2002 World Cup - England 2 Albania 0

Michael Owen scored again and a late piece of brilliance from Robbie Fowler eventually saw England subdue Albania.

The Albanians came to dominate the second half as England's midfield tired visibly after their draining performance in Germany at the weekend and Devi Muka almost scored in the dying seconds but by then Fowler had put the game beyond the reach of the visitors.

A scrappy win for England was predicted by many but the excellent Owen again provided a crucial goal on the stroke of half time to send England to the top of group nine for the first time on goal difference ahead of Germany but it was his Liverpool team mate Fowler who produced a huge sigh of relief around St James's Park with his 87th minute finish.

Coming on as a substitute for Emile Heskey, Fowler saw the game pass him by for much of the last twenty minutes but he turned on the edge of the penalty area to put the ball with his right foot through the legs of a defender and then chipped the advancing Strakosha to find the net and give weary England the win they wanted.

The result had been in doubt to that point and in the dying seconds the England defence parted for Muka to drive from close range from a cross at the goal but Sol Campbell was able to clear the ball off the line.

Muka had sent in an 82nd minute shot that David Seaman turned onto a post to save as the home side hung on to their slim lead and the Arsenal veteran was needed in the 79th minute to tip away a drive from the left foot of Murati as Albania took control of the game.

Bushi had missed a great chance just minutes earlier when Ashley Cole and substitute Steve McManaman had combined to give the ball away but his cross shot went well wide of goal when the target beckoned.

England were definitely off form and struggled against a determined Albania team with captain David Beckham engaged in a long physical and niggly battle throughout the game with Murati which curtailed his influence on the game.

Owen claimed a second minute penalty when he was clipped on the run by Strakosha as he chased a ball over his shoulder but Spanish referee Mari was lenient throughout the night until he booked Steven Gerrard in first half injury time for his first real foul of the game. Gerrard will now miss the final group game in October against Greece at Old Trafford when a win should see them take a place at the 2000 World Cup finals.

It is thanks to Owen that they can think of such an event.

After a half of tension and few chances he was quick to race through to a Paul Scholes ball over the top on the 45th minute to play the ball under the advancing Strakosha with the outside of his right foot as Murali played him onside.

Barmby had missed with a header in the 7th minute to end a great spell of pressure from England but they could not maintain that tempo and the game quickly became a dour struggle for the home team but the result was all-important for Sven Goran Eriksson's men. This result means they are on the brink of the World Cup finals rather than the play-offs or oblivion.