Jermain Defoe stepped off the bench to score twice as England hit back from 2-0 down to draw with Holland in Amsterdam.
Super-sub inspires second-half comeback
Jermain Defoe stepped off the bench to score twice as England hit back from 2-0 down to draw with Holland in Amsterdam.
Fabio Capello's men were guilty of two shocking pieces of defending in the opening half which gifted the Dutch their interval advantage.
Rio Ferdinand's casual pass after 10 minutes only found Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt, who rounded Rob Green and beat John Terry at the near post.
And there was another blunder to follow shortly before the break as Gareth Barry gave the ball to Arjen Robben, whose shot was well saved by Green only for Rafael van der Vaart to drill home the rebound.
Defoe was introduced at the break in place of Emile Heskey and needed less than four minutes to get on the scoresheet as he raced onto Frank Lampard's long ball over the top to finish clinically off the post.
Fellow substitute Carlton Cole was proving to be a real handful for the Dutch defence and he had a hand in the leveller 13 minutes from time.
The West Ham striker found another replacement in James Milner out on the left flank and he got away from Johnny Heitinga to burst into the box and fire in a low cross which Defoe could not miss from close range.
Poor backpasses
The first 10 minutes included three poor backpasses, with the final one resulting in Holland taking the lead.
There was a touch of pre-season rustiness when Andre Ooijer only just found Maarten Stekelenburg, with Rooney closing in. Then Glen Johnson escaped when Ferdinand allowed his pass through to Green and Kuyt almost stole in.
Ferdinand, however, was punished when he attempted to shift the ball inside from the right, with Kuyt taking the ball past Green. The Liverpool forward was still on the byline and had plenty of work to do but he managed to get past Green again before squeezing his finish past Terry on the line.
England attempted to regroup and Frank Lampard had their first effort on goal with a low drive saved by Stekelenburg, with Rooney heading the rebound wide.
Capello's men had a penalty appeal turned down following a move started by Ferdinand lofting a ball over the top. Barry was first to it and his backheel in the direction of Heskey, with De Jong blocking but referee Nicola Rizzoli waving play on as England players appealed for a spot-kick.
There were encouraging signs when Lampard had an effort blocked at the near post, Young went on a run that ended with a shot being blocked, while Barry fired a long-range effort over the crossbar.
They still looked vulnerable at the back. Van der Vaart's free-kick found Kuyt at the back post, with his header saved by Green with his feet.
Then it was Lampard who played a loose pass in defence. Robben seized on the mistake but his finish was tipped over the bar by Green.
Response
Next it was Barry who misplaced a pass, with Robben collecting the ball and racing into the penalty area. Green saved with his feet but Van der Vaart smashed in the rebound.
Rooney attempted an immediate response but one drive was straight at Stekelenburg and another flashed just wide of the post before the half-time whistle.
Defoe, on as a half-time substitute, halved the deficit within four minutes of the restart. Lampard's ball over the top found the Tottenham striker, who clipped his finish around Stekelenburg and in off the post.
He had a chance to level seven minutes later when fellow substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips slipped him through. Defoe checked back onto his left but failed to find the target or the unmarked Rooney with his effort.
Michael Carrick and Carlton Cole were also brought on, with Rooney given a breather, while Van Persie, Van der Vaart and Robben were taken off for the hosts. Babel had an effort for Bert van Marwijk's men that he dragged wide.
West Ham striker Cole then juggled the ball around Joris Mathijsen before going just wide with his finish - but England were not made to wait long for the equaliser.
James Milner, on for Young as a substitute, bravely headed down the wing when Heitinga's foot was high.
The Aston Villa youngster bided his time before crossing low past Stekelenburg, allowing Defoe to tap in for his fourth England goal in two games.
| Netherlands |
Team Statistics |
England |
| 2 |
Goals |
2 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
9 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 5 |
Corners |
3 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.7 |
Passing Success |
78.8 |
| 25 |
Tackles |
13 |
| 76 |
Tackles Success |
92.3 |
| 53.2 |
Possession |
46.8 |
| 48.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.5 |
|
