England maintained their lead at the top of UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 1 with a 9-0 win at home to San Marino on Tuesday evening.
First-half goals from Michael Keane, Raheem Sterling, Danny Ings, James Ward-Prowse and Thomas Ince put the home side firmly in control at the break in front of an impressive crowd in Shrewsbury.
And the Three Lions did not sit back in the second period, as Burnley hot-shot Ings and Liverpool winger Sterling both grabbed their second goals.
England 9-0 San Marino
UEFA European U21 Championship
Group One Qualifier
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Greenhous Meadow
Shrewsbury Town FC
Further strikes from man-of-the-match Carl Jenkinson and a first Under-21s goal for Derby County midfielder Will Hughes rounded off an impressive victory for Gareth Southgate's team on what was a wet and windy night at Greenhaus Meadow.
"I was pleased with the attitude and hunger of my players to do the right thing and go forward because it would have been easy for us to get sloppy," said Southgate.
"This is a tough team to come into at the moment because the players are setting the standards very high."
England Under-21s: 1 Jack Butland (c) (12 Jonathan Bond 46), 2 Carl Jenkinson, 3 Jack Robinson, 4 Will Hughes, 5 John Stones (15 Eric Dier, 62), 6 Michael Keane, 7 Thomas Ince (17 Patrick Bamford, 65), 8 James Ward-Prowse, 9 Danny Ings, 10 Jesse Lingard, 11 Raheem Sterling.
Substitutes not used: 12 Luke Shaw, 14 Nathaniel Chalobah, 16 Wilfried Zaha, 18 Morrison.
Goals: Michael Keane (13), Raheem Sterling (15 & 59), Danny Ings (18 & 48), Carl Jenkinson (61), Will Hughes (78).
San Marino Under-21s: 1 Manzaroli (12 Berardi, 83), 2 Proli, 3 D. Maiani, 4 Brolli, 5 Ciambotta (15 Cesarini, 69), 6 Biordi, 7 Liverani (16 Faetanini, 69), 8 Colombini (c), 9 Bernardi, 10 Golinucci, 11 Battistini
Substitutes not used: 13 Angelini, 14 Baizan, 17 Zavoli, 18 Zonzini.
