Eight-goal England enjoy stroll in San Marino

England remain two points behind Montenegro at the top of FIFA World Cup qualifying Group H after an emphatic victory against San Marino.

While England were scoring eight in a game for the first time since overwhelming Turkey in October 1987, the leaders were triumphing in Moldova, meaning the standings remain the same ahead of the meeting of the top two in Podgorica on Tuesday. 

Having needed 35 minutes to make the breakthrough in the reverse fixture at Wembley in October, England were five to the good by half-time courtesy of a Alessandro Della Valle own goal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jermain Defoe, Ashley Young and Frank Lampard. Wayne Rooney, substitute Daniel Sturridge and Defoe added further goals after the break. 

Lampard and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who lifted the ball against the crossbar following a knock-down from Rooney, had threatened before Della Valle sliced a cross from Leighton Baines into his own net after 12 minutes.

Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rooney linked up again on the half-hour – this time the Arsenal FC winger made no mistake. Receiving the ball from Kyle Walker, he exchanged passes with the Manchester United FC striker in the penalty area and fired beyond Aldo Simoncini for his second senior international goal, having opener his account in England's 5-0 success against Giampaolo Mazza's side five months ago.

Three goals in seven minutes then followed, with Oxlade-Chamberlain nodding down Rooney's cross for Defoe before Young rifled a shot in off the underside of the crossbar. Lampard rounded off the first-half scoring by placing Baines' cut-back across Simoncini.

Rooney scored for the fourth successive international when he curled in a free-kick from a central position nine minutes after the restart, while Sturridge celebrated his first for his country after Young had delivered a cross to the far post. Defoe had the last word, adroitly turning in Walker's assist from the byline to leave England in good heart for Tuesday's test in Montenegro.