1-2 England won!!
:cool: wat did i say!!
[glow=red,2,300]England scorers:[/glow]
G.Southgate (1)
E.Heskey (64)
South AfricaB.McCarthy (18 pen)
report! from nationwide.co.uk
For once Emile Heskey was the hero for England, as his second-half strike ensured that they left Durban with a 2-1 victory over South Africa.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men got off to a flying start when South Africa captain Lucas Radebe brought down Michael Owen on the right side in the opening seconds.
David Beckham floated in the resulting free-kick and Gareth Southgate headed the ball past Brian Baloyi to give England a 1-0 lead after just 34 seconds and send the 1600 travelling fans wild.
Seven minutes later it should have been two when Baloyi spilled another Beckham free-kick but Owen sent the loose ball flying over the crossbar.
But the Bafana Bafana hit back after 18 minutes when Danny Mills was adjudged to have handled the ball in the England penalty area and Celta Vigo striker Benni McCarthy smashed the ball past David James from the spot to equalise.
Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard went close to restoring England's advantage before Charlton Athletic's Shaun Bartlett headed over the bar from a good position at the other end.
The hosts gradually took control of the game with McCarthy and Bartlett posing a constant threat, but England continued to make the better chances with Mills and Heskey squandering good opportunities to give them a half-time lead.
Eriksson made two substitutions at the break with Paul Robinson replacing James in goal and Rio Ferdinand making way for debutant Matthew Upson, and Jermaine Jenas replaced the injured Beckham four minutes into the second half.
After a quiet opening to the second period the visitors finally had a sight of goal after 63 minutes, but Scholes mis-hit his volley. However it proved to be just a temporary let-off for South Africa.
A minute later Frank Lampard, on for Trevor Sinclair, unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards and once again Baloyi spilled the ball, allowing Heskey to fire in the rebound to put England ahead.
Heskey's reward was to be immediately replaced by Darius Vassell, who almost added to England's lead after 70 minutes but headed Lampard’s cross wide.
Lampard himself went close to adding to the lead when he beat two men and hit a powerful shot from the edge of the area, only for Baloyi to produce an impressive save.
More substitutions from both sides interrupted the flow of the game and the match meandered to a disappointing conclusion.
But England were worthy winners in their 800th senior international.
cheers!!