No goal for Wayne Rooney in 120th, final England appearance


LONDON — Wayne Rooney's record-breaking England career ended with a first: relief not to score.
Whenever the striker touched the ball after coming on in the 58th minute, however far he was from goal in a 120th appearance, fans shouted "Shoot!" The best chance fell to the 33-year-old Rooney in the second minute of stoppage time against the United States at Wembley Stadium. Primed in the penalty area, Rooney turned to shoot, only to be denied by US goalkeeper Brad Guzan's low save.
There was a wry smile from Rooney, whose England career ended with 53 goals. It didn't matter for the result because a new generation of players had already provided the offense that secured a 3-0 win in the friendly against the country Rooney now calls home.
"Another yard it would have been in ... and it would have great," Rooney said. "But in some ways it's great because if I did score it would have opened another whole lot of debate whether that goal should count or not.
"In some ways it's probably better it didn't go in," he said.