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Rooney double sinks Bulgaria
Cahill’s opener and Rooney’s double helped the English side to stay in touch with the leading position they had been sharing with Montenegro who were defeated last night by Wales. Without retired Berbatov, Bulgaria could only witness their ruining, having dropped second from the bottom in the group G.
Cahill brought the opener in the 12th minute following a perfect cross from Barry which found the defender on the edged of the box to put it under the keeper for a first lead. Hosts’ first chance came in the 20th minute through Petrov whose dangerous shot went wide after draining through Smalling’s legs.
Rooney made it two just a couple of minutes later. A corner from the right met United star free inside the box to head it past keeper Mihaylov. John Terry was also there as back-up but the Chelsea defender did not need to intervene anymore.
Just one minute before the half time, Rooney made it three to end the meeting earlier than expected. Young was picked on the right to deliver a perfect pass for his new United team mate who put it home into the empty net as the Bulgrian defence lamented an inexistent offside.
The second half started with three big chances for the two sides. At first Hart made a tremendous save denying Petrov’s header at the death. Downing then hit the post for England. Walcott beat his mark on the right to pick the left striker in good position for a dangerous header which kept the scoreboard unchanged, though.
England got a second straight big opportunity just one minute later through Parker whose shot was tipped away by the keeper who would not concede any goal until the end. The two coaches made a couple of changes in the 62nd minute as Genko was replaced by Bozhilov for Bulgaria and Ashley Young departed for Milner.
Walcott also got a golden chance in the 75th minute. Rooney fed him with a great through ball the Arsenal player mocked it wide. The 80th minute brought a couple of more changes as Lampard came in for Barry, while Lothar Matthaus replaced Popov with Marquinhos.
Four minutes later the Italian manager introduced Adam Johnson, too, for Walcott. Rooney got his last chance to grab the hat trick in the 88th minute but the United striker missed the contact with Milner’s cross. Finally, newly introduced Marquinhos was very close to cutting the deficit in the last minute, but a great tackle from Smalling denied the striker as England left Bulgaria with the sheet clean.
England have gone top spot in the group with 14 points, three more than their main followers Montenegro who were defeated 1-2 last night by Wels. The win over Bulgaria was England’s fourth of the qualifying. If they win the next game against Wales, they will secure the Euro 2012 berth. They meet the neighbors next Tuesday away.
Bulgaria lie second from the bottom with five points, the same as Switzerland who are above them thanks to a better goal difference. Bulgaria meets Switzerland away next week, though the two sides are six points behind second placed Montenegro who have plenty of chances to remain there.
Said Capello after the game: “It was important to win here. Bulgaria was in a good moment because they drew with Switzerland and away against Montenegro. It was not easy here. But we played a really good game. I’m happy for the result and for the spirit of the team.”
Bulgaria – Mihaylov; Babdalovski, Milanov, Bodurov, Zanev; Petrov, Georgiev, Ivanov, Petrov; Genkov, Popov. Reserves: Bozhilov, Iliev, Sarmov, Marquinhos, Stoyanov, Stoyanov V., Raykov.
England – Hart; Smalling, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Parker, Barry, Walcott, Young, Downing; Rooney. Reserves: Stockdale, Johnson, Lampard, Jagielka, Defoe, Milner, Baines.
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