BEIJING, Oct. 16 -- Two goals by Wayne Rooney, his second double strike in four days, helped England beat Belarus 3-1Wednesday to chalk up their fourth successive win in World Cup Group Six qualifying.
Steven Gerrard fired England ahead in the 11th minute with a low 30-metre shot before Belarus equalised 17 minutes later, Pavel Sitko providing the final header to round off a sweeping 23-pass move.
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England' Wayne Rooney (L) fights for the ball with Belarus' Igor Stasevich during World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at the Dinamo stadium in Minsk October 15, 2008. |
Rooney, who scored twice in the second half of England's 5-1 win over Kazakhstan on Saturday, repeated the feat with goals after 50 and 74 minutes to take his tally to five in his last three internationals.
He shot England back in front following a left-wing run by strike partner Emile Heskey before adding his second of the game, rounding off a move he started with a perfect dink over keeper Yuri Zhevnov.
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England's Steven Gerrard (L-2)reacts after his goal, during the World Cup group 6 qualifying soccer match against Belarus in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. England won 3-1 |
Gerrard had a good chance to score a fourth but hit a post with the goal gaping. England have never previously won their opening four matches in any World Cup qualifying campaign dating back to 1949-50.
They lead Group Six with 12 points followed by Ukraine and Croatia on seven.
TOUGH MATCH
England manager Fabio Capello had warned Belarus would provide tough opposition and he was right.
Although the visitors started the brighter, Belarus came back strongly and played neat football for long periods although without injured skipper Alexandr Hleb they failed to find a cutting edge.
Gerrard put England ahead with his 14th goal in 70 internationals after being set up by the hard-working Rooney.
Belarus were far from overawed though and gradually began to take a grip in midfield where Igor Stasevich had an excellent match.
It was no real surprise when they equalised through Sitko after 28 minutes.
Stasevich provided the final pass for the goal after some delightful skill, jinking into space and switching feet before sending in a perfect cross.
David Beckham came on late in the game to win his 107th cap and move ahead of Bobby Charlton on the list of England appearances, behind only Peter Shilton (125) and Bobby Moore (108).