England hit Andorra for six
10 Jun 2009 - 22:11:10
England moved a step closer to qualifying for next summer's World Cup Finals in South Africa by thrashing Andorra 6-0 at Wembley.
Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe both scored twice while Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch were also on the scoresheet as Fabio Capello's side maintained their 100 per cent winning record in the group.
The players can now head for their long-awaited summer holidays before returning for pre-season training in a month's time.
England made a whirlwind start and almost scored twice before Rooney broke the deadlock in the fourth minute.
The Manchester United man tried to chip Jesus Luis Koldo Alvarez in the second minute only for the Andorra keeper to tip the ball over the bar.
Theo Walcott's close-range effort was then parried by Koldo and Rooney could only head the rebound against the post.
However, almost immediately Glen Johnson's pinpoint cross found Rooney and this time he was able to turn the ball home.
Having got the early goal, England then lost their way before doubling their lead just before the half-hour mark.
Johnson and Walcott combined down the right before the Arsenal youngster pulled the ball back for Lampard to drill a low shot into the net.
Six minutes before half-time, England grabbed their third goal and again Johnson was the architect. The Portsmouth man curled in another excellent cross allowing Rooney to volley a low first-time shot into the net.
Rooney and Steven Gerrard were taken off at half-time and England lost their way at the start of the second half although Lampard, Walcott and John Terry all went close to adding a fourth goal before substitute Defoe finally netted with 17 minutes remaining.
Johnson was once again the creator, crossing for the Tottenham striker to head past Koldo.
In the 75th minute Defoe found the net again, slotting home the rebound after David Beckham's free-kick had been spilled by Koldo and Crouch added a scrambled sixth five minutes later to complete the rout.