Rooney double helps England down San Marino

Updated October 13, 2012 10:02:12

Wayne Rooney capped a week to remember as the England skipper's double inspired his side to a 5-0 win over San Marino in the World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

With regular captain Steven Gerrard suspended, Rooney led England in a competitive international for the first time in the same week he learned wife Coleen was pregnant with the couple's second child and the Manchester United forward celebrated in style.

With Roy Hodgson's side labouring to break down one of Europe's weakest teams, Rooney came to the rescue as he lashed in a first-half penalty and then netted the decisive third after Danny Welbeck's strike.

The 26-year-old's 30th and 31st England goals moved him into fifth in his country's all-time scoring charts ahead of Alan Shearer, Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse.

Welbeck also finished with a brace as he added England's fourth before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sealed the victory with his first international goal.

"It's not a bad result when you remember that it's difficult when they have 10, 11 players behind the ball," Rooney said.

"I'm extremely proud to be in the top five of England's top scorers."

Hodgson added: "I thought we were very patient. We passed the ball well from the first minute to the last and played the way we wanted to.

"It would be churlish if one was to start criticising when we've won 5-0."

This was far from a vintage performance from England, but the size of the win was emphatic enough to keep the critics at bay, although Tuesday's (local time) trip to Poland will be a far sterner test.

San Marino, ranked joint 207th in the world rankings alongside Bhutan and the Turks and Caicos Islands, has only one full-time professional in its side and has won one match in its history.

With that woeful pedigree in mind, it was hardly surprising Hodgson opted to send out an attacking line-up that featured Rooney and Welbeck up front, with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott pushing forward on the flanks.

England had conceded a goal in 8.3 seconds when it last faced San Marino in 1993. There was never any chance of a repeat but the hosts took a while to break down opponents intent only on keeping the score down.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was quick to test Aldo Simoncini with a stinging long-range drive that the San Marino goalkeeper pushed over.

Simoncini was involved again moments later when he raced off his line and clattered into Walcott, leaving the pole-axed Arsenal winger with a chest injury that was serious enough for him to be taken to hospital for tests.

Rooney should have opened the scoring with a diving header from Tom Cleverley's cross but, at that stage, there was a lack of speed and imagination about England's passing.

Its luck was out when Michael Carrick's fierce drive cannoned off the crossbar and Welbeck could only hit a post from the rebound.

But Hodgson's team finally made the breakthrough in the 35th minute when Welbeck was needlessly brought down by Simoncini and Rooney smashed in the penalty to claim his first goal of the season for club or country.

There was slightly more energy about England now and Welbeck notched the second goal three minutes later.

Substitute Aaron Lennon crossed into the six-yard box and Welbeck twisted his body to direct a superb back-flick past Simoncini, reviving memories of his equally inspired strike against Sweden in Euro 2012.

Simoncini kept out Rooney's curling effort just before half-time and denied Carrick early in the second half.

Frustration was beginning to set in among the 84,000 crowd when Gary Cahill miscued a close-range volley.

But Rooney scored his second of the night with a fine curling effort from the edge of the area in the 70th minute and two minutes later Welbeck poked home from Cleverley's low cross.

San Marino were tiring now and Arsenal winger Oxlade-Chamberlain made it five with an impressive finish in the 77th minute.

AFP

Tags: soccer, sport, soccer-world-cup, england, united-kingdom

First posted October 13, 2012 09:33:37

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Rooney injury overshadows van Persie strike

Updated August 29, 2012 13:57:30

Robin van Persie marked his first Manchester United start with a sublime goal, but his side's 3-2 victory over Fulham was marred by an injury to Wayne Rooney that will sideline the striker for four weeks.

Van Persie had little chance to contribute during a brief substitute appearance in United's lacklustre defeat at Everton on Monday, but took just 10 minutes to make his mark at Old Trafford with a brilliant half-volley to cancel out Damien Duff's opener.

Inspired by the ?24 million ($36.4 million) Dutch striker, United went on to secure their first win of the season.

But the result was overshadowed by Rooney's injury late in the second half, which left the England striker, who was stretchered off, with blood streaming from a deep gash in his thigh after he was caught by Hugo Rodallega.

