Gordon and Kane lift 10-man England past Czechs in Nations League

England finally collected their first points of this season’s UEFA Nations League by beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Prague, a result built on Anthony Gordon’s quick-fire header and Harry Kane’s late clincher after the hosts lost Pavel Sulc to a first-half red card.

The Barcelona winger was a menace throughout and struck barely 90 seconds into the second half, meeting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s curling delivery to score in a third consecutive competitive appearance. Kane swept in a second on 69 minutes, profiting when Morgan Rogers’ tussle with Ladislav Krejci sent the ball looping kindly into his path for international goal No 87.

Red card turns the tide

England were jittery early on and twice let Sulc in behind. The forward was denied by goalkeeper James Trafford on five minutes and then saw a second attempt blocked by Trevor Chalobah. Rogers almost punished those misses on 16 minutes when he spun Gordon’s low cross against the far post.

The match swung on 25 minutes. Referee consultation with VAR upgraded Sulc’s yellow to a straight red for a studs-up lunge on Elliot Anderson, leaving the Czechs to play more than an hour with ten men.

Thomas Tuchel still sought greater urgency, introducing Eberechi Eze for Myles Lewis-Skelly at half-time, and the change paid off almost instantly. “I spoke to Anthony at half-time and said if I’m putting crosses in, get to the back post,” Alexander-Arnold told ITV. “You don’t expect it to happen that quickly, but it worked.”

Gordon strikes, Kane settles it

Gordon’s opener calmed nerves and England began to stretch the depleted hosts. Lewis Hall’s dangerous ball moments later was diverted onto his own upright by Krejci, while Rogers, Eze and debutant Alex Scott all went close.

The breathing space arrived on 69 minutes. Rogers and Krejci tangled for a loose ball, the ricochet sitting up perfectly for Kane to guide into the far corner. Tuchel immediately rewarded youth, handing competitive bows to Scott and Rio Ngumoha.

The head coach praised a more dynamic second-half display. “We stepped up, kept the intensity and it was a deserved victory,” he told ITV. Gordon, named man of the match, revelled in his link with Trent Alexander-Arnold: “I make that run time and time again. Credit to Trent, that’s why he’s so good.”

England’s win was, as Sky Sports noted, “solid if unspectacular” but free of injuries — a welcome outcome in a gruelling run of four games in 11 days.

What it means and what’s next

After losing their Group A3 opener, the Three Lions are off the mark at the second attempt. They travel to Croatia on Saturday 3 October (kick-off 5 pm) before hosting the Czechs again three days later on Tuesday 6 October (7.45 pm).