Robbie's England Victorious In Soccer Aid Clash

UNICEF CHARITY MATCH
Old Trafford, 27 May 2006

England 2
Ferdinand (14), Wilkes (20)

Rest of the World 1
Maradona (75, pen)

Robbie Williams’ England side overcame a Rest of the World XI which included Diego Maradona to seal a 2-1 victory in the inaugural Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford on Saturday night.

Not even a late penalty from arguably the world’s greatest ever player could prevent Terry Venables’ side from lifting the Cup in front of nearly 72,000 fans who had packed into the stadium.

England began the brighter of the two teams and were unlucky not to take the lead in the opening stages. Their first effort on goal came from the lively Les Ferdinand who, after battling his way past Marcel Desailly, saw his fiercely struck shot hit the side netting after just three minutes. The former QPR forward went close again seconds later when his strike with the outside of his right foot was brilliantly turned away by United goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel.

Terry Venables’ side continued to press and almost went ahead through an unlikely source in the 10th minute. A mix-up in the Rest of the World (ROW) defence between Craig Doyle and Gordon Ramsay allowed Tony Adams, who had stayed forward from an earlier free-kick to steal in. Thankfully for the ROW, Schmeichel was in tip-top form and was on hand to block Adams’ shot.

Adams’ defensive partner Ben Shephard was the next England player to go close after a 60-yard run out of defence. A great one-two with Gazza put him clear only for a combination of Michael Greco and Gareth Thomas to thwart in him tracks.

Schmeichel made another good block minutes later, this time with his feet, after a neat move involving Ferdinand, Adams and Bradley Walsh who had the final shot.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 14 minutes when Ferdinand was rewarded for his hard-working endeavours upfront. Having successfully defended a corner, England keeper David Seaman bowled the ball out to Dean Lennox Kelly who fired a great pass out to Gazza on the right wing. His pinpoint cross to the far post allowed Ferdinand to plant a diving header past the helpless Schmeichel.

England made it two six minutes later after a sublime run and finish from Jonny Wilkes. Gazza was once again the orchestrater after slotting a fine pass to Wilkes down the left wing. Wilkes, a former trainee with Everton, held off Doyle before cutting inside and chipping brilliantly over the advancing Schmeichel. 

The Rest of the World rarely threatened in the opening period; a weak header from Gordon Ramsay was the thing they had to show for their efforts, although Diego Maradona, who was making his first appearance at Old Trafford since the famous 1984 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final clash between United and Barcelona, did show glimpses of his former self with some neat touches and a great array of passing.

Despite their 2-0 lead, Venables was keen for his England side to keep the pressure on after the break and made his feelings clear during his televised half-time team-talk.

A well-worked free-kick between Maradona and substitute Gianfrano Zola ten minutes after the restart brought about the best chance of the game for the Rest of the World side, but Zola could only head over from six yards out. The former Chelsea hero tried his luck again, this time with an Pele/Beckham-esque effort from the half-way line which floated just wide of substitute keeper Jamie Theakston’s post.

At the other end, Wilkes went close with a powerful left-footed strike as the 72,000-strong crowd conducted a series of Mexican waves around the stadium.

Zola continued to work his magic for the Rest of the World and after skipping past three England defenders was unlucky to see his shot well saved by Theakston, diving to his right in the 72nd minute.

Three minutes later, however, the ROW pulled a goal back through Maradona after adeliberate hand-ball from England right-back David Gray allowed the Argentine to fire home from the penalty spot.

The Rest of the World went looking for the equaliser and they should have had it through Zola two minutes from time, but the little Italian chipped over an open goal after great work from ROW manager Ruud Gullit.

That proved to be the last of the goalmouth action as Robbie and Co. held out for a deserved victory - England fans everywhere will be hoping for more of the same come next month in Germany.

Team Line-ups

England: Seaman (Theakston, 46), Gray, Adams, Shephard, Williams © (Barnes, 86), Lewis, Walsh (Redknapp, 55), Gascoigne (Le Saux, 55), Wilkes, Ferdinand (Deayton, 52), Lennox Kelly (Robson, 65).

Rest of the World: Schmeichel (Kielty, 46), Doyle (Johnson, 46), Desailly, Matthaus (Dunga, 46 (Poyet, 73), Greco, McFadden (Thomas, 8) , Nivola, Federov, Campbell (Zola, 46), Ramsay © (Ginola, 46 (Gullit, 55), Maradona.

Referee: Pierluigi Collia (Italy)

Attendance: 71,962

Report by Gemma Thompson at Old Trafford.

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