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Thứ Bảy, 15 tháng 11, 2014

England 3-1 Slovenia: Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck Goals Maintain 100% Qualifying Record

Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck scored a brace as England won 3-1 against Slovenia Getty

Danny Welbeck's brace helped England come from behind to beat Slovenia and maintain their 100% record in European Championship qualifying at Wembley.

It took almost an hour and a shock Slovenia goal courtesy of Jordan Henderson heading into his own net for England to spark into life and turn the result on its head.

In front of 82,305 fans, Wayne Rooney, on his 100th appearance for his country, got England rolling with a penalty after he was brought down by the faintest of touches by Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar.

Strike partner Welbeck then scored a double, the first a scuffed effort after Slovenia failed to clear their lines while the second saw the Arsenal forward end a flowing more by slotting past goalkeeper Samir Handanovič to net his fifth international goal in his last four qualifying games.

On a pitch that still had a jaguar emblazoned at one end after last weeks NFL fixture, England lacked bite going forward in the early stages.

It was only when Jack Wilshere, who has been studying holding midfielders including Xavi Alonso, started pulling the strings did England start springing threatening forays forward.

The game started with Adam Lallana getting the nod over Stewart Downing and James Milner, both of whom have so far enjoyed impressive seasons at West Ham United and Manchester City respectively.

But neither Lallana nor the rest of his team mates could inspire the Three Lions in the opening 45 minutes, which was littered with inconsistency.

Raheem Sterling pulled wide after good work from debutant Nathaniel Clyne, Rooney and Wellbeck skied from outside the area while the Gunners striker nudged a header wide from 12 yards out when he should have at least tested Handanovič.

England were given a brief scare when Milivoje Novakovič's near post header from a corner whistled past Kieran Gibbs but traveled wide.

Roy Hodgson's side looked to use their wide men, perhaps as a way of avoiding the trail of cut up turf that ran through the middle of the Wembley pitch.

Assistant coach Gary Neville may have declared the pitch passable but with an army of groundsmen working right up until kick off and with NFL logos still visible, The FA must prioritise a successful England rather than the American sport's dollars and commercial viability.

It took 55 minutes for England to register their first attempt at goal, a header by Phil Jagielka after Rooney stooped a cross out from beneath his feet and it was an effort the hosts would live to regret passing up, as Henderson headed into his own net to hand Slovenia a shock lead.

Parity was restored later however as Rooney won a penalty after a faint trip by Cesar after being played in by Wilshere before the United forward, who was presented with a commemorative golden cap by Sir Bobby Charlton before kick off, joined Jimmy Graves on 44 England goals by converting with aplomb.

Welbeck's double eventually gave England their fourth straight group win, a close range finish followed by a second which ended a wonderful move down the left  involving Sterling and Gibbs, to leave Hodgson content ahead of the friendly in Scotland on Tuesday.

Source : ibtimes[dot]co[dot]uk

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