International Friendly
Result: England 2-0 Costa Rica
Date: 07 June 2018
Venue: Ellan Road
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford scored an impressive goal as England secured a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in an international friendly at Elland Road.
The Three Lions imposed themselves in the early stages of what was their final warm-up match ahead of the FIFA World Cup, and looked threatening on the wings.
Rashford grabbed the lead for Gareth Southgate’s charges in the 13th minute with a thunderous from 20-yards out that looped into the far corner of the net, 1-0.
Jamie Vardy almost got the second goal for the hosts in the 20th minute after going through inside the box but Real Madrid shot-stopper Keylor Navas came out quickly from his line to block the danger.
Southgate’s troops were still dominating after half an hour, although Los Ticos were beginning to carve out chances on the counter-attack.
However, the Three Lions could not add any more goals to their tally for the first stanza and took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, Harry Maguire was unlucky not to double the lead for the hosts after his header was cleared off the line by Bryan Oviedo.
Southgate rang the changes after the hour mark as Dele Alli, Danny Welbeck, Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope were introduced for the home side.
Arsenal striker Welbeck made it 2-0 to England with 15 minutes remaining in the game as he got on the end of Alli's cross to send a diving header past Navas.
That proved to be the final piece of goal-mouth action in the half as England ended their World Cup preparations on a high.