would have found him all alone by the touchline but it was a yard too long
- 21'
Really does have a fizz to it, this game. Very unlike a friendly. Or an England friendly at least
- 20'
England chance. Neville cut back on the right and sent over an inswinging cross aimed for Smith. He didn't win the header cleanly but the ball broke to Lampard on the edge of the box. His shot took a bounce before going straight down the keeper's throat. Sat up a bit for Lampard in his defence
- 19'
Lung bursting run through the centre from Gerrard very nearly sets up and England attack but he had too much to do himself in the end and not the support he would have wanted. Good to see though
- 17'
Ukraine enjoying the freedom of St James' Park at the moment. They were queing up on the edge of the box when, eventually after some 'no after you' messing about Rotan teed up Shevchenko. His shot was scuffed a bit and James saved down to his left
- 16'
Beckham tracked back to his own corner flag and then passed across the pitch, very nearly putting James in trouble. His clearance was just in the nick of time as Vorobey closed in
- 15'
England enjoying good possession but the Ukrainians are very quick and direct on the break. Decent little match unfolding here
- 13'
Very open game this one. Ukraine spring an attack with the dangerous looking Shevchenko crrying the ball into the box. Terry slipped, allowing the striker to pick out Rotan on the other side of the area. His volley is struck just a little to hard and sailed over. Would have been a cracker
- 12'
Danger not over as Beckham picks a defender's pocket to get into the box. Picked out Smith at the far post but his acrobatic overhead kick didn't connect as he would have wanted. Would have been a cracker
- 11'
England enjoying a good little spell. Gerrard powered down the left and sent over a decent ball but no one was in the middle to benefit
- 10'
Beckham tries to shot from the resulting free kick fully 35 yards out. He's good but not that good
- 9'
First yellow card of the match. Interception from Gerrard released Owen who tried to knock the ball one way round his marker and run round the other. The 'obstruction' would have been called for a high tackle in Rugby League. Deliberate and obvious. Referee had no chance - lucky for Rusol that he wasn't the last man
- 6'
Free kick from Beckham out by the right hand corner flag is delivered in the manner of the 'old Beckham'. Keeper in trouble as Owen ran to the near post but just does enough to deny the England man
- 5'
Ukraine are certainly up for this one. Plenty of industry from the off
- 4'
James offers yet another example of why people still call him calamity from time to time. A well struck shot from distance is on target but should have been routine. Instead it bounces off his chest forcing him to scramble to the edge of his area to collect. Groans all round
- 3'
It's a thunderous start - but off the pitch rather than on it. Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening...
- 2'
Raking diagonal ball from beckham tries to pick out his Real Madrid teammate Owen and, but for a timely interception, he would have done. Ukraine clear the danger though
- 1'
First strike to Ukraine and it's not too shabby. Vorobey found space in the centre of the pitch, strode forward and cleanly struck a shot from distance that only went a yard over the bar. Warning signs for England from the off
Ukraine get us underway as a lightning storm covers the Newcastle sky
Oh, and the small matter of two vitally important World Cup qualifiers to get some pointers for. Meaningless this friendly is not...
Far from a full house at St James' Park for this friendly but there are a couple of points on interest. The performances of Smith, King, Defoe and Wright-Phillips; Sven being limited to ONLY six substitutions; Beckham with a point to prove after the summer and - the one I'm looking forward to most - the reception for dummy spitting chancer Kieron Dyer after his rather untidy spat with seemingly everyone at Newcastle.
Alan Smith, Nicky Butt and Ledley King will be looking to impress from the start today as they look to take the places of the missing Campbell, Rooney (both injured) and Scholes (retired) from Sven's usual first eleven. Defoe and Wright-Phillips will both get deserved runs out at some point in the second half
Join us tonight for live action from St James' Park where Sven's England take on Ukraine in a friendly international! Kick-off 19:45 UK time.
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