ENGLAND moved another step closer to World Cup qualification as Gareth Southgate marked five years in the dugout with a predictably-comfortable victory against minnow Andorra. Ben Chilwell and Bukayo Saka scored in the first half against Andorra, which ranked 156th in the world, then Tammy Abraham, James Ward-Prowse and Jack Grealish scored after the break. Just 2,285 were in attendance at Estadi Nacional, where the hosts worked overnight to repair the damage caused by the touchline fire around the TV gantry area on the eve of the game. The Europe Group I match saw Ukraine’s Kateryna Monzul become the first woman to referee a senior England men’s match. Phil Foden was the architect of both first-half goals, providing the ball for Chilwell’s first international goal and then Saka’s thumping strike. Abraham, making his first international start in four years, turned home a cross from Jadon Sancho in the 59th minute. Grealish was brought down in the box and Ward-Prowse scored from the rebound after his penalty was saved. Grealish scored his first England goal in the 86th, striking low beyond Gomes after collecting a long throw from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. England kept a national record 12th clean sheet in a calendar year. With only the group winners automatically qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar next year, England is four points ahead of second-placed Albania. Albania won at Hungary 1-0 through Armando Broja’s goal in a stadium closed to fans due a racism punishment. Poland is a point further back in third place after routing San Marino 5-0. “I’m pleased with the way the team went about the game against a very specific challenge — a low defense to break down. We picked players who could take that challenge on,” Southgate said. “There were some nice moments, for Chilly to get a goal after a tough summer with us. Jack’s first goal as well. “Tammy and Bukayo are not players who score too often, so it was nice for all of them.” In Group F, Denmark has put together perhaps the world’s best series of qualifying results as the runaway group leader while Scotland and Israel served up the most dramatic game Saturday. The Danes’ 4-0 win at Moldova was a seventh straight win with no goals conceded and a European-best 26 goals scored. Denmark can seal its place in Qatar by beating Austria in Copenhagen tomorrow. Scotland beat visiting Israel 3-2 in a tense game with control of second place in the group — and a playoffs berth in March — at stake. Scotland twice trailed, had a first-half penalty saved, leveled in the second half only after a lengthy video review overturned a goal previously disallowed, then missed a clear chance in the 89th. Four minutes into stoppage time, Scott McTominay of Manchester United bundled the ball over the goalline after a corner to delight a sold-out Hampden Park. (SD-Agencies) | 