England keeps perfect World Cup qualifying record with 4-0 win at Kazkahstan

England wins 4-0 at Kazakhstan in WCup qualifying

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — England defeated Kazakhstan 4-0 Saturday to maintain its perfect record in World Cup qualifiers, moving closer to a spot in the South Africa tournament in 2010.

Wayne Rooney scored in the 73rd minute for his sixth goal in World Cup qualifiers, helping England make it six wins in six games in Europe’s Group Six.

Gareth Barry and Emile Heskey scored at the end of the first half. Frank Lampard completed the scoring on a penalty kick after Rooney’s goal.

“We are on a confident run and we need to keep it going,” Lampard said. “We’ve taken a big step again. Our main objective is to qualify. The sooner we do that the better.”

David Beckham entered in the 75th minute for his 111th international appearance, 14 shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s English record.

England manager Fabio Capello can now prepare for Wednesday’s home game against Andorra knowing his players will almost certainly advance to the World Cup after they failed to make the 2008 European Championship.

“It took us about 20 minutes or half an hour to get going, but then we won comfortably,” Lampard said. “It was professional. There were things we could have done better.”

England got off to a poor start, struggling to string together passes on a field that visiting officials ordered to be cut just before the game.

“We couldn’t get to grip with the pitch,” Lampard said.

Only late in the half did England look a class above its opponent, which has only three points from its six qualifiers.