England rises to top of qualifying group

Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney fired England to the top of its Euro 2004 qualifying group in a 2-0 victory over minnow Liechtenstein on Wednesday.

Although the margin of victory was modest, the result means that England goes to Istanbul Oct. 11 needing just a tie with World Cup semifinalist Turkey to finish top and clinch a place in the finals.

Although team captain David Beckham and James Beattie both hit the bar in the first half, Liechtenstein survived until half time before 67,000 fans at Old Trafford.

But Owen headed England in front 39 seconds into the second half and 17-year-old Rooney scored his second goal in four days to make sure of the three points and his team's eighth win in a row.

"That's what we wanted. It wasn't the most convincing performance, we know that. We know we can play better than that," Beckham said. "But we got the three points we needed and everyone's going to be talking about the Turkey game now."

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he wasn't concerned that England didn't score more.

"We had to win the game. Liechtenstein seems easy but you never know in football and they defended with 10 men all the time," the Swede said. "It's very difficult to break through and make the first goal."

Eriksson congratulated Rooney on a standout performance.

"He's a very good football player and he can get better with age," he said. "He has scored two goals in two games so he's started his international career in a very good way."

Eriksson said there was no question England would go to Istanbul trying to draw.

"I don't think England, the team we have now, can go in a try and make a draw," he said.

Eriksson made four changes from the side that came from behind to win 2-1 at Macedonia on Saturday. But he decided to field Beckham and Steven Gerrard even though a yellow card would force them out of the vital game in Turkey through suspension.

"It was a tightrope for me and Steven Gerrard but it was something for we wanted to do," Beckham said.

Mario Frick almost stunned England in the first 15 seconds by bursting past Beckham in the England half and racing through only to shoot high and wide with just 'keeper David James to beat.

But Liechtenstein 'keeper Peter Jehle made a stunning ninth-minute save to keep out a looping, long-range header from Rooney, arching his back to finger tip the ball over the angle.

Rooney produced a half volley over the bar from 20 from Beckham's headed pass. Then the 17-year-old Everton star weaved past a defender on the left and fired in a cross which the sliding Beckham met at the far post only for his shot to hit the bar.

England should have gone ahead in the 28th minutes when Jehle fumbled the ball in a challenge from Beattie but Owen fired the rebound across an empty net.

Rooney went close with an overhead kick over the bar and then Beattie fired against the bar from a cross by Beckham.

The breakthrough finally came 39 seconds into the second half.

After Rooney had worked the ball free on the right, Gerrard crossed from the wing and Owen met it with his head to guide the ball home for his 24th goal in England colors to put him level with 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst.

The second goal came six minutes later when Beckham crossed from the right to the unmarked Gerrard. The Liverpool midfielder pulled the ball back with a cushioned header and Rooney was on his own to power it home with a low right foot shot.