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Magic Rooney inspires England to win over Belarus

15/10/2008

Wayne Rooney continued his impressive run of form to score a brace for England in their 3-1 win over Belarus in the World Cup qualifier in Minsk.

The Manchester United forward created the first goal and scored the other two in a second half dominated by Fabio Capello's side.

Rooney made it four goals in two games in the last four days to help England maintain their 100 per cent record and remain top of pool six.

Steven Gerrard gave England a perfect start with ten minutes gone. Rooney did well to win the ball in the middle of the Belarus half and picked out the Liverpool man who was supporting him from midfield.

With just the goalkeeper to beat Gerrard calmly curled the ball past Yury Zhaunou. A superb finish the belied the criticism he has faced playing for England of late.

Despite going a goal behind Belarus responded well and put the visitors under increasing pressure during the first half.

David James had to be alert to keep out a couple of long-range efforts before the hosts put together a flowing move to level the scores just before the break.

They strung together 23 passes, the penultimate of which found Ihar Stasevich in space down the right flank. He dummied his way past Wayne Bridge and sent in a cross which Pavel Sitko headed past James.

Belarus were showing they could match England in many areas but England's finishing in the second half was the difference between the two sides.

Within five minutes of the restart Rooney had restored England's advantage. Emile Heskey marauded down the left wing before picking out the United forward on the edge of the six yard box. From there Rooney simply guided the ball home.

Again Belarus tried to respond and Aleksandr Kulchy created their best chance of the half only for his cross to sail past its target in the box.

15 minutes from time Rooney ended the contest with a sublime goal. He stepped over a pass intended for him, allowing to roll to Gerrard.

Rooney had spun his defender and begun a run towards goal after the dummy and Gerrard managed to pick him out.

The United man still had plenty to do, dribbling past one defender before slotting the ball into the top corner.

Gerrard almost made it 4-1 just before the final whistle, he rounded the goalkeeper but his effort clipped the post.

Elsewhere in England's group Croatia kept pace with Capello's side with a 4-0 win over Andorra.