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Rooney closer to record as his 2 goals help England beat Scotland

England captain Wayne Rooney scored twice after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain headed the opener in a 3-1 win over Scotland.

England the visitors dominated a typically passionate "Auld Enemy" friendly at Celtic Park on Wednesday morning (Nov 19 Singapore time).

Rooney took his tally to 46 in his 101st international to move within three goals of Bobby Charlton’s England scoring record of 49. He led by example as skipper with his composed side proving too strong for the hosts.

Before the game, there were fears that crowd trouble might erupt in the first football fixture between the two rivals since Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom in a historic referendum in September.

The friendly, however, passed off peacefully with no reports of violence - despite both sets of supporters generating a raucous atmosphere in a near-capacity 60,000 crowd in the build-up to kickoff.

Apart from the obvious booing of the national anthems, most of the derision was directed at the two sets of players.

The opening 20 minutes were predictably frenetic without much shape or substance but England gradually began to look the more assured side - with Wilshere in the middle and Nathaniel Clyne on the right causing the home side problems.


Jack Wilshere (L) challenges Scotland's Shaun Maloney for the ball. Photo: Reuters

Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring when he glanced the ball home with his head after a superb pass from his Arsenal team mate Jack Wilshere to score after 32 minutes.

The goal was reward for England taking control after a frenetic opening to the game.

England were 2-0 ahead with seven minutes to play courtesy of a Rooney header after Scotland failed to clear a free-kick.

But the Scots came back when Andrew Robertson planted a left-foot shot past former Celtic keeper Fraser Forster to make it 2-1.

But two minutes later, Rooney finished off a well-worked move involving substitutes Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert turning the ball into the net from close range before celebrating by doing a cartwheel. 

 

 

 

The home side pulled a goal back when Robertson beat Forster at his near post before Rooney wrapped up the victory from close range.

Scotland the home side, which have improved since Gordon Strachan became manager early last year, only had one real goal chance before scoring when Russell Martin forced Forster to palm the ball over the bar early in the second half.

England have now won seven of their last nine meetings with the Scots.

Source: Reuters

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