Hungary 0-4 England: Sterling, Kane, Maguire and Rice score in emphatic win

Raheem Sterling scored England's 18th goal
England strengthened their position in the race to qualify for next year's World Cup, Qatar with an impressive win against Hungary in Budapest.

Gareth Southgate's team won four of the four qualifying matches to take a five point lead over Poland. England will face Poland in Warsaw following Sunday's match with Andorra at Wembley.

They won easily after a match that featured many flashpoints, including loud jeering from England's players before kick-off, racist chanting and objects being thrown.

England's captain Harry Kane missed an opportunity to lead them shortly after the break, but it was not costly as Raheem sterling crowned a smooth move that involved Declan Rice and Jack Grealish to score his 16th goal in 24 international appearances after 55 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Sterling was back on the pitch as his cross from Luke Shaw's corner was deflected perfectly for Kane to head home. Harry Maguire added a third when his header from Luke Shaw’s corner fell through the grasps of Peter Gulacsi.

Shaw, Maguire, and other England players were treated to plastic cups. Sterling was similarly affected after putting England ahead. He took off his shirt to show a tribute to a friend who had died a few days earlier.

Three minutes later, England's night was over when Gulacsi made a second serious mistake. He allowed Rice to run his routing shot under him.

England's Sterling wins the romp

The path to Qatar looks easy now for England - this performance cemented their position as favourites to win their qualifying group.

Southgate's team maintained their nerves and discipline in Budapest's intimidating, unsettling environment. However, the behavior of Hungary's supporters left much to be desired. They turned up the heat and punished their opponents brutally once they were ahead.

England's defense was strong and Southgate was not disappointed. Kane and Sterling missed clear opportunities to inflict more misery on the Hungarians.

Sterling, once again England's main figure, was also in the Euros. He scored the goal that broke the deadlock and set up Kane's second goal.

Southgate was delighted by the way England scored their first goal. Rice won possession, before Mount and Grealish linked up to set Sterling up for a composed end. He got exactly what he wanted from these players.

England will now face Andorra in their home stadium on Sunday, before heading to Poland next Wednesday for what is expected to be the most difficult game on the road towards Qatar in Warsaw. But it is hard to imagine who could stop Southgate's side securing their place at the next winter's World Cup.