Miami Gardens (USA): Wayne Rooney ended his four-game international goal drought as an experimental England side drew 2-2 with Ecuador in a feisty World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday.
Both teams ended with 10 men after Raheem Sterling was dismissed in the 79th minute for a sliding challenge on Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia, who saw red for pushing the Englishman and going to grab his throat.
“I was pleased that Raheem despite the situation didn’t react,” England coach Roy Hodgson said.
The game petered out after the explosion of tempers as the Brazil-bound teams settled for a draw.
The great concern for England coach Roy Hodgson will have been his team’s defending, with Enner Valencia heading Ecuador in front in the eighth minute in Miami Gardens.
Rooney, though, levelled in the 29th by nudging the ball over the line after Rickie Lambert hit the post, and Lambert found the net himself six minutes into the second half after 20-year-old Ross Barkley weaved his way through the defence with ease.
But Michael Arroyo powered in the equaliser from a distance in the 70th in his team’s final game before playing Switzerland at the World Cup on June 15.
Meanwhile, in Montevideo, Uruguay, striker Edinson Cavani and substitute Christian Stuani scored to fire Uruguay to a 2-0 win over Slovenia in their final World Cup warm-up at the Centenario. (Agencies)
