England vs. Lithuania: Score and Reaction for World Cup 2018 Qualifying

England cantered past Lithuania in Group F at Wembley Stadium in European qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as the Three Lions claimed an easy 2-0 victory on Sunday.

Jermain Defoe opened the scoring in the first half with a typically emphatic finish. Jamie Vardy doubled the lead after coming off the bench in the second half, with Lithuania offering little threat or penetration.

The visitors were completed outclassed as the hosts kept the ball, but the style of the match provided little entertainment for the crowd.

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England manager Gareth Southgate made four changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Germany on Wednesday, with Defoe returning to the Three Lions team for the first time since 2013. The Sunderland man replaced Vardy at the point of the attack. 

Michael Keane was included for his first competitive start, while Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned.

Fiodor Cernych was given the responsibility of leading the line for Lithuania after a strong run of goalscoring for his country in recent games.

In what was a dour first half of football, the visitors sat deep and attempted to thwart Southgate's attack, and they largely achieved their objective for the opening 20 minutes.

However, their resistance soon collapsed as Defoe steered his effort past goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus from close range in the 21st minute, giving the home team a deserved lead.

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The goal allowed the Wembley crowd a rare moment to enjoy, but hearts were in mouths as Lithuania almost equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart committed himself on the edge of his box and was beaten to a bouncing ball by the head of Vykintas Slivka. It was left to John Stones to clear the effort off the goal line.

Broadcaster and former England international Stan Collymore called the action at half-time:

Sterling should have doubled the Three Lions' lead immediately after the restart, with the Manchester City attacker fluffing his lines at the back post when he should have scored.

The move inspired England to increase their ambition, and Dele Alli began to join Defoe in attack with increased vigour and intent.

Lithuania's ball retention was predictably poor, allowing Southgate's men to dictate the game from the halfway line.

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A rare opportunity for Slivka saw Hart called into action, but his effort from range did not trouble the captain.

The atmosphere was muted in the stadium with a lack of entertainment on offer, and former England striker Gary Lineker passed comment on the encounter:

Defoe and Sterling made way for Vardy and Marcus Rashford on the hour mark, and Rashford immediately made an impression with his direct running style.

England put the fixture to bed in the 66th minute when Vardy neatly slotted the ball home.

The strike was met with warm applause from the England fans, and any remaining nerves were washed away.

Vardy spurned a good opportunity to claim his brace, but the Leicester City man blazed high and wide.

It was a game of few clear-cut chances for the hosts despite their total domination in possession.

England were delighted to skip away with the points at the final whistle, and despite the lack of true action, Southgate will feel his team got the job done with little fuss.

Post-Match Reaction 

Southgate was pleased with the result, but he believed his side could have shown more against a weak opponent, per ITV Football:

England lead Group F with 13 points after five matches.