Rooney was taken to hospital for treatment and United coach Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was a very bad one. He has gone to hospital. It looks like he will be out for four weeks."

Fulham had stunned United when Irish winger Duff fired home from just inside the penalty area in the third minute.

But that brought a scintillating response from van Persie, who levelled with a blistering strike from Patrice Evra's cross.

Like van Persie, former Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa was making his first appearance at Old Trafford and he marked the occasion by tapping in his maiden United goal.

United defender Rafael da Silva added a third goal in the 41st minute before Nemanja Vidic's 64th-minute own goal gave Fulham a glimmer of hope.

While United are off the mark, Chelsea is setting the early pace as the European champions cemented their position on top of the table with a 2-0 win against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.

Roberto Di Matteo's side, who have recorded three successive victories, went ahead in the 22nd minute when Eden Hazard drilled home his first Chelsea goal from the penalty spot after a Vurnon Anita foul on Fernando Torres.

Spain striker Torres added the second goal himself, lashing in from Hazard's back-heel just before half-time.

Praising Hazard's latest dominant display, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole said: "When I played for England against Belgium I had to mark him. I told the guys then that he's going to rip up the Premier League."

Standing behind Chelsea in the early table is surprise package Swansea which, following on from its 5-0 opening day win at QPR, easily beat West Ham 3-0.

Angel Rangel opened the scoring after 20 minutes, with Michu adding a second nine minutes later and Danny Graham making it three after the hour mark.

Everton, often hampered by slow starts to the season, also maintained its 100 percent record with a 3-1 win over 10-man Aston Villa.

South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar gave David Moyes' side the perfect start as he struck in the third minute at Villa Park.

Marouane Fellaini increased the lead with a 31st-minute header and Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic swept home a Leighton Baines cross just before half-time.

Villa defender Ciaran Clark earned a straight red card for a professional foul on Jelavic in the second half and Karim El Ahmadi's 74th-minute goal was little consolation for the hosts.

Andre Villas-Boas was denied a first win as Tottenham manager as James Morrison's late goal secured a 1-1 draw for West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto struck for Tottenham in the 74th minute with a deflected shot, but Steve Clarke's side levelled through Morrison in stoppage time.

Norwich City and QPR, both thrashed 5-0 last weekend, shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.

Chris Hughton's side took the lead through Simeon Jackson's 11th-minute header, but QPR were level within nine minutes when Bobby Zamora converted the rebound after Djibril Cisse's penalty was saved by John Ruddy.

Wigan Athletic showed there is life after Victor Moses as the Latics won 2-0 at Southampton.

With Nigeria forward Moses having joined Chelsea on Friday, Wigan coach Roberto Martinez needed his other forwards to step up and Franco Di Santo rose to the challenge as the Argentine hammered a powerful shot into the roof of the net in the 51st minute.

Arouna Kone completed Wigan's victory with a fine solo effort in the 89th minute.

Sunderland's match against Reading was postponed less than 90 minutes before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch at the Stadium of Light.

Arsenal travels to Stoke City tonight (AEST) and hours later champions Manchester City take on Liverpool at Anfield.

Results:

Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0

Manchester United 3 Fulham 2

Swansea 3 West Ham 0

Aston Villa 1 Everton 3

Tottenham 1 West Brom 1

Norwich 1 QPR 1

Southampton 0 Wigan 2

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted August 26, 2012 08:39:16

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Hodgson happy with Rooney return

Updated June 21, 2012 15:17:44

England manager Roy Hodgson has brushed off concerns over the form and fitness of Wayne Rooney after the striker's rusty comeback in the victory over Ukraine.

England returned to their Krakow training camp in buoyant mood after Rooney's goal in his first match back since suspension steered Hodgson's side into a Euro 2012 quarter-final meeting with Italy.

Although Rooney's 29th goal for England proved the difference between the two teams, it was a far from vintage display by the Manchester United striker, who had not played a competitive match since May 13.

The 26-year-old squandered a straightforward chance to head England into the lead in the first half and struggled to locate the sureness of touch he can usually take for granted when on form.

Hodgson acknowledges Rooney is some way off his best but believes the England striker will be better after ending his enforced exile.

