Match Report

Michael Owen had a low-key return to international football as Stewart Downing guided England B to victory.  Besart Berisha hit the bar for Albania after a fine run before England scored twice in the space of three minutes.  Gareth Barry's touch set up Alan Smith, whose low shot arrowed into the corner and soon afterwards Downing pounced on goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj's mistake.  The impressive Berisha scored with a shot, but Downing made it 3-1 with an exquisite chip just before the hour.

Owen, who was playing for England for the first time since he was injured in last summer's World Cup, played the whole game.  His best opportunity came early on, when he side-footed Aaron Lennon's cross wide from a promising position.  Smith is another long-term England absentee, with the Manchester United forward last playing an international game 19 months ago.  But he gave England the lead with a low shot after he collected Barry's excellent lay-off.

Not long afterwards Albania goalkeeper Beqaj was unable to collect David Bentley's cross and Downing reacted quickly to drill the ball home.  Berisha was Albania's most accomplished performer and the Hamburg forward capped a fine performance with a goal, surging past Ledley King, before beating Scott Carson with a powerful shot.  Downing restored England's two-goal lead when he collected an Owen pass and cleverly dinked the ball over Beqaj.  - BBC Sport