UEFA Nations League: England leave Spain shell-shocked

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England ran riot by scoring three first-half goals to stun Spain and earn a 3-2 away win in the Nations League on Monday as they moved back into contention in League A Group 4 with their first victory on Spanish soil for 31 years.

Raheem Sterling gave England the lead against the run of play in the 16th minute by finishing off a swift counter-attack and Marcus Rashford fired into the top corner for the second on the half-hour after a superb pass from captain Harry Kane.

Sterling, who had not got an England goal for three years, struck again from another Kane assist to give Gareth Southgate's side a big halftime lead against Spain, who had scored 12 goals in their last three games and beat England 2-1 last month.

Spain hit back with a header by substitute Paco Alcacer just before the hour and were almost gifted another goal after an error from Jordan Pickford although the keeper managed to tackle Rodrigo Moreno, sparking fierce penalty appeals from the hosts.

Captain Sergio Ramos got a second for Spain with a diving header in the eighth minute of added time with the last action of the match, leaving his side tasting their first defeat over 90 minutes since they were beaten 2-0 by Italy in Euro 2016.

Spain lead the group with six points after three games while England are second on four, leaving Croatia bottom with one point although the World Cup runners-up have a game in hand.

Raheem Sterling celebrates his goal as England delivered one of their finest victories of the modern era by beating Spain 3-2 on October 15. /VCG Photo

Iceland relegated

Elsewhere, Switzerland kept their Nations League semi-final hopes alive and sent Iceland down into the second tier with a 2-1 win in rainy Reykjavik in their League A Group Two match on Monday.

Haris Seferovic and Michael Lang scored the Swiss goals in the second half while debutant goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo made three key saves for the visitors.

Switzerland, who thumped Iceland 6-0 in September, have six points from three games, level with group leaders Belgium who have a game in hand. Iceland have lost all three games and will finish bottom of the section.

Belgium host Iceland on November 15. before visiting Switzerland in what will be the group's decisive game three days later.

Source(s): Reuters