Owen makes his point to Real as England get the job done

Michael Owen will report back to Real Madrid this week in high spirits after Sven-Goran Eriksson hailed his winner against Azerbaijan as vindication of his faith in the striker who is struggling to make his mark in the Spanish capital.

Owen, standing in as captain for the absent David Beckham, scored his 28th goal in 65 internationals to give England a 1-0 win in atrocious conditions here on Wednesday.

The goal, which lifted Owen to joint eighth in England's scoring charts, was the perfect tonic for the former Liverpool striker, who turned up for international duty last week injured and with his place in the England team in question over his lack of action for Real.

"There was a lot of discussion that he might not play," Eriksson recalled.

"I think he played very well against Wales on Saturday and today he scored a very important goal and I think he is in very good shape even if he is playing very little for Real Madrid."

"His goalscoring record at international level is absolutely fantastic."

Owen played down the significance of his goal although anyone watching him against Wales or on Wednesday night would not have needed persuading that he was determined to prove a point to his new employers in Madrid.

Against Wales, Owen felt he should have been credited with a goal for deflecting Frank Lampard's shot into the net but nobody could dispute his strike on Wednesday, a header from Ashley Cole's cross from the left.

"It was a great ball from Ashley but it was difficult because the ball was swirling about all over the place," Owen said.

"It was important for us to win the game, that's the main thing. The fact I scored was secondary. A game is not just about scoring. I can play well and not score, or allegedly not score, like I did against Wales."

The win leaves England clear at the top of group six with ten points from their first four games. And with four of the remaining six at home, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will be confident of going on to tie up their place in Germany with at least a couple of games to spare.

"It was an excellent result," said Eriksson. "It was not the best football I have ever seen but the conditions were very difficult. To get six points in four days and keep two clean sheets is very good."

Azerbaijan's Brazilian coach, Carlos Alberto, admitted his team were still on a learning curve.

"I would have liked to have 12 points but we must learn our lessons," said the 1970 Brazilian World Cup winner.

"I don't say England are the best team in Europe but very soon they will be one of the best, for sure, because they have very good young forwards and a very good defence."

A combination of temperatures hovering only just above zero and a near gale force wind ensured it was never going to be a night for pretty football in front of a stadium that was only two thirds full.

In fact, the match was only given the go-ahead after a pitch and safety inspection.

But Eriksson can take heart from what was another assured performance from a his defence, who comfortably ensured Azerbaijan were restricted to a series of optimistic long-range efforts.

Jermaine Jenas, a surprise selection to fill the right midfield berth created by Beckham's injury/suspension, made an early impression by thumping in a left foot shot at Jahangir Hasanzade in the home side's goal, shortly before Owen put England ahead.

A slick sequence of passes saw the ball worked out of defence, to the right then quickly switched to the left touchline, from where Ashley Cole's cross found Owen peeling away from his markers.

With no challenge to trouble him, the Real Madrid striker was able to nod the ball past Hasanzade's right hand.

Azerbaijan's best period came at the start of the second half that was triggered by an under-hit pass from Sol Campbell which would have given Samir Aliyev a clear run at goal but for a stumble which allowed Rio Ferdinand to snuff out the danger.

Aliyev did better a minute later when he sent a low shot whistling narrowly wide and Attandil Hajiyev forced Paul Robinson into his first save of the evening -- a block with his legs -- after the England defence failed to clear a dangerous cross from the right.

That was to prove Robinson's only activity other than the deft trip with which he brought down a spectator who ran on to the pitch minutes before the end.