Report: England CP 6-0 Japan

England's cerebral palsy team convincingly won their opening game at the IFCPF World Championship by 6-0 against Japan.

Andy Smith's Para Lions began their group stage in Salou on Sunday afternoon, with striker David Porcher scoring five goals along with a first-half effort from Liam Irons.

They set about their business quickly as the deadlock was broken in the ninth minute when Porcher finished well with a low left-footer in the box to get things going for both the team and himself.

And England's lead was doubled after 12 minutes, when Liam Irons hooked home after trading passes with Harry Baker.

Japan had a chance to get themselves back in the game five minutes before the break from the penalty spot, but Giles Moore played his part by making a fine one-handed save to deny Japan's Tatsuhro Ura.

They were made to pay for that miss too, as just three minutes later England added their third goal just before half time. Baker was causing a nuisance in the area when he controlled substitute goalkeeper Reegan McMillan's long pass forward, and when the ball was scrambled away from him Porcher was on the spot to fire home from close range.

A quickfire fourth goal arrived seconds before half time, as England caught Japan on the counter attack with the ball forward worked to Porcher, who curled home a low shot from the edge of the box.

It took just three minutes of the second half before a fifth arrived as Mason Dunbar's cross from the left found Porcher on the right and he controlled well before swivelling and firing home his fourth of the night.

And Porcher completed the scoring in the 47th minute from close range after the Japanese keeper spilled a long-range shot from distance after his first clearance under pressure from Porcher was collected by the England defender.

The Para Lions will now turn their attentions to their second game, when they play Brazil on Tuesday afternoon (2pm GMT).

England:1 Giles Moore, 2 Liam Irons, 3 Mason Dunbar, 5 Harry Baker, 6 Matt Crossen (c), 7 James Blackwell, 9 David Porcher

Subs: 13 Reegan McMillan for Moore 31, 10 Aaron Lucas for Blackwell 31, 12 Jayden Kenyon for Irons 48, 14 Matthew Robinson for Porcher 48, 8 Sam Dewhirst for Crossen 50

Subs not used: 4 Ethan Day, 11 Will Ramsey

Head coach: Andy Smith