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England national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Oct 9, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Estonia national football team

2-0

Walcott (45'), Sterling (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)

England edge past Estonia

Goals from Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling give England a 2-0 win over Estonia in their Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley.

England have maintained their 100% record in the Euro 2016 qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Estonia at Wembley this evening.

Theo Walcott (L) of England celebrates with team mates after scoring during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between England and Estonia at Wembley on October 9, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. © Getty Images

Despite already having their place at next year's tournament in France secured, the home side were pressing from the start as Theo Walcott attempted to volley the ball past Mihkel Aksalu inside the opening five minutes.

The Estonia keeper was kept busy throughout the opening 30 minutes as Ross Barkley tried to make the most of a ball in from Adam Lallana, but the keeper was there to deny him.

Estonia's best chance in the first half came just after the half-hour mark when Taijo Teniste won the ball on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked and cleared before it could trouble Joe Hart.

England piled forward again in the final few minutes before half time, still looking for the opening goal. Walcott missed the target with another couple of shots, but finally broke the deadlock when Barkley played him in just seconds before the break, setting up the Arsenal man for a finish into the bottom right corner.

Harry Kane tried to double the lead for Roy Hodgson's side early in the second half as the Tottenham striker pounced on a loose ball after Lallana was denied by Aksalu, but the Estonia keeper recovered quickly to make another save.

The home side continued to look the more likely as Barkley rounded a couple of defenders before attempting to slice the ball in from a tight angle, but his finish was a fraction wide.

Estonia tightened up at the back to limit England's chances for much of the second half, but Barkley managed to slip through again inside the final 15 minutes, forcing Aksalu to make yet another save.

Raheem Sterling of England (R) celebrates with Jamie Vardy as he scores their second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between England and Estonia at Wembley on October 9, 2015 in London, United Kingdom.© Getty Images

Jamie Vardy, who is the top scorer in the Premier League so far this season, came off the bench in the final 10 minutes to make his Wembley debut in an England shirt, and had an almost immediate impact by getting in behind before squaring the ball to Raheem Sterling, leaving the Manchester City winger to slot in for the home side's second of the night.

There was time for Tottenham's Dele Alli to come off the bench to make his senior England debut with just a couple of minutes remaining.

The result leaves England with nine wins from their nine qualifiers so far, with only a fixture against Lithuania still to come.

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Theo Walcott of England in action during the International Friendly match between Italy and England at Juventus Stadium on March 31, 2015
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