LIVE: Moldova 0 England 5 - the Three Lions' opening World Cup 2014 qualifier as it happened

By Dan Ripley for MailOnline

Published: 23:00 EDT, 6 September 2012 | Updated: 16:58 EDT, 7 September 2012

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the World Cup qualifiers as England travel to Moldova to kick-off their campaign to reach Brazil in two years' time. Roy Hodgson's side are expected to open with a victory in Chisinau against a team rankled 138 places below them, but the hosts have the potential to cause the Three Lions problems. Send me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or contact me on Twitter @Ripinho.

21.45: But there is a bonus for England as Montenegro and Poland have drawn 2-2 in Podgorica - group rivals taking points off each other pretty much caps off a perfect night for Roy Hodgson.

That's all from me here folks, thanks for following but remember to check back for when England host Ukraine on Tuesday. See you there.

21.41: Bad news from Wales though as they have gone down 2-0 against Belgium. Elsewhere In Group A, Croatia recorded a 1-0 victory at home against Macedonia.

21.36: You can't really ask for much more than that. England record a comfortable victory to get their campaign off to a winning start against Moldova and it really was never in doubt.

Given the nature of the opposition, no one is doing cartwheels just yet but either way there was good performances all-round tonight.

21.33: From InfostradaLive:

5 - The last time England scored five goals in an away international was in a 5-1 win in Germany in 2001. Memories.

Full-time: Moldova 0-5 England

90+1min: Two minutes will be added on.

89min: With the game won, Hodgson is taking no more chances as he hauls Terry off, who has clearly not shaken off his injury. England down to 10 men as Carrick fills in alongside Lescott at centre-back.

86min: And it's got worse for Wales as Spurs centre-back Jan Vertonghen has rifled home a free-kick into the bottom corner.

There is just six minutes left at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Riding his luck: Leighton Baines' deflected free-kick produced England's fifth goal

83min: Moldova 0-5 ENGLAND

They all count folks. Leighton Baines attempts to curl home a free-kick on the right into the near post area, but it takes a nasty deflection and instead fools Namasco by sailing into the far corner. That's the Everton full-back's first international goal.

82min: A good spell of pressure from the hosts and Terry is clearly struggling - he can barely leap off the ground to challenge for a header.

From a corner the ball bounces around the penalty area but England eventually clear.

79min: It's not all going England's way though. John Terry has been limping the last few minutes but it remains to be seen if it's a knock he can shake off.

Hodgson has no more subs left but the lead will be the least of his concerns here.

76min: A second switch for the hosts as Eugeniu Sidorenco replaces Picusciac.

On target: Milner scored his first international goal to make the game safe for England

74min: Moldova 0-4 ENGLAND

Job done. On the counter England piece together a neat passing move which looks to have been overdone after Cleverley fails to pull the trigger inside the box.

But a short spray of passes around the box finds James Milner who blasts into the bottom corner.

71min: Get the deckchairs out seems to be the call. The visitors look content with three as few players seem keen to go off on more than a canter now. Crucially Moldova look no closer to forcing Hart into a save.

68min: England finally show some threat as from that corner, Cleverley turns a shot wide inside a crowded penalty area.

Hodgson makes his last change as Danny Welbeck comes on for Defoe.

66min: Milner and Walcott again switch flanks as the former slips in Johnson on the right, whose cross takes a deflection behind for a corner.

Performance of the half so far goes to the England fans, who have gone from singing 'The White Stripes' to 'Roy Hodgson's red white army'.

Evasive action: James Milner leaps a challenge

63min: You could argue England are letting this happen but Moldova enjoy a good three-minute spell of possession on the ball which speaks of the confidence currently in the home side if nothing else.

If England were not 3-0 up I may be a little more worried.

60min: More sloppy play from England as Carrick carelessly gives the ball away in the midfield.

The counter attack from it is quickly snuffed out but the professionalism from the visitors has dive bombed this half.

58min: That turns out to be the Arsenal forward's last kick as he is replaced by club team-mate, Theo Walcott.

Milner will now go over to the left with Walcott on the right.

57min: The concentration levels are dropping as Lescott and Oxlade-Chamberlain give the ball away inside a minute. They both go unpunished as Serghei Covalciuc eventual cross from the right evades everyone.

54min: One other game in Group H by the way and that is going well for England too.

Likely rivals Montenegro and Poland are going head-to-head in Podgorica and it's currently 2-2.

51min: It's probably expected but England have started with a much slower tempo so far. James Milner finds space on the right byline but his poor looped cross is easy meat for Namasco.

48min: A half-chance but nothing more for Moldova. Johnson's lapse of concentration lets in Igor Picusciac, but the striker fails to control the ball properly and it allows Hart to collect.

Off the bench: Michael Carrick (right) replaced Gerrard in the second half

Second-half: Away we go again and there is a change each. Michael Carrick has replaced Gerrard for England while the hosts send on Alexandru Dedov for Alexandru Suvorov.

20.45: It's half-time in Wales too where the hosts are a goal and a man down to Belgium.

