ATHENS -- A scrambled Paul Scholes goal and a superb late free kick by David Beckham gave England a 2-0 win over Greece in a tense World Cup group nine qualifier.
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| Greece's Nikos Machlas (l) tries to keep pace with England's Paul Scholes. (Reuters) | |
England had the best of the first half and made the breakthrough in the 64th minute when Manchester United midfielder Scholes deflected in an Emile Heskey cross-shot for his 13th goal in his 35th international.
Although Greece then applied some pressure, England held out and Beckham's 87th minute curler secured their fifth successive victory under Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson -- a feat no previous England boss had ever managed at the start of their career.
More importantly it takes them to 10 points from five games, six behind leaders Germany who won 2-0 in Albania. Greece remain third on six points from six games. England next play Germany away in September in a game they must win to have any realistic chance of topping the group.
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