England end 23-year wait to beat Brazil

Goals in either half from Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard steered England to an impressive 2-1 victory against Brazil at Wembley. 

With England having failed to overcome the Seleção since a 1-0 friendly success in March 1990, Rooney led the charge to exorcise the demons, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute after Ronaldinho had been thwarted from the spot. Substitute Fred restored parity after the break, before Lampard made his own impact from the bench on the hour mark. 

On an evening when England defender Ashley Cole won his 100th cap, Brazil centurion Ronaldinho might have stolen the headlines but his 19th-minute penalty was repelled by Joe Hart, and as the former FC Barcelona midfielder pounced to turn in the rebound, the goalkeeper clawed the ball to safety.  

With that reprieve, the hosts stepped up a gear as Jack Wilshere's insightful pass freed Theo Walcott, and when his low drive was palmed away by Júlio César, Rooney slotted in. Luiz Felipe Scolari's first game in charge of Brazil since 2002 should arguably have yielded a first-half equaliser yet Neymar spooned over from Oscar's centre. 

So often assured, England became architects of their own downfall four minutes after the restart. Gary Cahill surrendered possession, allowing Fred to arrow a shot into the corner, and the same player clipped the bar shortly after. Roy Hodgson's side's response was spirited, though, with Rooney pick-pocketing Paulinho and teeing up Lampard, who won the game – part of the celebrations marking the Football Association's (FA) 150th anniversary – with a sumptuous finish.