A superb late strike by Frank Lampard [Images] gave England [Images] a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Poland and top place in Group Six on Wednesday.

Both sides had already qualified for the finals but Lampard's volley made a much-criticised England team group winners and left Poland to head to Germany [Images] as one of Europe's best runners-up.

Captain Michael Owen [Images] gave England, showing their best form of the season, a deserved lead after 44 minutes but Poland substitute Tomasz Frankowski volleyed an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Owen then turned creator as England attacked on the break, lofting a cross into Lampard's path for the midfielder to fire past keeper Artur Boruc in the 81st minute.

Victory, which left the hosts on 25 points to Poland's 24, was no more than England deserved for taking the game to a side they had also beaten 2-1 in Chorzow a year ago.

England paid a high price for being caught out of position by Frankowski but manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, under fire in recent weeks, will be more than satisfied with both the performance and the result.

Freed from the burden of qualifying and fed up with two months of criticism at their poor performances, England hit the accelerator from the start.

Also Read England approach was key to Poland win: Owen

Lampard swung in a series of free kicks and corners, Wayne Rooney [Images] ran straight at the Poland defence and Shaun Wright-Phillips soon warmed to the task of replacing suspended skipper David Beckham [Images] on the right flank.

His teasing pass behind the Polish defence caught the waiting Rooney just offside on 20 minutes and the winger had a hand in setting up Lampard for a header straight at Boruc.

England, fully in control and with holding midfielder Ledley King doing an impressive job of shielding the back four, were clearly building up a head of steam.

DEFENCES CRACK

Rooney and Joe Cole blazed narrowly over the bar but it was only a matter of time before Poland cracked under the pressure.

Cole drove a corner clearance back into a packed area and Owen neatly steered the ball home from close range.

Poland then took their only chance of the half when Kamil Kosowski lifted the ball over a static England defence from the right and Frankowski lashed the ball home.

The strike lifted Poland for the start of the second half but the better chances were still falling England's way.

Rooney skied a close-range effort and Cole put the ball in the net from an offside position before superbly setting up Owen for a header which drew a sharp save from Boruc.

Boos rang out for Eriksson's decision to replace Wright-Phillips with Peter Crouch on 68 minutes, though the lanky substitute was soon accepted by the Old Trafford crowd.

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