Wayne Rooney earns final cap as England beats USMNT 3-0

The US men’s national team perfectly played the role of hapless visitors at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, but D.C. United star Wayne Rooney couldn’t score in his final England appearance. The Three Lions strolled to an easy 3-0 victory over the Red, White, and Blue, in front of 68155 fans in London. Rooney came on for the final 33 minutes of the game, captaining an England side for which he holds the record for goals, with 53.

However, in a game that was supporting the Wayne Rooney Foundation, the main attraction could not find one final goal. Rooney’s best chance came in the 92nd minute, when the striker found a pocket of space in the box, and forced Brad Guzan to make a save on a shot that didn’t have the requisite power. Guzan had also made a save on Rooney in the 71st minute, on a shot that was never going to trouble the Atlanta United keeper.

Christian Pulisic had a chance to put the US ahead in the first half, after the Concacaf side spent much of the first 20 minutes under siege. A bit of fortune allowed Pulisic to break through England’s defense, but a moment of hesitation from the Borussia Dortmund midfielder allowed Jordan Pickford to make the save in the 24th minute.

Failure to capitalize then and there proved extra costly for the US, who then conceded two goals in two minutes. The first was a world class finish from Jesse Lingard, who took advantage of a lax US back line. Lingard curled a delicious shot around Guzan, who had no chance of keeping the shot out in the 25th minute. Two minutes later, the US couldn’t clear their lines in the box, and Jadon Sancho played out wide to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who smashed a shot past Guzan.

Rooney came on in the 57th minute for Lingard, as the US had a couple of looks to get back into the game. The best came on a corner kick when the US caught England unawares, but Bobby Wood couldn’t keep his header down on target.

Callum Wilson, who came close on several occasions to getting his debut goal throughout the night, finally did in the 77th minute. Fabian Delph’s cross from the left allowed the striker to cut in front of John Brooks, and a deft finish beat Guzan at the near post for the final tally.

Rooney had come on to a big cheer from the less than sellout crowd at Wembley, and even had to deal with a fan who had run out onto the field to greet him at one point. The fans in the stands desperately wanted a goal from Rooney, who just missed getting on the end of a cross after Guzan’s save in stoppage time.

The former Manchester United and Everton striker ends his Three Lions career with 120 appearances and 53 goals. The 120 appearances are second only to goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s 125, while his goal tally is the most ever for England.