"In training he looks terrific but there's always that little difference between training performances and then having to go out in an important match where there's big pressure from everybody," Hodgson said.

"The important thing he did was perform really well for the team, the goal is fine and, to be fair, you don't need to be Wayne Rooney to score that goal.

"But you do need to be Wayne Rooney to give the type of performance he gave throughout where he and Danny Welbeck both worked so hard to make sure we got the defensive organisation that we wanted."

Hodgson was also unconcerned by an incident in the second half on Wednesday morning (AEST) when Rooney surged clear of the Ukrainian defence only to be forced to check back as the cover caught up with him.

Rooney's failure to elude the Ukraine defence was attributed to a miscommunication with Welbeck rather than any problem with the player's fitness.

"He was trying to play Danny Welbeck in and unfortunately Danny didn't make the right run in that situation, he cut across him rather than pulling away," Hodgson said.

"I think Wayne was actually waiting for him to pull away so he could slip him in, but he decided to make a run across and take the take the defender in the same area.

"But I don't have any doubts about his physical fitness. I don't have any doubts about his mental fitness."

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, poland

First posted June 21, 2012 15:17:44

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Rooney guides United to victory

Updated March 27, 2012 10:15:19

Wayne Rooney's 21st Premier League goal of the season secured a 1-0 victory for Manchester United over Fulham to put them three points clear of Manchester City in the title race.

Rooney's close-range strike after 41 minutes at Old Trafford proved enough to see off an unambitious Fulham side and take the champions, who survived a strong late penalty appeal, to 73 points with eight matches remaining.

City had moved top on goal difference with a 1-1 draw at Stoke City at the weekend but United responded with a ninth victory from their last 10 league matches and are now favourites to retain the title.

United manager Alex Ferguson, closing in on a 13th English top flight championship, says his team deserves the three points despite tiring near the end.

"I thought for an hour we played very well, the passing was quick and decisive and we made some decent opportunities but Fulham put in a very determined defensive performance," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"A bit of tiredness came into our game and we started to give the ball away and they capitalised. The disappointing thing was that we never finished them off when we should have."

United struggled for fluency in the first half as Fulham initially posed some threat with American striker Clint Dempsey forcing a fine save from goalkeeper David de Gea.

Gradually United exerted pressure and the breakthrough came with half-time approaching as a cross into the area bounced kindly off Fulham's John Arne Riise for the alert Jonny Evans to cut the ball back for Rooney to crash the ball past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The home side improved after the break and should have spared themselves anxious late moments.

Ryan Giggs skewed one chance wide and Antonio Valencia squandered another when he shot straight at Schwarzer after being sent clear by Giggs' pass.

Schwarzer also made superb saves to twice deny Ashley Young as United searched for the killer goal.

It did not arrive, though, and Martin Jol's mid-table Fulham applied late pressure, Fulham having a strong appeal for a late penalty waved away when Danny Murphy tumbled in the area under a clumsy challenge from Michael Carrick.

"I think everyone in the stadium expected a penalty to be honest," Jol said.

"But you have to be brave to give a penalty away at Manchester United.

"We could have had a result and I think they looked pretty nervous at the end."

Ferguson says United should also have had a penalty but acknowledged that they got a little fortunate.

"Certainly Michael Carrick caught Danny Murphy's heels when he came back," Ferguson said.

"But I think we deserved (some luck) because we completely dominated the game until that last 15 minutes."

Reuters

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted March 27, 2012 08:05:29

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John Rooney joins Orlando City

Updated January 27, 2012 11:56:50

John Rooney, the 21-year-old midfielder and younger brother of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, has signed a contract with Orlando City in the lowest level of US professional soccer.

The deal, pending US Soccer Federation approval, would put Rooney in the third-division of the United Soccer League, two steps below Major League Soccer.

Orlando City won the US Pro title last year, going 15-3 with six drawn.

"I've known John for a long time, from the early days in England," Orlando City coach Adrian Heath said.

"We're delighted to have him. He will be a really good piece for us."

After opening in the Everton youth system in England, Rooney made his pro debut with English League Two side Macclesfield Town at age 17, spending three seasons with the Silkmen and scoring three goals in 45 matches.

