Rooney’s Latest Record Is Nothing to Brag About

It was an all-around bad day for Everton’s Wayne Rooney. He saw not only his two-plus month-old record for being the youngest player to score in an English Premier League game fall, he also was shown the first red card of his career in a 1-1 draw at St. Andrews.

James Milner, at 16 years 357 days, scored for Leeds United in its 2-1 win at Sunderland to better the mark set by Rooney, who was 16 years 360 days when he scored against Arsenal on Oct. 19.

For what it’s worth, Rooney’s ejection made him the youngest player to be red-carded in league history.

But this was more about infamy than fame as Rooney was ejected by referee David Elleray for flying into a tackle with his cleats first against Birmingham City’s Steve Vickers.

Rooney, who came into the match as a substitute for Tomasz Radzinski, faces a three-game ban.

Coach Supports Him

Everton Coach David Moyes wondered if Rooney deserved the ejection.

“I think that at the most it should have been a yellow card,” Moyes told Associated Press. “I think it was a strong challenge between two players, fully committed. Steve Vickers got to the ball slightly before Wayne and Wayne obviously caught Steve’s ankle.

“We don’t want to see anyone injured but I don’t see it as a sending off.”

Rooney, who has started only twice since arriving in the Premier League this season, is considered England’s next big star. His reputation was solidified by a memorable 30-yard strike that ended Arsenal’s unbeaten streak. Rooney also has had big goals against Leeds and Blackburn.

But he showed a nasty streak against Liverpool in last week’s Merseyside derby.

A near brawl after a two-footed challenge on Everton’s Gary Naysmith by Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard found several Everton players, including Rooney, rushing toward Gerrard.

“Maybe a little bit of reputation has gone before him and maybe the referee has been looking at that,” Moyes said of Rooney.

“We have to tell him that he has to be a little bit more careful. We have told him already this year and we will tell him again. But you won’t get me asking him to take away his aggression and maybe that is what the referees want.”

Success Breeds Success

Galaxy General Manager Doug Hamilton said the selection of four L.A. players to the U.S. national team is a product of the team’s successful season.

“It’s a reflection of their good performance throughout the year and a championship season for the L.A. Galaxy,” he said.Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, defender Danny Califf and midfielders Peter Vagenas and Sasha Victorine were named this week to the 27-man roster. The U.S. national team will play Canada in an international friendly Jan. 18 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Califf and Victorine had been called up for the national team’s last match, a 2-0 win over El Salvador on Nov. 17.