Spain 2-0 England

12-02-2009This Month 12th Feb 10:03

Spain kept up their undefeated record with a 2-0 win over England but the game gave the Three Lions their first defeat in nine games.

England got off to a good start with Gareth Barry crossing from the left to Gabriel Agbonlahor only for the Villa teammate to shoot just wide. Emile Heskey was fouled when he was clear on goal but instead of been awarded a free kick he was wrongly given offside.

Spain soon found their feet though and Liverpool's Fernando Torres went close but Everton's Phil Jagielka, in his first international start blocked the shot  and cleared after David James's fumble.

It was Jagielka though whose mistake allowed Spain their first goal, his loose pass found Xabi Alonso who passed to David Villa. Villa got past Jagielka and John Terry to side-foot it home into the bottom left-hand corner on 36 minutes.

Spain continued to threaten with a shot from Villa blocked by Terry and Alonso shooting wide.

Former captain David Beckham came on for Stewart Downing at half time gaining his 108th cap to equal Bobby Moore's record for an outfield player. Beckham made an impact, crossing to Shaun Wright-Phillips who cut in from the left and shot but it was saved on the second attempt by Pepe Reina.

Spain sealed their win with just eight minutes to go when Fernando Llorente rose above Matthew Upson to head home from Xavi's free kick.

Carlton Cole almost pulled one back for England on his debut when a great ball from Beckham found him. He went round Reina but his shot was cleared off the line by Gerard Pique.

Beckham ended the game on a low after been booked for dissent in the last few minutes.

The game left Fabio Capello with lots to think about before next month's friendly with Slovakia before their World Cup qualifier in Ukraine.