England Under-21 9 San Marino Under-21 0
Shrewsbury Town witnessed history in the making as England Under-21s recorded their biggest-ever win with a 9-0 rout of San Marino.
Tonight topped an 8-1 win over Finland in 1977 and a 7-0 drubbing of Azerbajian four years ago in front of the second-biggest crowd ever at the Greenhous Meadow.
Michael Keane opened the floodgates before quick-fire goals from Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings and a belter from James Ward-Prowse. Thomas Ince made it 5-0 at half-time.
Second goals for Ince and Sterling came soon after the break before strikes from Carl Jenkinson and Will Hughes, as England made light work of their UEFA European Championship qualifier.
News pictures: England youngsters thrill fans at Shrewsbury Town's Greenhous Meadow
England swarmed all over San Marino from the off and Ings had already placed a shot wide of the post in the box on 10 minutes, before the goal came less than 120 seconds later.
Ince had prodded goalwards a shot that goalkeeper Andrea Manzaroli managed to hold, moments before England forced a corner he flung in for Keane to stab home the opener.
Two minutes later it was 2-0, after San Marino defender Mirco Ciambotta got himself in a muddle trying to clear from Sterling and the striker robbed him and beat Manzaroli to slot into the net.
With 17 minutes on the clock, England went three up when Ince's cross was touched in by Ings before the best goal of the night came from Ward-Prowse on 23.
The Southampton midfielder, who skippered the side in the second-half when under-worked goalkeeper Jack Butland was replaced by Jonathan Bond, hit one to remember.
He stepped up to a free-kick that curled round the defensive wall from the edge of the 'D' and past the dive of Manzaroli to glide into his near corner.
It was 5-0 by the break after Ince tapped in two minutes before half-time, the chance presented on a plate after Ings had cut to the byline and squared the ball across goal.
The second-half was all of three minutes old when another England goal glut began, Jesse Lingard's mis-hit shot presenting another tap in, this time for Ings who beat Jenkinson to the loose ball.
On 59 minutes, England were seven up with less than an hour on the clock as Ince's ball over the top fell for Sterling to apply the finish.
Jenkinson got the goal he was looking for two minutes later when he slotted the ball home on the right hand side. It saved friction with Ings – the two are room-mates when on international duty.
His strike matched the record number scored in an England under-21 game but it was topped by Hughes on 78 minutes, who pounced on the free ball in the box and drilled low into the net.
It could have been double figures for England – Jack Robinson's shot struck the post and bounced away to safety, while Lingard fired wide in stoppage time.
