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Owen 'tricks' for England

By Gerry Cox
June 01, 2005 10:26 IST
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Michael Owen grabbed a hat-trick as England completed their two-match tour of the US with a 3-2 victory over Colombia in a friendly at the Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Real Madrid striker Owen took his international goal tally to 32 with strikes in the 36th, 44th and 58th minutes as he plundered the second international hat-trick of his career.

Colombia replied with a first-half header from Mario Yepes and a left-foot shot by Aldo Leao Ramirez in the 78th minute.

But Owen's deadly finishing stole the show and moved him into fourth place in the list of all-time goalscorers for England ahead of Alan Shearer, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney.

Bobby Charlton holds the record with 49, followed by Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves, and at just 25 years old, Owen is still young enough to overtake them all.

His previous hat-trick had come in September 2001 during England's famous 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich.

Owen opened the scoring when he ran on to a through ball from midfielder Joe Cole and lifted it past Farid Mondragon in the Colombia goal.

The in-form striker made it 2-0 seven minutes later when a quick freekick from Peter Crouch on his debut put Owen clear to score with a low shot.

The former Liverpool forward completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute by volleying home at close range from Real Madrid team mate David Beckham's cross.

Colombia scored through Yepes's header shortly before halftime and Ramirez's shot late in the second half but England held on to complete a 3-2 victory.

It was the second win of their short tour after they began with a 2-1 victory over the US in Chicago on Saturday.

 

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Gerry Cox
Source: REUTERS
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