Euro 2012 qualifying: Montenegro 2 England 2

England qualified for Euro 2012 despite giving away a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw with Montenegro on Friday.

The visitors in Podgorica led through early goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent, but conceded just before half-time.

Wayne Rooney received a needless sending off that will rule him out of the opening match of next year’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine, before Montenegro picked up a late equaliser.

England debutant Phil Jones almost opened the scoring in the third minute, taking on two players before firing in a cross that popped out of Mladen Bozovic’s hands and over the bar.

Bozovic was in action soon after, awkwardly getting down to block Theo Walcott’s volley from the edge of the area.

Walcott was involved in England’s opener, finding space on the right wing before picking out Young at the far post to nod home.

England increased their lead on the half-hour mark when former Aston Villa teammates Young and Bent combined on the counter attack for the visitors’ second.

But Montenegro halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time as Elsad Zverotic was afforded too much space in the area and volleyed the ball towards goal, before a deflection off Gary Cahill saw it into the corner of the net.

Rooney let his temper get the better off him on 73 minutes when he swung a boot in anger in the direction of Miodrag Dzudovic, the offense resulting in a straight red card for the Manchester United striker.

And Montenegro made their extra-man advantage count in second-half injury time, as Stefan Savic’s deep cross found Andrija Delibasic who headed past Joe Hart to earn the hosts a draw.