Oct 15, 2008, 20:49 GMT
Minsk, Belarus - Wayne Rooney scored twice as England made it four victories out of four in their World Cup qualifying group by winning 3-1 Wednesday at Belarus.
Steven Gerrard put Fabio Capello's side ahead after 11 minutes with a superb long-range shot, and though Pavel Sitko levelled for Belarus, Rooney twice finished off good moves to seal a convincing win.
England are top of European group six with a maximum 12 points from four games, the first time they have ever won their opening four games of a World Cup campaign.
'I think it was really good,' Rooney said. 'We had to work really hard tonight. They were a really good footballing side, probably the same style as Arsenal, but we worked hard and deserved the points tonight.'
Rooney paid tribute to his teammates for their part in his goals.
'It was great individual work by Emile (Heskey) for my first goal and a great pass from Stevie (Gerrard) for the second,' he said.
'Twelve points from the first four games is a great result, so we're really pleased.'
With captain John Terry still missing with a back injury, manager Capello kept faith with West Ham's Matthew Upson again partnering stand-in captain Rio Ferdinand.
Wayne Bridge replaced his injured Chelsea teammate Ashley Cole at left-back, while Steven Gerrard started the match on the left side of midfield, though he seemed to be given licence to roam.
Gerrard gave England the perfect start with the opening goal after 11 minutes.
Rooney did well to control the ball about 30 yards from goal, and after evading a couple of defenders he laid the ball short for Gerrard, who ran onto it and side-footed it into the bottom corner to give the Belarus goalkeeper no chance.
That should have settled England, but Belarus came into the game and even without their most famous player, Alexander Hleb, now at Barcelona and formerly of Arsenal, they put together some fine moves.
Only their final ball was lacking, but on 28 minutes, they were level. Ihar Stasevich made a neat turn inside the box to get the better of Wayne Bridge, and his chipped cross found Sitko alone at the far post, and he headed the ball past David James.
Emile Heskey had a great chance to restore England's lead just before half-time, but he headed wide.
England came out after the break with renewed purpose, and some of their football was fluid, especially through Gerrard and Rooney.
Rooney made it 2-1 to England five minutes into the second half, side-footing home after Heskey had got free on the left and squared the ball perfectly.
Shaun Wright-Phillips came on for Theo Walcott with just over 20 minutes to go, and Peter Crouch replaced Heskey, but it made little difference.
Gerrard and Rooney combined well four minutes later, the Liverpool man slipping the ball through to Rooney, whose quick feet left the defender for dead, and his finish was superb.
Gerrard should have made it four late on when he rounded the goalkeeper after a superb run, but his shot with the outside of his right foot cannoned off the post.
David Beckham replaced Rooney for the final few minutes as England ran out convincing winners.
Your Talkback on this Story