England vs Ivory Coast LIVE: Result, final score and reaction from international fixture

Relive all the action from Wembley as the Three Lions continued their World Cup preparations

England football: Tough games will prepare team for tournaments, Southgate says

Stand-in skipper Raheem Sterling set up one and scored another as England cruised to victory in a friendly against Ivory Coast that felt more like a training match after Serge Aurier’s sending off.

Gareth Southgate made 10 changes from Saturday’s comeback win against well-drilled Switzerland as World Cup preparations continued with a first-ever senior international meeting of these nations.

Sterling crossed for Ollie Watkins’ opener and added a second shortly after Aurier’s first-half sending off, with many having left Wembley by the time Tyrone Mings headed home to make it 3-0 at the death. Relive all the action below:

England vs Ivory Coast

• Mings heads third in stoppage time
• Sterling doubles England's lead
• Aurier sent off in first half
• Watkins fires England in front
• England: Pope, White, Mings, Maguire, Mitchell, Bellingham, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Sterling, Watkins, Grealish
• Ivory Coast: Ali, Kamara, Deli, Bailly, Aurier, Seri, Kessie, Gradel, Cornet, Pepe, Haller

[29 March 2022 20:59 · Michael Jones]

England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast

49 mins: No penalty! VAR takes a look at the tackle from Coulibaly and it’s quite clear he wins the ball ahead of Bellingham then takes out the midfielder as both players come together.

The referee is called over to the pitchside monitor. He takes a look at the replay and overturns his decision. Reprieve for Ivory Coast!

[29 March 2022 20:57 · Michael Jones]

England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast

47 mins: Penalty to England!

Bellingham makes a darting run into the box and gets to the ball as substitute Coulibaly lunges across him in an attempt to win the ball. The teenager goes down and things look like they’re going to get worse for the Ivory Coast.

The incident is going to VAR though.

[29 March 2022 20:56 · Michael Jones]

Second half: England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast

Kick off: Ivory Coast make three changes at the break with Coulibaly, Boly and Agbadou on in place of Bailly, Gradel and Pepe.

Kyle Walker-Peters replaces Ben White at right-back for England.

[29 March 2022 20:47 · Michael Jones]

England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast

It’s been impressive stuff from Raheem Sterling but Jude Bellingham has been England’s star performer over those first 45 minutes.

[29 March 2022 20:42 · Michael Jones]

England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast

A beautiful first half for England, goals for Ollie Watkins and Raheem Sterling and Ivory Coast down to 10-men.

(The FA via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(The FA via Getty Images)

(The FA via Getty Images)

[29 March 2022 20:38 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast

45+2 mins: England lead at the break. There was a VAR check to make sure that Sterling’s goal was all above board and it was. Gareth Southgate’s men are cruising to victory at Wembley.

[29 March 2022 20:34 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! England 2 - 0 Ivory Coast (Sterling, 45’)⚽️

45 mins: There it is. Harry Maguire sends the ball up to Ollie Watkins who brings it down and lays it off sweetly to Raheem Sterling. He drives into the box and forces Ali Sangare into a decent save. The ball rebounds out to Jack Grealish who controls it and feeds it back to Sterling who finishes with a side-footed shot.

[29 March 2022 20:34 · Michael Jones]

England 1 - 0 Ivory Coast

43 mins: Should be plain sailing for England from here. They were bossing the game against 11 men and should have no problems extending their lead against 10.

[29 March 2022 20:30 · Michael Jones]

Red card! Aurier is off!

England 1 - 0 Ivory Coast

40 mins: Serge Aurier has picked up a second yellow card - for dissent maybe? - and the referee has sent him off!

Or was it late challenge on Jack Grealish that got him booked? Either way it’s silly stuff from the defender. There’s plenty of dissent after the red card comes out though as the Ivory Coast players argue that he should stay on the pitch.

[29 March 2022 20:29 · Michael Jones]

England 1 - 0 Ivory Coast

39 mins: Close! Jude Bellingham has had a blinding start to this game and almost caps it off with a goal. He brings it up the left side of the pitch with Jack Grealish providing an option on the wing. Bellingham dummies a pass before darting inside and firing his shot just wide of the far post!