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Tottenham players on England duty: Kane puts in man of match performance (VIDEO)

By Gary Pearson

VALLETTA, MALTA - SEPTEMBER 01: Harry Kane of England scores their first goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Malta and England at Ta'Qali National Stadium on September 1, 2017 in Valletta, Malta. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
VALLETTA, MALTA - SEPTEMBER 01: Harry Kane of England scores their first goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Malta and England at Ta'Qali National Stadium on September 1, 2017 in Valletta, Malta. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Scoring two goals and assisting on another, Harry Kane put in another man of the match performance in England’s 4-0 win over Malta.

The scoreline flattered England, whose performance up to the final 15 minutes didn’t instil a great deal of confidence. But the goals came eventually, with Kane orchestrating most meaningful attacks.

England’s first half performance, to no fault of Harry Kane and Dele Alli, was completely devoid of ideas and tempo. Slow, methodical possession made defending a piece of cake for the Maltese minnows.

Predictable, mostly lateral passing, allowed Malta to drop into their 11-man shell, preventing England from creating too many decent chances. Malta were disciplined and compact at the back, forcing England to conjure creative and incisive passes to penetrate. Those type of creative moments were few and far between, though.

The best chance of the half fell early to Harry Kane, whose third-minute downward header forced a decent save from Andrew Hogg. Kane should have buried the chance but would make amends on the other side of the break.

Alli and Kane combined brilliantly on England’s 53rd-minute opener. Alli, trying to find room for an attempt on goal, showed skill and composure by dragging multiple Maltese defenders to and fro. Kane’s intelligent movement made Alli’s decision to lay it off an easy one. Kane, played onside by two excessively deep Maltese defenders, took a touch and finished with aplomb.

Kane had another crack on goal in the 60th minute, but his fierce drive was easily parried away by Hogg.

Ryan Bertrand doubled England’s lead on a long-range effort in the 85th minute. While England’s official Twitter handled dubbed the goal as a “cracker”, it was anything but in all honesty. Hogg mistimed his dive, making a hash of the attempted save.

Spurs’ talisman has now scored in three consecutive matches for the Three Lions, improving his international tally to 10 goals in 20 England caps.

Kane assisted on England’s third, with Danny Welback the benefactor of his precise lobbed through ball. The 24-year-old stuck a dagger in Maltese hearts with England’s fourth at the death. Kane lashed home his fifth goal in three England matches to put an exclamation mark on another man-of-the-match performance.

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