England romp to 4-0 win over Mexico

Mitch Phillips

England produced a scintillating first half performance en route to beating Mexico 4-0 in an entertaining friendly on Friday, new coach Sven Goran Eriksson's fourth win in four games.

Superb goals by Paul Scholes, after just three minutes, Robbie Fowler and David Beckham had England deservedly 3-0 up after half an hour as their movement and superb passing created chances at will.

Ten England substitutions and five for Mexico made the second half a totally different game but, after Jose Abundis had put a penalty wide after a rare Mexican attack, Teddy Sheringham completed a thoroughly deserved victory with a stunning free-kick 15 minutes from time.

It was the perfect preparation for England, who play Greece in a World Cup qualifier in Athens on June 6, but will have done little for the confidence of Mexico, who now travel to South Korea to take part in the Confederations Cup.

England, continuing their policy of touring the country while Wembly is unavailable, got the perfect start as Scholes drove in his 12th goal in 34 internationals.

They doubled the lead in the 14th minute with a superbly created goal as Beckham slid a perfect pass into the path of the marauding Steven Gerrard on the right wing.

Gerrard's first-time cross was bundled in by Liverpool team mate Fowler, whose first international goal came in England's 2-0 victory over the central American side last time the two met in 1997.

Fowler, Michael Owen and Gerrard -- all of Liverpool -- went close as England's driving play on a surface made for crisp passing repeatedly tore through the Mexican defence.

ON FIRE
Beckham was on fire, his every touch creating danger, and he capped a great display with an unstoppable 25 metre free-kick that dipped over the wall and beyond the flying dive of Sanchez.

It was just reward for England, who would have to go back a long time to find 45 minutes of such flowing, confident football, while a snap shot by Antonio De Nigris, well saved low down by Nigel Martyn, was the best a muted Mexico could offer in response.

Eriksson had said he intended to use the first half as his preparation for the Greece game and lived up to his promise by making no less than eight halftime substitutions -- Phil Neville, Emile Heskey and Fowler the only men to survive the cull.

UNCAPPED TRIO
Among the new boys were the uncapped trio of Michael Carrick, Alan Smith and Joe Cole and Cole's first touch of international football was a shot well saved by Sanchez.

Double Footballer of the Year Sheringham joined the fray 10 minutes into the second half and, with the Mexicans also making regular changes, the game lost its direction

Mexico missed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 65th minute when Heskey tripped substitute Daniel Osorno, only for Abundis to drag the resulting penalty wide.

Heskey was immediately replaced by Danny Mills, England's fourth debutant, but it was Sheringham, expected to rejoin Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester United on Saturday, who was the only man able to make an impact as he scored the fourth goal in the 78th minute with a carbon copy of Beckham's free-kick.

Some bright touches by Cole and Smith, who should have scored three minutes from the end when his point-blank shot was saved by Sanchez, completed an immensely satisfying night for Eriksson.

Mexico coach Enrique Meza, however, could take little encouragement as he prepares for a busy period of fixtures.

Two long-range efforts by Abundis, both comfortably saved by David James, and a similar effort from Pavel Pardo were the best his side could manage from a low-key display.