Kane saves England from embarrassment against Andorra in World Cup qualifying
Andorra's Christian Garcia, right, tries to block a shot from England's Harry Kane during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane cleans shoe during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane, right, scores the opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Andorra's Max Llovera, left, tries to block a shot from England's Harry Kane, center, during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Andorra's Christian Garcia, right, tries to block a shot from England's Harry Kane during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane cleans shoe during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane, right, scores the opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Andorra's Max Llovera, left, tries to block a shot from England's Harry Kane, center, during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
England's Harry Kane, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Andorra and England at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — England needed a second-half goal from Harry Kane to secure a 1-0 win over lowly Andorra and maintain a perfect record under Thomas Tuchel after three World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.
England was held scoreless by a team ranked 173rd in the world until Kane redirected a pass from Noni Madueke into the top of the net in the 50th minute after the Bayern Munich striker's initial effort was saved by goalkeeper Iker Álvarez.
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It was goal No. 72 in his 106th appearance for the Three Lions.
Tuchel's side remained top of Europe's Group K with nine points after wins against Albania and Latvia. They have yet to concede a goal under the German coach.
Andorra is winless.
England dominated possession and Eberechi Eze went close to a second goal when he forced Álvarez to tip his header of the bar as the visitors couldn't extend the lead.
England had won its previous six meetings with Andorra by a combined score of 25-0.
The game was played at Espanyol's stadium in Barcelona, nearly three hours south of the Pyrenees principality — which has a population of around 80,000 — due to concerns that work on Andorra's home stadium wouldn't be finished in time.
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Ezri Konsa had to block a late shot by Andorra's Guillaume Lopez to prevent the chance of an equalizer.
Only the group winners qualify directly for next year's tournament in North America. The second-placed teams go into a playoffs.
Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for the World Cup. The group stage of European qualifying runs through November.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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