Rooney scores in 500th league game as Derby draw with Fulham

London (AFP) – Wayne Rooney celebrated his 500th appearance in English league football with a goal before Aleksandar Mitrovic saw second-tier high-flyers Fulham to a 1-1 draw away to Derby on Friday.

Former Manchester United star Rooney, the England national side’s all-time leading goalscorer, struck from the penalty spot after Tim Ream handled early in the second half at Pride Park when he cheekily chipped the ball over Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

But Mitrovic, the Championship’s top scorer, volleyed in Aboubakar Kamara’s cross for his 22nd goal of the season 17 minutes from time to earn Fulham a draw and lift the London club within two points of second-placed Leeds in the race for automatic promotion to the lucrative Premier League.

Only the top two sides at the end of the regular season are guaranteed a place in English football’s top flight, with the other promotion place decided by a series of play-off matches involving the teams finishing in third to sixth positions.