Moldova vs. England: Complete Player Ratings for England

England roared into their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-0 demolition of Moldova. Veteran midfielder Frank Lampard put his nation on top only three minutes into their first of two matches in five days to kick start their road to Rio de Janeiro.

Lampard started the hungry drive to get his county on top and he would net the second goal of the match within the first half-hour to give the Three Lions a 2-0 scoreline early on.

However, one of Lampard's fellow former West Ham United youth starlets would not be outdone by the Chelsea player. Veteran striker and Tottenham Hotspur star, Jermaine Defoe notched the third goal of England's night only three minutes after Lampard's 29th-minute strike.

From that point on Roy Hodgson's side were able to take their foot off the gas as they cruised through the second half. Both James Milner and Leighton Baines got on the score sheet to finish off a 0-5 away win for the Britons.

Manager Hodgson managed to finally figure out how to play national captain Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard together in midfield. What has seemed like it should be the best midfield connection in England's history has proven to be an impossible pairing for previous managers to manage.

However, by playing the two of them deep with an attacking midfielder, Tom Cleverly, set above them, they both seemed settled to work with one another for a change.

Leighton Baines impressed in his first start in the place of injured Ashley Cole for the national team. The 27-year-old made sure he was not forgotten with the final 84th-minute goal of the match, even if he had a little help from a deflection.

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson also had perhaps the second-best performance of the night, but the standout play of young Arsenal attacker, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was phenomenal. With roving runs all night long through the Moldovan defense, the Ox was showings the signs of talent that had caused so much hype to surround him in the first place.

After a great performance England will be primed and ready to face their next challenge in hosting the Ukraine next Tuesday night.

Player Ratings (out of 10)

GK: Joe Hart - 7

RB: Glen Johnson - 10

CB: Joleon Lescott - 7

CB: John Terry - 7

LB: Leighton Baines - 8

CM: Frank Lampard - 9

CM: Steven Gerrard - 8

RAM: James Milner - 8

CAM: Tom Cleverly - 8

LAM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 10

ST: Jermaine Defoe - 8

It may have just been a match against lowly Moldova, but a strong opening match in any nation's World Cup qualification campaign is a major positive.

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