(MENAFN- Arab Times) gets in a challenge ahead of Switzerland's Breel Embolo during the Euro 2016 Group E qualifying soccer match between England and Switzerland at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Sept 8. (AP)
LONDON, Sept 9, (Agencies): An emotional Wayne Rooney became England's all-time leading goal-scorer after netting his 50th international goal in a historic 2-0 victory over Switzerland at Wembley in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Tuesday.
With England having already qualified for next year's tournament, the stage was set for their captain to surpass Bobby Charlton's 45-year-old mark of 49, which he had equalled in Saturday's 6-0 win in San Marino.
After substitute Harry Kane broke the deadlock, the moment duly arrived in the 84th min, Rooney crashing a penalty into Yann Sommer's top-right corner and being rewarded with a standing ovation that left him wiping away tears.
Charlton, whose Manchester United record of 249 goals is also being eroded by Rooney, was quick to offer congratulations.
Hodgson revealed that Rooney had been presented with a commemorative shirt by the Football Association and had made a short speech to his team-mates after the game.
He is to be presented with a golden boot by Charlton prior to England's next game against Estonia at Wembley on Oct 9.
There were also messages of congratulations from United and Gary Lineker, who had stood second behind Charlton on 48 goals prior to Rooney's goal against San Marino, which also came from the spot.
Austria 4, Sweden 1
In Stockholm, Martin Harnik scored twice as Austria qualified for the finals of the European Championship for the first time by thrashing Sweden 4-1.
The win gave Austria 22 points from eight matches and guaranteed them first place in Group G.
Harnik netted a goal in each half, David Alaba chipped in a first-half penalty and Marc Janko also got on the scoresheet before Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed a late consolation for Sweden.
Waving flags and sporting T-shirts saying 'France, we're coming', the Austrian players ran to celebrate with the thousands of travelling fans, shaking hands and singing long after the final whistle.
Sweden's best first-half chances came through two free kicks from Ibrahimovic while Marcus Berg went close for the home team in the second period.
Robert Almer also had to make a double save from Berg and Emil Forsberg late on before Ibrahimovic finally broke through.
Sweden, however, were sunk by Austria's dangerous breaks as the visitors went forward at pace throughout, often throwing five or six players into counter attacks.
Austria meet Montenegro and Liechtenstein in their final two qualifying games.
Spain 1, Macedonia 0
In Skopje, Spain moved a step closer to Euro 2016 qualification when a freak own goal secured a 1-0 victory in Macedonia on Tuesday that put the holders two points clear at the top of Group C.
The match in Skopje featured first against last in the section and heavyweights Spain effortlessly controlled proceedings despite fielding a weakened team.
Juan Mata was the architect of the only goal in the eighth minute when his hopeful cross from the right evaded flapping Macedonia goalkeeper Tome Pacovski, cannoned off the far post on to his head and into the net.
With eight of 10 matches played, Spain lead on 21 points, two ahead of Slovakia after they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Ukraine, who are a further three points behind in third.
The nine group winners and runners-up and best third-placed side qualify directly for the finals in France, while the eight remaining third-placed teams contest playoffs for the last four spots.
Chasing a third straight continental triumph, Spain can make sure of their place with a home win over Luxembourg on Oct 9 before they play in Ukraine three days later.
Slovakia 0, Ukraine 0
In Zilina, Slovakia stayed on course to qualify for Euro 2016 after playing out a goalless draw at home to Ukraine that left them second in Group C with two matches remaining.
With the top two teams in the group qualifying automatically for the finals, Slovakia are two points behind Spain, who top the table with 21, and three clear of Ukraine in third.
The result means Slovakia need one win from their final games against Belarus and Luxembourg to guarantee their spot at the finals in France.
"We were forced to work hard as Ukraine looked dangerous in the first half and we had to be very careful," Slovakia captain Martin Skrtel said in a TV interview.
Russia 7, Liechtenstein 0
In Vaduz, Russia thrashed Liechtenstein 7-0 with Artem Dzyuba scoring four goals as they got their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign firmly back on track with two wins out of two under new coach Leonid Slutskiy.
The victory moves Russia into second place in Group G, two points ahead of Sweden after they lost 4-1 at home to an Austria side who clinched their place at the finals in France.
Buoyed by victory at home Sweden on Saturday, which rekindled their qualifying hopes, Russia made a bright and confident start away to the group's minnows.
Zenit St Petersburg forward Dzyuba opened the scoring in the 21st min when he was put through by an intelligent back heel from Roman Shirokov and managed to place his shot past the despairing dives of two Liechtenstein players on the goal line.
Lithuania 2, San Marino 1
In Vilnius, Matteo Vitaioli scored San Marino's first competitive away goal in more than 14 years but they conceded a last-minute winner to 10-man Lithuania and lost 2-1 in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
It was only the fifth goal in European Championship qualifying, stretching back to 1990, for Europe's second lowest- ranked team, who had lost their last 34 competitive away games without scoring.
The tiny republic, with just over 30,000 inhabitants, were minutes away from only their second away point but were denied in stoppage time by a close-range shot from Lukas Spalvis.
San Marino, who lost 6-0 at home to England at the weekend in Group E, had pulled level 10 mins into the second half after giving away an early goal, celebrating the feat with a massed invasion of the pitch by their reserves and officials.
But at the final whistle, crest-fallen players sunk to their knee in deep disappointment.
San Marino's goal scorer was only their fifth in 25 years of European Championship qualifiers.
The 25-year-old Vitaioli works in a packaging factory and starts his next shift on Thursday morning.
"His boss is probably going to be angry with him for being late because of flight delays we are only going to get back home on Thursday at 7:00 am," said Alan Gasperoni, San Marino's football association communications manager.
"A point for us is like the sensation other teams feel when they qualify for a championship like the Euros," added coach Pierangelo Manzaroli.
Lithuania opened the scoring after seven minutes through Fiodor Cernych but battled to break down a five-man defence for the rest of the first half, forcing just one save out of San Marino's youthful goalkeeper Elia Benedettini, playing just his second international.
San Marino's equaliser came after a rare break away which put Danilo Rinaldi clear on goal before he was brought down by Lithuania's goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis, who limped off with a knee injury but not before receiving a red card for a professional foul.
Vitaioli slammed the subsequent free kick past substitute keeper Vytautas Cerniauskas.
San Marino's last away goal also came in the Baltics, against Latvia in Riga in April 2001.
They have won only a single international game - a 1-0 victory in a friendly against Liechtenstein in 2004.
In 119 previous competitive matches in European Championships and World Cup qualifying, they have drawn just three times - against Turkey in 1993, Latvia away in 2001 and Estonia last November.
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