London, Sep 6: The cheers of the Wembley crowd made clear the affection for Bukayo Saka the moment the England lineup was announced.
There were even louder roars to come when the birthday boy headed in the final goal in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on Sunday.
“It really made a difference for me,” the 20-year-old Saka said. “I could hear so many fans cheering my name.”
How different from 56 days earlier when England last played at Wembley and Saka was targeted with a torrent of racist abuse on social media after he missed England’s last penalty in the European Championship final shootout loss to Italy.
Saka’s impact was apparent early on with a cross setting up Jesse Lingard to score England’s only goal of the first half against the footballing minnows from the Pyrenees.
England’s second in the 72nd minute saw captain Harry Kane net his 40th international goal from a penalty after Mason Mount was bundled over.
After Lingard scored his second and the third for the host, it was Saka who had the final say.
Saka nodded in from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the 85th minute.
It set off the most thunderous celebrations of the evening from fans.
Poland thrash San Marino
England has a five-point lead in Group I over Wednesday’s next opponent, Poland, which routed San Marino 7-1.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice in the opening 21 minutes.
There was also a hat trick from Adam Buksa, with two of his goals coming at the end in stoppage time.
San Marino did score its first goal in the group after five matches but it was already losing 4-0 at the time and the team remains in last place with zero points.
Albania had a 1-0 win over Hungary to go third, a point behind Poland. (AP)
