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England’s Raheem Sterling converted a penalty in the 90th minute to snatch Iceland’s 1-0 win in their first Nations League game on Saturday after the home side missed an injury-time penalty that would have saved a tie.
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Sterling scored the decisive goal from the spot, after a disappointingly monotonous game, when it was harshly ruled that Sverrir Ingi Ingason had handled the England forward’s shot.
Ingason, who had thrown his body on the close-range shot, was also sent off for handball, leaving both teams reduced to 10 men after England winger Kyle Walker received a second yellow card in the 70th minute.
But Iceland, which defeated England at Euro 2016, had a chance to get a draw in the League A Group 2 match when Joe Gomez knocked down Albert Gudmundsson inside the box.
However, Birkir Bjarnason shot his penalty high over the crossbar to leave Gareth Southgate side by side with all three points.
“We got the penalty and the momentum and desire from Raheem was outstanding and then there is another lesson that we have to learn,” Southgate said.
“We received a penalty, we got away with it and we came out with a victory that is really important. Although a bit flat because it seems we got away with it.”
Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood make international debut for England, visiting Denmark on Tuesday (2:45 pm ET; LIVE on ESPN2).
The game, which took place behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions, had the air of a preseason friendly with both teams without some key players and still not in shape and sharpness.
“It was definitely weird, but I’d rather play games than train. It was tough, but we got through it,” Sterling said.
Iceland lost their main forward Kolbeinn Sigborsson, whose goal knocked England out of the Euro Cup in France four years ago, due to an injury in the pre-match warm-up.
England center forward Harry Kane had the ball into the net in the seventh minute, slipping to find a Sterling cross, but was called offside.
Television replays suggested the goal should have been with Kane in an offside position, but no VAR technology was used to verify the decision.
England dominated possession after the break, with Iceland happy to defend in numbers, but Southgate’s side created very little with their predictable passing and approach at a pace that caused little trouble until the penalty was awarded.
“It was a real mix, we started well, we were good for 20 minutes. I think the disallowed offside goal should be kept and that would have had a big influence,” Southgate added.
