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Attendance: 70,025

International Friendlies

Jun 2, 2018 at 5.15pm UK

England
2-1
Nigeria

Cahill (7'), Kane (39')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Iwobi (47')

Gareth Southgate pleased with England first-half display in win over Nigeria

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 02 June 2018

Gareth Southgate believes that England's first-half display in their 2-1 friendly win over Nigeria was impressive but acknowledges that the second half was more of a struggle.

Gareth Southgate has praised England's impressive first-half performance in their 2-1 friendly win over Nigeria on Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill opened the scoring with a powerful header after only seven minutes at Wembley Stadium before Harry Kane doubled the hosts' lead just before the break.

The Three Lions were a little slower after the restart as Arsenal's Alex Iwobi halved the deficit on 47 minutes, but Nigeria could not find an equaliser come the final whistle.

"I thought it was an exciting game," Southgate told BBC Sport.

"I was really pleased with the first half. We used the ball well and we were a threat. I liked the interchange of movement and passing between our front four. We were then able to win the ball back with our pressing.

"Second half we were slow to start and it took us a little while to adjust to them changing shape. What it created was a great atmosphere behind our goal for us to defend properly and manage the game which was important."

England's World Cup preparations continue with another friendly against Costa Rica at Elland Road on Thursday.