England 6-2 Iran:
Bukayo Saka scored twice in England’s World Cup win over Iran 6-2 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.
Saka, whose Euro 2020 final was decided by a penalty miss last year, scored a stunning goal to give Gareth Southgate’s side a 3-0 lead after half-time.
Jude Bellingham scored his first international goal and Raheem Sterling scored England’s third at home as Iran collapsed after goalkeeper Alireza Beyranvand suffered a serious head injury early on.
Mehdi Taremi denied England a hard-fought goalless draw, but substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish sent the Three Lions a message to their Group B rivals, but Taremi responded with a second-half penalty.
Harry Maguire was troubled in the opposition box and saw an early appeal waved away in the 32nd minute before his header hit the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Bellingham converted Luke Shaw’s looping header into the right corner.
With Iran struggling to keep the Three Lions at bay, Maguire doubled England’s lead by heading a corner into Saka’s path and firing a powerful volley into the top right corner.
Southgate went 3-0 up in the first half when Sterling beautifully headed in Harry Kane’s right-wing cross.
Iran’s Hossein Hosseini’s low goal was saved by Saka after the break and England showed no signs of slowing down.
Taremi denied England a clean sheet with a cross, but Rashford and Grealish replaced Rashford as the Three Lions took a 6–1 lead.
Taremi had one final act after a VAR review ruled John Stones had fouled him.
