England did what they had to last night and left Albania with all three points but not before the hosts provided a late scare by pulling one back in injury time. It merely added to the drama, however, as Andy Cole duly opened his international account at the 13th time of asking and calmed the nerves.
It had turned into a fine night for the Manchester United striker, who minutes earlier had made England's crucial second for his club mate Paul Scholes, who tucked away Cole's neat cross from close range.
England's latest model of a team had ground a few gears in beating Finland 2-1 four days earlier. Last night Sven-Goran Eriksson needed his players to settle down rather more quickly than they had done at Anfield, and preferably without the errors.
Presumably this was the reason for replacing Chris Powell with Ashley Cole at left-back. Against the Finns the 31-yearold Charlton defender had looked ill at ease throughout. Now Cole, 11 years his junior but with a number of composed performances for Arsenal behind him this season, got his chance.
Albania played with a back three which gave the left-wing combination of Ashley Cole and Steve McManaman a chance to exploit space behind Altin Lala, playing on the right of their midfield. Andy Cole, however, caught the eye more immediately; first with an astute ball to David Beckham to help force England's first corner, then with a muffed half-chance after Ervin Fakaj had failed to cut it out.
Albania relied on the creative skills of Bledar Kola, operating behind his strikers, Alban Bushi and the lofty Igli Tare.
England's early pressure amounted to much heavy breathing and not much more. Albania, meanwhile, gnawed away at the novice Ashley Cole.
By half-time England were starting to go stale, unable to raise the tempo of the play to their own choosing and giving the ball away sloppily.
Again Eriksson sacrificed McManaman in order to add Emile Heskey's weight and speed to the England attack. At Anfield the substitute had gone to the right but this time it was a straight swap on the left. Yet Heskey's immediate impact was minimal, and the defending grew more resolute by the minute.
Albania's attack, too, remained alert to the possibility of catching England on the break. Nine minutes into the second half a speculative 30yard shot from Vata awoke bad memories of Dietmar Hamann's winner for Germany in October. Again Seaman was caught out by a skidding ball. This time, however, he managed a fumbling save.
Still England struggled to impose themselves fully although this had as much to do with the organisation and tactical discipline of Albania as any shortcomings in Eriksson's side.
Owen made the breakthrough with 17 minutes remaining. Scholes met Gary Neville's pass inside with a superb touch for Owen to scamper clear and slip his 10th goal for England past Strakosha.
Later FIFA launched an investigation into an incident at the end of the match when Ashley Cole appeared to be struck by a missile thrown from the crowd.
Twenty-year-old Cole, making his debut in a heated and frenetic atmosphere, was struck on the forehead by a lipstick case following Andy Cole's late goal.
A happy Eriksson said later: "It was a very good result and though we created few chances in the first-half the team was very patient and believed in what we were doing.
"We never allowed Albania to counter-attack as they did against Germany. I am very pleased with all the players, it was a good professional performance."
ALBANIA Strakosha; Lala, Fakaj, Xhumba, Cipi, Hasi, Kola (14-Devis Nukaj 82), Bellai, Vata (Rraklii 86), Bushi, Tare (Skela 90). Goals: Rraklli 90.
ENGLAND: Seaman; Cole, Ferdinand, Campbell (Brown 29), Neville; Butt, McManaman (Heskey 46), Beckham; Scholes; Owen (Sheringham 84), Andy Cole. Goals: Owen 74, Scholes 85, Cole 90.
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg).
