England beat Platinum Stars
England beat Platinum Stars
Posted: 2010-06-07 18:33
England enjoyed a Wayne Rooney inspired afternoon stroll against the Platinum Stars as they claimed a 3-0 win in their final World Cup warm-up match today.
In a loud back drop of vuvuzela's horns at the Maruleng Stadium, the victory was claimed against the mid-table ABSA Premiership outfit. Importantly, no fresh injury concern was apparent among the star studded squad.
Capello kept one eye on Saturday's tournament opener against the United States of America as he chopped and changed his starting side. England roared out of the blocks to take the lead in just the second minute as star man Wayne Rooney's watched from the substitute's bench.
A driving run from right back Glen Johnson saw the ball eventually worked to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
An incisive pass from the Manchester City man got Steven Gerrard behind the host's defence to lay on the simplest of finishes for Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe from five yards.
The exciting start to the match continued as after an aimless ball over the top, Johnson was harshly judged to have pushed Mzikayise Mashaba in the penalty box on four minutes. Bradley Grober stepped up to take the spot kick but his attempt flew high over Joe Hart's crossbar.
After only a short lull in the action, a typically skilful charge from Joe Cole on the left flank teed up Peter Crouch on 12 minutes. A goal-bound flick from the giant striker was cleared off the line by the back-tracking Platinum Stars defender to stop England stretching their lead.
The visitor's continued to pepper efforts on Zimbabwe international Tapuwa Kapini's goal. Both Defoe and Wright-Phillips went close; before another Johnson run drew a smart, close range save on 30 minutes.
As the half wore on, the pace dropped as Capello's players sought to conserve themselves for the tournament ahead while starving the South Africans of possession. Only a weak header from Crouch followed before the half-time whistle.
A raft of changes preceded the start of the second period, with only Joe Cole surviving the interval. West Ham United's Robert Green succeeded Hart, replacement Michael Dawson enjoyed his first international appearance and the qualifying campaign partnership of Rooney and Emile Heskey was restored up-front.
As the temperature dropped, England picked up the pace right from kick-off.
The first chance of the half was spurned by Heskey after Aaron Lennon cut through the Stars' defence on 47 minutes. His inch-perfect centre found the Aston Villa target man whose goal scoring touch was absent again as he sent the header wide.
England continued to push. James Milner sent a low shot just past substitute keeper Dino Visser's post, before Joe Cole's cross was too high for Rooney to meet with proper contact.
Regrettably, the Manchester United player was quick to make his mark in the wrong fashion as a show of dissent saw him enter the referee's book.
After narrowly avoiding defensive disaster at the back, the Stars' fought back. A quick counter attack saw Alton Meiring played through but he wasted the opportunity.
Rooney was in just as generous a mood shortly when he aimed straight at Visser after he had smartly worked himself a yard of space in the penalty area. Redemption was close at hand, however, as he turned provider for Joe Cole on 61 minutes.
After a scrappy bit of play in England's half, Rooney surged on to Heskey's lay off on the half-way line. With the Stars' defence in bits, he had the clarity of mind to find the Chelsea contract rebel in acres of space in the box to double England's advantage.
Five minutes later and this vision was absent as some self-indulgent inter-play from Rooney, Heskey and Lennon saw the trio fail to shoot with the goal gaping.
A moment of true class from the Three Lions followed on 80 minutes as Rooney finally got on the score sheet to finish the scoring. Milner worked his way in to space on the left wing, with his smartly placed cross finding the talisman on the edge of the penalty area to volley home.
As the match final whistle blew, the value of the number 10 had been clear to see again as his introduction lifted the dull friendly in characteristically committed fashion.
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