Jack Wilshere rolled back the years with an exquisite assist to set up Ellen White’s first-half equaliser in England’s Soccer Aid victory over the World XI – embarrassing his ex-Arsenal team-mate Petr Cech in the process.
England, co-managed by Frank Lampard, Harry Redknapp, Vicky McClure and Robbie Williams, got off to the perfect start as former Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole opened the scoring on his return to Stamford Bridge.
Eden Hazard found an equaliser just moments later, beating David James with a dipping free-kick, before Usain Bolt helped set up Alessandro Del Piero to put the World XI in front.
But White, the Lionesses’ all-time leading goalscorer, ensured the two teams went into half-time break all square, latching onto a sublime Wilshere assist to become the first female goalscorer in Soccer Aid history.
After some fine play by Cole, Wilshere sat Cech down with a deft touch to the goalkeeper’s left before putting the ball on a plate for White, who made no mistake from close range.
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A beaming White immediately went over to Wilshere to celebrate the goal with the former England midfielder, a two-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, with the goal leaving the match finely poised at the halfway stage.
However, a one-sided second half saw England secure a comprehensive 6-3 win, as Steven Bartlett, Jermaine Defoe, Billy Wingrove and Theo Walcott all hit the target in west London.
An injury to 100m world-record holder Bolt put a slight dampener on the occasion, with the legendary Jamaican sprinter stretchered off the pitch midway through the second half.
At the half-time break, Jermaine Jenas hailed White’s historic goal as a ‘big, big moment’ and labelled Wilshere’s play in the build-up ‘a joke’.
‘This is what Ellen has done her whole life,’ the ex-Tottenham and England midfielder said on ITV’s coverage of the match.
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‘She just stuck it in the back of the net.
‘The quality from Jack is a joke but how many times have you seen her just there.
‘Sam Thompson’s at the back post trying to steal it! He’s desperate! But Ellen says: “This is mine!”
‘It’s a big, big moment, let’s be honest. It’s huge.’
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