Bulgaria 0-3 England Goals | Euro 2012 Championship Group G Qualifier | 02/09/11

FATV Official Goal Highlights - Bulgaria vs England

A 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in Sofia has put England in charge of proceedings at the top of their qualifying group for Euro 2012.

Gary Cahill opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he guided home Gareth Barry's clipped ball into the box.

Wayne Rooney headed a second from Stewart Downing's corner and the Manchester United forward sealed the win just before the break by tapping home at the far post after being found by club-mate Ashley Young.

Rooney's brace capped an impressive individual display, but to a man England were professional and they produced some fantastic football against an albeit disappointing Bulgarian side.

While one Manchester United defender won his first cap with Chris Smalling getting the nod at right back, it was the United pair of Rooney and Young who got the game underway with the smoke from a Bulgarian flare still casting a shadow over the players.

Smalling made an early opening for the visitors when he strode past Walcott and crossed to the far post, but Downing arrived moments to late to get on the end of the delivery.

Ashley Cole then popped up in the box and saw his left footed drive deflected wide for a corner as both full backs provided attacking support. From the resulting delivery Cahill showed great striker's instincts to chest down a pass from Barry and slot the ball home to give England an early lead.

It was another corner that led to England's second goal, this time from the right with Rooney the beneficiary of some hesitant Bulgarian defending to stab home from close range.

There were chances for Walcott and Downing as England countered with pace and poise, but a three goal lead at the interval was more than satisfactory for Capello's charges.

The second period began slowly, Bulgaria brought the physical Georgi Sarmov into the centre of midfield and saw an early set piece headed wide.

Ashley Young almost played Wayne Rooney in for his hat trick moments later, the final pass of a flowing move for England just catching a Bulgarian boot as Rooney's eyes glinted at another scoring chance.

From a Martin Petrov corner Joe Hart produced a wonderful point blank save to keep his goal in tact, a moment of hope for the home side in the face of England's dominance in the first period.

Downing then started and finished a move that only the width of the post could prevent the Liverpool midfielder scoring his first goal for his country and putting England four clear of Bulgaria. Downing evaded Milanov and picked out Walcott on the right wing, the Arsenal forward lofted a superb cross that Downing headed back across goal only to strike the post.

James Milner replaced Ashley Young after the hour mark, but the fluency remained, with Rooney leading the line expertly. Bulgaria enjoyed more of the ball in the second period, but they failed to properly test Hart again.

Indeed, bar a looping header from Rooney, chances were at a premium for the last half-hour, but England controlled the game for large portions and Capello will be pleased with the margin of victory and the clean sheet.

His side will now head back to Wembley where they will take on Wales on Tuesday, a game which could all but confirm their place in Poland & Ukraine.

Bulgaria: Mihailov,Zanev,Bodurov,Milanov, Bandalovski (Sarmov 46),Ivanov,Georgiev,Martin Petrov, Stiliyan Petrov,Popov (Marquinhos 81),Genkov (Bozhilov 61).

Subs not used: Vladislav Stoyanov, Iliev, Raykov, Kostadin Stoyanov,Kostadin Stoyanov.

Booked: Sarmov,Milanov.

England: Hart,Smalling,Cahill,Terry,Cole,Walcott (Johnson 83), Parker,Barry (Lampard 80),Downing,Young (Milner 62),Rooney.

Subs not used: Stockdale, Jagielka, Baines, Defoe.

Booked: Parker.

Goals: Cahill 13,Rooney 21,45.

Att: 36,521.

Ref: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).

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[jed371]

I hope Rooney can keep this form for the actual tournament

[manuboy9]

Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young. The even greater Manchester United partnership than Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. What's so great about it, it's a England partnership as well. This partnership will bring us very far in the Euro 2012

[MARS1257]

black and blue looks wierd it brought us luck so maybe we should wear it more often

[78plasmadlopez]

Mancini Italian, arsenal's French, Ferguson scottland. Etc... why not capello for national team .

[CreditDue52]

England will crash and burn in 2012. Just like they do every tournament

[maestro0171]

@ALEKHINE1927

We have better younger talented players now anyway, and mate italy are worse than England we could probably beat them

[jamesbullet55]

Brilliant performance from all :D I'd have put Adam Johnson on much earlier however as, well, he's bloody brilliant! :) Looking forward to Tuesday!

[jamesbullet55]

@ALEKHINE1927 And... your point? I don't think any of us, right now, believe we'll win. But we are very happy with this result and how well the young players are playing.

[smoggy1989]

@ALEKHINE1927 yeh england wont win it. but the dutch havent beaten england in four games. italy are hardly a force either atm

[01000001011100100111]

@MrLouisvangaal Because our coaches aren't as good, obviously.

[trip3l2008]

@OriginalYTName yeah just behind him

[trip3l2008]

@ALEKHINE1927 Nothings impossible .. We'll have to see!