England dominates Ireland with a second-half goal spree

After a lackluster first half, a sudden burst of goals from Harry Kane's penalty, Anthony Gordon's volley, and Conor Gallagher's tap-in within five minutes at the beginning of the second half shattered Ireland's defense.

Jarrod Bowen made it 4-0 with a crisp shot from the edge of the area, his first touch after coming off the bench, before debutant Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed England’s fifth.

Ireland played virtually the whole of the second half with 10 men after Liam Scales was sent off for a foul on Jude Bellingham that resulted in England’s penalty.

England finished top of Group B2 with 15 points from six games, the same as Greece but with a superior goal difference in the two games between the two nations.

Carsley will now hand over the reins to Thomas Tuchel having won five of his six games in charge and with some useful pointers for the German who takes charge in January.

While it was no surprise to see Kane on the scoresheet for his 69th England goal, England’s four other scorers all notched their first senior international goals.

Carsley also gave first starts to Newcastle United full backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall while Southampton’s Harwood-Bellis celebrated his first cap with a goal.

England gave a large Nov 17 evening crowd nothing to get excited about in a tedious first half in which neither side managed a single effort on target.

But the floodgates opened when Kane’s superb pass found Jude Bellingham in the area and as he tried to cut inside Scales, the Celtic defender hacked him down to concede a penalty and earn himself a second yellow card and Kane tucked away the spot kick.

Ireland then collapsed. Gordon steered in a volley to double the home side’s advantage and Gallagher prodded in after a corner was flicked on.

Bowen and Harwood-Bellis then put the icing on the cake.