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Rooney keeps second goal against Swiss

June 18, 2004 22:43 IST

England's 18-year-old striker Wayne Rooney will keep the second goal he scored against Switzerland at Euro 2004 after an official video review, UEFA said on Friday.

Rooney's strike in the 75th minute of Thursday's match in Coimbra struck a post and rebounded into the net off the back of the head of diving goalkeeper Joerg Stiel, raising questions about whether it should have been given as an own goal.

UEFA ruled that shots which hit the goal frame and bounce into the net off a goalkeeper or defender would not be considered own goals.

A UEFA statement said own goals would be given only when a player directly plays the ball into his own net or when a player redirects a shot, cross or pass into his own goal.

Shots on target which are deflected would not be considered own goals, the statement said.

Rooney, who became the youngest scorer in European Championship finals history with his first goal in the 23rd minute, claimed the second goal after the game.

"I hit it as hard as I could and luckily enough, it went in," he said. "I am going to claim it."

Earlier report: Rooney may lose credit for one goal

Source: REUTERS
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