The Liverpool native joined the New York Red Bulls of MLS in 2011 and played in five MLS and two US Open Cup matches, netting his lone goal in a Cup match.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, united-states

First posted January 27, 2012 11:40:53

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Rooney fined over night out

Updated January 03, 2012 09:48:46

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been fined a week's wages by the Premier League club for a night out over the Christmas weekend, according to press reports on Monday.

Rooney was dropped by United ahead of its shock 3-2 home loss to Blackburn last Saturday, officially because of fitness concerns.

But several British newspapers reported that the star was punished for a below par training session on December 27 after a Boxing Day evening out with wife Coleen and team-mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson against team orders.

Rooney was fined approximately 200,000 pounds ($303,000 dollars) with defender Evans and midfielder Gibson also fined, the reports said.

The trio were then ordered by manager Sir Alex Ferguson to come in on Wednesday - a day off - and train on their own as well as report for training on the morning of the Blackburn defeat.

Although the incident has revived memories of Rooney's threat to leave the club in October 2010 before he was handed a vastly improved salary, several papers said the player's future at Old Trafford was not in jeopardy.

The Daily Mail cited sources with knowledge of the situation as saying Ferguson's punishment of Rooney would not have a long-term impact on the duo's working relationship.

United play Newcastle next Wednesday.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted January 03, 2012 09:48:46

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Managers slam English FA over Rooney appeal

Updated December 10, 2011 09:50:57

Harry Redknapp and David Moyes became the latest Premier League managers to round on the English FA in the aftermath of its appeal against Wayne Rooney's Euro 2012 ban.

Redknapp said the FA's stance had "opened up a can of worms" while Moyes described his experience of the governing body's appeals process as a "kangaroo court".

Kenny Dalglish said on Thursday the FA had failed to set an example in appealing the England striker's suspension.

Rooney, who was banned for kicking out at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic in a qualifying match, had his three-game suspension reduced to two by UEFA on Thursday following a successful appeal from the FA.

"For them to get it from three to two, it opens up a can of worms," Tottenham manager Redknapp said.

"There will be clubs appealing against bans and they will want to know why they aren't getting it cut from three to two for similar situations.

"People will look at it and think, 'Hang on, the FA have gone and appealed against his red, why can't we?'"

Everton manager Moyes contrasted the Rooney situation with his experience of appeals to the FA.

"You should see us when we try to appeal - it's absolute murder," he said.

"I've got to say, the times that I have been in front them, it's like a kangaroo court, you've got no chance."

In response to Dalglish's criticism, the FA released a statement defending their decision to appeal on the grounds that UEFA's disciplinary system was different to theirs.

"The FA's system allows clubs to make a claim of wrongful dismissal - to reduce a sanction to zero - or appeal the severity of a sanction, both of these processes are dealt with prior to the player's next fixture," the FA said.

"UEFA chooses to operate a different process for European matches, based on a sliding scale, under which each sanction is determined individually by a disciplinary panel."

Reuters

Tags: euro, english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted December 10, 2011 09:50:57

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Rooney gets three-match international ban

Updated October 14, 2011 09:31:01

England striker Wayne Rooney has been given a three-match international ban by UEFA for his sending-off against Montenegro last Friday, ruling him out of the group stage of Euro 2012.

"The striker will now be suspended from playing in his country's next three UEFA national competition matches for which he would be eligible," European soccer's governing body said in a statement.

UEFA said Rooney had been sent off for "assault" in the 74th minute of the match which ended 2-2 in Podgorica, the final match of England's qualifying campaign.

England was leading 2-1 at the time and Rooney had helped set up both England goals before being sent off for a wild kick at Miodrag Dzudovic.

The match ended 2-2, giving England the point it needed to qualify.

England has three days to appeal the verdict. The English FA said they would wait to learn the full reasons before deciding on a response.

"Further to UEFA's decision to impose a three match suspension on Wayne Rooney following his sending off against Montenegro, The FA await the full reasons from the disciplinary committee, and will give full consideration to the decision internally, before deciding on any response to UEFA or making any further public comment," read an FA statement.

