Beckham returns to starting lineup as England routs Andorra 6-0 in World Cup qualifier

England routs Andorra 6-0 in World Cup qualifying

WEMBLEY, England — David Beckham made his first start for England in a competitive match in two years, helping his nation move closer to World Cup berth with a 6-0 rout of Andorra on Wednesday night.

Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe scored two goals apiece, and Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch each had one. Rooney finished the international season with 10 goals, the most for England since Gary Lineker in 1990-91.

England (7-0) leads Europe Group Six with 21 points and can clinch its fourth straight World Cup appearance with a victory over Croatia (3-1-2) at Wembley on Sept. 9.

Attendance was 57,897, the lowest for England at Wembley since the rebuilt stadium opened in 2007. The crowd was held down due to a strike by subway workers.

Rooney scored in the fourth and 39th minutes, around a 29th-minute goal by Lampard.

Beckham, who had a low free kick saved just before halftime, initiated the fourth goal with a corner kick to Glen Johnson, whose cross was headed in by Defoe in the 73rd.

Defoe scored again two minutes later after Beckham’s free kick was parried by goalkeeper Koldo Alvarez, and Crouch got the final goal in the 80th.