Chris Coleman's men had their opportunities but they really face a fight to save something from this game now.

20.40: From Sportsmail's Matt Lawton at the Zimbru Stadium:

England very composed here but not sure I've seen too many teams worse than Moldova in a WC game.

20.35: We all know Moldova are no world beaters but give credit where it is due. England have given a professional performance and are good value for their lead at the break - you can only beat what is in front of you. (Pick the cliches out of that!)

No complaints: Roy Hodgson would have been pleased of his side's first half performance

Half-time: Moldova 0-3 England

44min: Right at the death, Moldova go very close to pulling one back. Serghei Covalciuc gets good contact on a header form a corner that just creeps past the post.

41min: As Defoe fires over the bar, it's no longer level in Wales.

And it's Belgium who have taken the lead with Vincent Kompany heading home at the near post from a corner. Vintage stuff from the Manchester City defender.

38min: From OptaJoe:

2 - Lampard's last brace for Eng was v Croatia in 2009; the first was a penalty and the second was a header set up by Glen Johnson. Quirky.

35min: As England continue to boss the game here, the news from the Cardiff City Stadium is not good for the home nations as a nasty tackle from James Collins sees the defender sent off and Wales down to 10 men. The score against Belgium though is still 0-0.

Three and easy: Jermain Defoe added England's third goal

32min: GOAL! Moldova 0-3 ENGLAND

Hodgson's men go into a cruise control as north London's finest combine to deadly effect.

Arsenal forward, Oxlade-Chamberlain's clever pass into the box is latched on to by Jermain Defoe, and the Tottenham striker's first time shot squeezes home at the near post.

I have to admit though, it is not Namasco's finest hour.

31min: The impressive Cleverley nearly makes it three, but his low shot just clips the outside of the post.

Heads I win: Lampard scored his second goal by heading home Glen Johnson's long pass

29min: GOAL! Moldova 0-2 ENGLAND

That's more like it. Johnson clips a delightful ball over the top into the box and Frank Lampard gives it perfect justice by glancing a header across goal into the bottom corner. A well worked goal and now breathing space for Hodgson's men.

27min: Warning signs for England as Alexandru Gatcan's shot across goal is deflected wide by John Terry. The hosts are improving as this half wears on.

24min: Leighton Baines wins a free-kick on the edge of the box to the left and England go close from the resulting set-piece.

Lampard's slight touch leads to Gerrard blasting across goal but narrowly over the crossbar. That's the best I have ever seen them two link up in an England team.

Livewire: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (right) was a constant threat for England on the left flank

22min: Some signs of Moldova growing in confidence as England take their foot off the gas a little.

Joleon Lescott is dragged out wide by his marker, whose cross is cleared by the visiting defence.

Not much danger but it encourages the home fans and England will want to keep them quiet.

20min: From Infostrdada Live:

Lampard's penalty was England's 100th (ex shoot-out) in their history - 69 have been scored, 31 saved/missed. Lampard scored 8, most of all.

18min: Finally the home fans have something to cheer. Artur Patras finds space 25 yards out, and his speculative effort at least forces a dive from Hart as it just clears the crossbar.

15min: Very positive start from the visitors. Namasco is on hand to again keep Moldova in this, as the keeper does well to parry away Oxlade-Chamberlain's acrobatic volley from inside the box. I don't think Joe Hart has touched the ball yet.

12min: Defoe doesn't look like he has his shooting boots on this evening as after running on to a Steven Gerrard pass in the box, his shot across goal is well saved by Stanislav Namasco.

9min: Great chance for two, but Defoe's cute volley from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross floats wide at the near post.

6min: Cracking start from England, that goal will settle a few nerves.

It's all the visitors so far who are getting into promising positions.

Tom Cleverley may as well be playing as a second striker as Glen Johnson is booked for a late tackle.

Perfect start: Frank Lampard fired England ahead from the penalty spot

3min: GOAL! Moldova 0-1 ENGLAND

Slightly harsh maybe? Tom Cleverley's shot from inside the area strikes a Moldovan hand from close range, but the referee points to the spot.

I think the defender left a sneaky hand to try and stop it but it doesn't matter as Frank Lampard nets from 12 yards - no England player now has more from goals from the penalty spot than the Chelsea midfielder.

3min: PENALTY (England)

Kick-off: Moldova get started as England's quest to reach Brazil 2014 begins.

Ready to go: Roy Hodgson walks out on to the pitch shortly before the game

19.42: The players are out at the packed to capacity Zimbru Stadium that holds 10,000 - both anthems impeccably observed.

England fans have become a lot more respectful in recent years - good to see (and hear.)

19.39: Roy Hodgson spoke to ITV before the game:

'Jermain [Defoe] has been playing well for Tottenham, and has more experience. He did exceptionally well against Italy and deserves his chance.

'I've seen Cleverley play twice for United, and he gives a different balance. Carrick is similar to Steve [Gerrard] and Frank [Lampard]. Tom will help out the front players more.

