England claim Kazakhstan win

10:24pm Saturday 11th October 2008

Wayne Rooney netted twice as England put a poor first-half performance behind them to overcome the minnows of Kazakhstan 5-1 in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

The Manchester United star took his goal tally to five in the last four games for club and country.

After a goalless first half, a Rio Ferdinand header and an Alexandr Kuchma own goal put England in control. Zhambyl Kukeyev reduced the arrears, before Rooney's double blast and a late effort from Jermain Defoe gave a flattering look to the scoreline.

The first half had brought boos from the crowd and Fabio Capello brought on Shaun Wright-Phillips at the interval to add some impetus with almost instant results.

The Manchester City winger produced a low drive which was ruled to have taken a deflection as it whistled wide. Goalkeeper Alexandr Mokin tried to come through a crowd of bodies to reach Frank Lampard's corner and got nowhere near.

It meant Ferdinand, lurking at the far post, had an empty net to nod his third international goal into.

With 21-year-old Tanat Nuserbayev continuing to catch the eye of Premier League scouts, the hosts needed a second, which came courtesy of Kuchma, who turned Lampard's free-kick into his own net as he jumped with Rooney.

Ashley Cole aimlessly lofted a pass into the path of Kukeyev, who promptly drilled into the corner just four minutes later to reduce the deficit.

Cole was booed by the England fans thereafter, although at least Rooney sent them home in happier mood as he headed home Wes Brown's teasing cross 13 minutes from time.

There was still time for a brief cameo from David Beckham, who crossed for Rooney to steer home before being replaced by Defoe, who also got his name on the scoresheet in the final minute.

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