Damson Idris gave England the lead in Soccer Aid at London Stadium on Sunday, finishing with the outside of his boot in the 31st minute to beat Edwin van der Sar. He then dropped like a fish in celebration and shushed World XI coach Usain Bolt as England seized control of the charity match.
That is why people are searching who is Damson Idris now: the actor was not just on the pitch, he was on the scoreboard in a televised annual event that mixes celebrities with former professionals. His goal put England ahead at half-time and turned a feel-good cameo into the defining moment of the opening spell.
The finish had enough bite to matter even in a match built for entertainment. Damson Idris met the chance cleanly and sent the ball past van der Sar, the 55-year-old former goalkeeper who had already been tested by Wayne Rooney when the England striker forced a save in the 40th minute that tipped onto the post. Earlier, Behzinga had fired straight at Joe Hart in the 18th minute, while Nabhaan Rizwan attempted an overhead kick and Angry Ginge was caught by a high boot in the chest after clearing the danger in the 21st.
There was, though, one moment that did not quite sit neatly with the rest of the celebration. Idris looked to be in an offside position to the live reporter when he scored, but the goal stood in the moment and England’s lead held through to the break. He had enough time after that to milk the moment, dropping to the turf and shushing Bolt, which told its own story about how much the opener meant to the side he was representing.
England’s advantage also came in a line-up that mixed familiar football names with television faces and entertainers. Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Jill Scott were among the former professionals on the pitch, while Olly Murs and Tom Hiddleston featured among the celebrity guests. Hiddleston later came on for England to replace Sam Thompson, as the match moved on with the result still unwritten.
The unanswered piece is simple: the opening goal changed the match, but it did not settle it. England went into half-time ahead because of Idris, and the second half had to decide whether that unlikely strike would be the moment remembered when Soccer Aid was done.