'Comfortable wins are very hard to come by. Even with my experience at international level I can't think of any easy victories.'

19.34: Just over 10 minutes until kick-off so here is an excellent piece from Sportsmail's Martin Samuel on how Roy Hodgson must match Fabio Capello and Sven Goran Eriksson's decent qualifying records.

19.29: And for the full lowdown on Moldova and England's other opponents in the group, click here for everything you need to know...including San Marino's star player.

19.24: Full line-ups from Chisinau:

Moldova v England
Moldova: Namasco, Armas, Epureanu, Bulgaru, Golovatenco, Sergei Kovalchuk, Sergei Kovalchuk, Gatcan, Onica, Suvorov, Patras, Picusciac. Subs: Serghei Pascenco, Racu, Ovseanicov, Cebotaru, Bordiyan, Doros, Sidorenco, Alexandru Pascenco, Dedov, Ivanov, Alexeev, Negai.

England: Hart, Johnson, Lescott, Terry, Baines, Milner, Lampard, Cleverley, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gerrard, Defoe. Subs: Ruddy, Walker, Bertrand, Cahill, Carrick, Jagielka, Walcott, Sturridge, Welbeck, Butland.

Referee: Paul van Boekel (Geboren)

19.21: Wales are dealt another cruel injury blow as Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is ruled out of their opening World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff.

The 22-year-old has fallen ill and joined Wayne Hennessey, Neil Taylor, Craig Bellamy, Andrew Crofts and Jack Collison on the sidelines.

David Edwards comes into the middle of the park with Adam Matthews at full-back and James Collins in the centre of defence, Darcy Blake looks set to take a defensive midfield role with Steve Morison up front.

The visitors opt to go without a recognised striker in a side which include an English-based septet of Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas and Eden Hazard.

Preparation: England boss Roy Hodgson talks to captain Steven Gerrard at the Zimbru Stadium on the eve of the Three Lions' opening qualifying game for the 2014 World Cup

19.18: So what do we think of that England team?

It scarily shows a lot of scars from the side that were ripped apart by Germany 4-1 in the Three Lions' last World Cup game back in South Africa two years ago.

It is the safe option though. Blooding youngsters is all well and good but you need your experience, especially for tricky trips to Eastern Europe.

19.13: From OptaJoe:

9 - England have conceded just nine goals in their last 13 matches, keeping eight clean sheets. Stubborn.

19.10: As we have seen some groups are already getting underway, but if you want a handy guide to all the UEFA groups ahead of the World Cup qualifiers then Adam Shergold may have just what you are looking for here.

19.05: England boss Roy Hodgson springs a surprise in Chisinau tonight by naming Jermain Defoe and Tom Cleverley in his starting line-up for the opening World Cup qualifier with Moldova.

It had been anticipated Manchester United duo Danny Welbeck and Michael Carrick would be part of Hodgson's team.

Instead, Defoe wins his 50th cap as he got the call for his first competitive start since September 2010, with Cleverley providing extra attacking impetus from midfield less than a month after making his international debut in the friendly win over Italy.

As expected, Glen Johnson is chosen at right-back ahead of Kyle Walker, while Joleon Lescott and John Terry's Euro 2012 central defensive partnership is renewed.

With Ashley Cole sidelined by an ankle problem, Leighton Baines makes his first competitive start at left-back.

Frank Lampard joined skipper Steven Gerrard in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner filling the wide berths.

Saviour: Robbie Keane equalised for Republic of Ireland at Kazakhstan before his side secured a late winner

19.00: But let's go straight to Group C where already there has been incredible drama as Republic of Ireland were on the brink of suffering a shock 1-0 loss at Kazakhstan.

But despite being battered for most of the game, a Robbie Keane penalty in the 89th minute and a Kevin Doyle strike a minute later have stole all three points for the Irish. Amazing scenes.

18.55: It's not been a great start for the home nations this evening, with Northern Ireland losing 2-0 at Fabio Capello's Russia.

Wales kick-off at the same as England at 7.45pm when they host Belgium, while Scotland's opener comes tomorrow when they welcome Serbia to Hampden Park.

18.50: Interesting to see Jermain Defoe leading the attack on his own to win his 50th cap. Some Tottenham fans may argue that is tactical suicide.

But a big shout for Tom Cleverley, as the Manchester United midfielder wins his first competitive senior cap against Moldova this evening.

He is walking in big footprints there as it was an opening to a World Cup qualifying campaign in 1996 where a certain David Beckham made his England debut, in Chisinau too.

18.45: Well here we go again folks. Another start to another qualifying campaign following another limp exit from a major tournament.

I'm talking about England of course as they begin their bid to reach what will be a special World Cup in Brazil. The team news has just been released and here is how Roy Hodgson's side will start at Moldova this evening:

Hart, Johnson, Baines, Terry, Lescott, Gerrard, Milner, Lampard, Cleverley, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Defoe.

All smiles: Skipper, Steven Gerrard and manager, Roy Hodgson are aiming for a winning start