Rooney, who was also sent off in the 2006 World Cup, was playing one day after his father and uncle were arrested and bailed by police over an alleged betting scam.

England has no other player like the 25-year-old Rooney, who can be deadly as a striker and act as a playmaker.

Manager Fabio Capello, who defended his decision to pick Rooney for the game, has already said that Rooney would not start in any of the warm-up friendlies before the tournament.

Reuters

Tags: euro, soccer, sport, england, montenegro, australia

First posted October 14, 2011 07:39:17

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Rooney treble leads another United rout

Updated September 11, 2011 06:04:50

Wayne Rooney scored his second successive hat-trick as rampant Manchester United stormed back to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win at Bolton just hours after Sergio Aguero's treble briefly lifted Manchester City into first place.

Rooney scored three times in United's 8-2 demolition of Arsenal before the international break and the England forward picked up where he left off to claim the seventh hat-trick of his career.

He converted two crosses from Phil Jones in the first half and then swept home a Ryan Giggs pass after the break to take his goal tally for the season to 10 for club and country.

United's blistering display, which also included two goals from Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, means the champions have now scored 18 goals in their first four matches, a new Premier League record for this stage of the season that keeps them ahead of title rivals City on goal difference.

"We got an early goal and kicked on from there and it could have been more," Rooney said.

"I had a long time to rest and get a good preseason under my belt. I've stayed free of injuries and it's helped me for the start of the season."

The only downbeat note for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was an injury to Tom Cleverley, which forced the young midfielder to come off in the first half.

"We kept playing our football. That is what we are here to do. We withstood all the challenges and just got on with it," Ferguson said.

Earlier, Argentinian international Aguero starred as Roberto Mancini's City outclassed Wigan 3-0 at Eastlands with a mesmerising display of attacking football.

The victory maintained City's perfect start to the season and manager Mancini was purring with pleasure after the virtuoso display of Aguero, signed for a club-record 38 million pounds from Atletico Madrid this summer.

"They were fantastic strikes. He is an incredible player. He is young and scored three fantastic goals," Mancini said.

"He always scored in his career and I hope that can continue here."

Arsenal bounces back

In other results, Arsenal bounced back from its humiliating defeat against United in its last outing to record a badly needed 1-0 win over Swansea at the Emirates Stadium.

An Andrey Arshavin goal on 40 minutes secured Arsenal's first Premier League win this season, the Russian international punishing a dreadful blunder by Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm to finish from a tight angle.

"When you get a big score against you, the confidence goes quickly and comes back slowly," Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said.

"You could see that because we had a nervous second half when we didn't score the second goal. We started well and slowly the nerves took over."

Chelsea moved up to second place after recording its third win in a row with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Blues skipper John Terry drove a deflected shot into the net to put Chelsea ahead on 18 minutes after Sunderland failed to clear.

Chelsea doubled its lead on 51 minutes when striker Daniel Sturridge latched onto a ball over the top from new signing Raul Meireles to score.

Sunderland's South Korean international Ji Dong-Won gave the Black Cats hope with a goal in stoppage time.

Liverpool's recent revival ground to a halt as it crashed to an unexpected 1-0 defeat at Stoke.

Stoke edged ahead against the run of play on 21 minutes after Jamie Carragher was adjudged to have hauled down City striker Jon Walters, who stepped up to convert the penalty himself.

Tottenham recovered from its 5-1 home mauling by Manchester City with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who joined Spurs on loan from Manchester City last month, struck on 67 minutes to put Tottenham ahead after being played in by fellow debutant Scott Parker.

Jermain Defoe then made the game safe for Spurs on 80 minutes.

Everton and Aston Villa shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Leon Osman gave Everton the lead but Stilian Petrov levelled for Villa on 63 minutes.

Everton's Leighton Baines rifled home from the penalty spot six minutes later, only for Gabriel Agbonlahor to equalise seven minutes from time.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted September 11, 2011 06:04:50

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Rooney celebrates clinching the Premier League title

Published:Sunday, May 15, 2011 8:22 AEST

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring in a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park which clinched the Premier League title on May 14, 2011.

Tags: sport, football, english-premier-league

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