Welbeck & Rooney maintain Three Lions' 100 per cent record

9 years ago

Welbeck & Rooney maintain Three Lions' 100 per cent record

Danny Welbeck scored twice as England came from behind to beat Slovenia 3-1 in a Euro 2016 qualfier at Wembley.

Wayne Rooney was also on target, on his 100th international appearance, as he converted from the penalty spot, to cancel out Jordan Henderson's own goal.

The Liverpool midfielder headed past Joe Hart to give Slovenia a 57th-minute lead but just a minute later Rooney was bought down by Bostjan Cesar in the area to win the penalty and score his 44th international goal.

Two goals in six minutes from Welbeck then turned the game on its head and kept up England's 100 per cent record in qualifying.
Both teams struggled to get to grips with a Wembley pitch showing the full effects of last weekend's NFL action during a forgettable first half.
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But Roy Hodgson's team banished their earlier uncertainty, belatedly finding the creativity and verve required to maintain their 100 per cent record and establish a comfortable advantage at the top of the pool.
Nathaniel Clyne was handed an England debut but there was an early scare when the Southampton right-back allowed Andraz Kirm to steal in behind him, but he could only wastefully loop a tame header into Joe Hart's gloves.
Clyne soon settled into the contest, skipping impressively down the right flank and cutting back for Rooney to set up Raheem Sterling but the Liverpool forward dragged his 17th-minute shot wide.
Centurion Rooney had his first sight of goal four minutes later, only to blaze a half-volley over when Welbeck chested into his path 25 yards from goal - the Arsenal man unable to find power or direction on the end of Sterling's deflected cross soon after.
Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar was fortunate to escape punishment when he appeared to elbow Adam Lallana in the 36th minute before Welbeck fired wide from the edge of the area with Rooney well-placed.
Neither team managed an attempt on target during the first period and, although England played with greater purpose following the resumption, they fell behind in sloppy fashion.
Lallana needlessly bundled Kirm to ground and Henderson headed the midfielder's dangerous delivery into his own goal under pressure.
The hosts' response to their first goal conceded in the qualifying campaign was instant, with Rooney drawing a foul from Cesar in the area and blasting home from the spot despite penalty specialist Samir Handanovic getting a firm touch on the ball.
Hodgson's men pressed relentlessly to build on Rooney's equaliser and they were rewarded in the 66th minute when a combination of Handanovic and Miso Brecko could not clear Lallana's low, angled effort and Welbeck was on hand to volley into the ground and into the net.
England's earlier lethargy was a thing of the past by the time Welbeck slickly exchanged passes with Sterling to coolly slot home his second, 18 minutes from time and wrap up the points.
Hodgson's side can now turn their attentions to Tuesday's friendly clash with Scotland, enjoying the safety and comfort of top spot in their group.