Soccer: Crouch and Owen on target for goal-hungry England

Peter Crouch celebrates his third goal. Picture / Reuters

England 6 Jamaica 0

MANCHESTER - Striker Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick as England ran riot in a 6-0 victory over Jamaica in their final World Cup warmup overnight.

Frank Lampard began the goal bonanza at Old Trafford after 11 minutes, Jamaica's Jermaine Taylor headed into his own net and fellow defender Omar Daley was no luckier when a Crouch shot struck him and flew in the net.

Michael Owen, plagued by a foot injury since December 31, scored his first goal of the year in the 32nd minute and Crouch claimed his second of a sunlit day with a 66th minute tap-in.

He looked to have spurned his chance of a hat-trick when the lanky striker hopelessly skied an 82nd minute penalty won by Owen, only to rifle in England's sixth in the 89th minute after a neat Owen pass.

The classy finish from the edge of the area made for a perfect send-off for England, who open their World Cup campaign next Saturday against Paraguay in Group B.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's last home game as England manager, with the Swede stepping down after the World Cup in Germany, rewarded him with the best winning margin of his five and a half years at the helm.

Even allowing for the modesty of the opposition, England looked more comfortable in a classic 4-4-2 formation with Crouch and Owen up front, compared to Tuesday's 3-1 win over Hungary.

Midfielder Steven Gerrard had played as a second striker and defender Jamie Carragher was used as a holding midfielder in that game, sparking a national debate over England's tactics so close to the finals.

Saturday's starting lineup will probably now walk out against Paraguay, with the exception of Carragher who was standing in for the rested Gary Neville at right back.

England wasted no time scoring in a carnival atmosphere with a four-man move after 11 minutes.

Keeper Paul Robinson's long free kick upfield was nodded down by Crouch, Owen's overhead kick found the inrushing Lampard and the midfielder tucked his shot past Donovan Ricketts.

Captain David Beckham teed up the second five minutes later with a wicked free kick into a crowded box that had Taylor heading past a helpless Ricketts.

Though Robinson needed to produce a smart save to deny Jason Euell after a miscued interception by Terry, England's goals were still coming thick and fast.

Crouch claimed the third with his deflected shot from a Beckham corner in the 29th minute and Owen pounced on Rio Ferdinand's ball over the top of Jamaica's defence.

A week before the finals, Owen's goal could not have come at a better time for a player who started his first game of the year on May 25 in England's 2-1 'B' international defeat by Belarus.

Eriksson made two changes to his defence before the break, taking Terry off for Sol Campbell in the centre and replacing Ashley Cole with Wayne Bridge on the left.

England stayed in control in the second half, with Crouch tapped in their fifth from a few centimetres out, converting Carragher's low cross from the right.

Midfielder Aaron Lennon made his full England debut by replacing Beckham, while Michael Carrick took over from Frank Lampard before Crouch arrowed in the sixth.

- REUTERS