England 3-1 Mexico - Match Report

A superb Glen Johnson goal at the start of the second half was the highlight of England's 3-1 friendly international victory against Mexico at Wembley. However, it was an unimpressive display by Fabio Capello's men who were outplayed for long spells, particularly in the first period, by the very lively visitors. - England 3-1 Mexico: As it happened Glen Johnson's excellent strike appeared to deflate the Mexicans, who had pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time after England had earlier been fortunate to take a two-goal lead. England's penultimate warm-up game before they play the USA in 18 days' time in South Africa was a strange affair played on a balmy late May evening. Capello named a surprise line-up with Ledley King alongside Rio Ferdinand in central defence while Michael Carrick started in midfield and Peter Crouch partnered Wayne Rooney in attack. Glen Johnson began the game at right-back rather than Jamie Carragher while Leighton Baines got the nod at left-back instead of Stephen Warnock. After Mexico had dominated the opening stages, England took the lead against the run of play in the 17th minute when Steven Gerrard's deep corner was headed back into the danger area by Crouch where an unmarked King was able to guide his header into the back of the net. Mexico's marking at the corner was dire as both Crouch and King had acres of space in which to work the opening. Undeterred, Mexico hit back, and, on the half-hour, Baines misjudged a bouncing ball allowing Giovani dos Santos to race through a static defence. The ball broke to Arsenal's Carlos Vela who seemed certain to score only for Robert Green to race off his line and smother the effort. Mexico went even closer to equalising minutes later when another good move ended with Carlos Salcido deceiving James Milner and then curling in a shot that beat Green only to come back off a post. Incredibly though England doubled their advantage in the 34th minute from another corner that was poorly defended. Rooney was allowed to get in a header that Oscar Perez somehow touched against the bar but Crouch was on the goal-line where he bundled the ball home. The visitors deservedly pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time although it was a scrappy affair. Poor defending at a corner forced Baines to clear Rafael Marquez's header off the line but Guillermo Franco was on hand to turn the ball home and make it 2-1 at the break. A raft of substitutions at half time and throughout the second half stopped the flow of the game although Mexico continued to dominate possession even after England had restored their two-goal advantage with a brilliant goal. Just two minutes into the second half Glen Johnson cut in from the right wing after combining well with Walcott and then carried on running before drilling a left-foot strike home from the edge of the penalty area. England were far more solid in a tight second period although they were happy to give possession to the visitors for long spells. Capello still has much to ponder before he cuts his squad down to 23 players next Tuesday, two days after his team play Japan in Austria.