Rooney saves day for Everton

Charlton 2 Everton 2

The 17-year-old was left out of the England squad for Wednesday's 3-1 victory against Croatia, but is in line for a recall to face Macedonia and Liechtenstein in the vital Euro 2004 qualifiers.

And Rooney, recovering from his summer ankle ligament injury, showed he is nearing full fitness by scoring a wonderful goal in this entertaining clash at The Valley.

It was the Addicks who went in front with 24 minutes gone, after a surging run by Scott Parker.

The midfielder, controversially sent off against Wolves, played a fine one-two with Radostin Kishishev and powered into the penalty box where he was sent tumbling by David Unsworth.

Jason Euell sent Wright the wrong way from the spot.

But the visitors were level inside two minutes, thanks to some dozy defending by the home back line.

Pembridge, having an influential game in midfield, flighted a chip towards Steve Watson.

He escaped the attention of Hermann Hreidarsson to hook the ball over Dean Kiely and into his net.

Kishishev had the opportunity to strike back for the home side, but elected to shoot from 25 yards rather than the move into the space ahead of him. His effort drifted tamely wide.

It was all action at the start of the second half as first Everton almost went in front - and then Charlton did.

A goalmouth scramble ensued after Pembridge's corner and Alan Stubbs' shot was goalbound until it deflected wide off Bartlett.

Alan Curbishley's men then went 2-1 up through another ice cool Euell penalty.

Hreidarsson teamed up with Parker on the left flank and when Joseph Yobo slid in to tackle Hreidarsson, the Icelander took a somewhat theatrical tumble.

Referee Steve Dunn pointed to the spot and Euell sent Wright the wrong way again with another excellent penalty.

Naysmith spurned a fine equalising opportunity on the hour.

Rooney squared the ball to him just eight yards out but the midfielder only produced an horrendous left-foot slice.

Rooney had a crack at goal shortly afterwards, but only succeeded in powering the ball into Hreidarsson, just a yard away from him.

But Rooney burst into life in the 71st minute and bagged a spectacular equaliser.

The 17-year-old controlled Naysmith's left-wing cross 10 yards from goal, span Mark Fish and thundered the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, watching from The Valley stands, could not fail to have been impressed.

As full-time neared, Rooney was harshly booked for catching Parker and responded furiously, shouting at Dunn.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Young, Fortune, Fish, Hreidarsson, Kishishev, Holland, Parker, Jensen, Euell, Bartlett.

EVERTON: Wright, Pistone, Stubbs, Yobo, Unsworth, Watson, Pembridge, Linderoth, Naysmith, Radzinski, Rooney.