England sealed qualification for Euro 2012 yesterday despite letting slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Montenegro and having striker Wayne Rooney sent off for kicking an opponent.

Rooney was given a straight red card in the 74th when he petulantly aimed a kick at Miodrag Dzudovic. His suspension will carry over into Euro 2012.

Ashley Young had opened the scoring in the 11th minute, heading in Theo Walcott’s pinpoint cross from close range. Darren Bent made it 2-0 in the 31st when he tapped in Rooney’s pass.

Montenegro pulled a goal back through Elsad Zverotic seconds before the break and after Rooney’s sending off, substitute Andrija Delibasic snatched the equaliser in the dying seconds to clinch a place in the play-offs for the hosts.

Russia also took a big step toward qualifying for Euro 2012 by winning 1-0 at Slovakia.

Alan Dzagoev scored the decisive goal in the 71st minute with a long-range shot from 25 metres that was deflected into the net by Slovak defender Jan Durica.

Russia top Group B with 20 points and faces minnow Andorra in its final qualifier. Ireland, on 15 points, faces Andorra later Friday and could move to the second place with a win.

Armenia beat 10-man Macedonia 4-1 in another Group match yesterday to jump to 17 points before their final game at Ireland to stay in contention for a major event for the first time in its history.

Yura Movsisyan, who set up three of the goals, hit the post nine minutes into the game — the home side’s first scoring opportunity. He broke into the box from the right past two defenders and sent a cross for Marcos Pizzelli to open the scoring from close range in the 34th.

Six minutes later, Shaktar Donetsk midfielder Henrik Mkhitaryan sent a left-footed drive from 26 metres to double the lead.

Macedonia were reduced to 10 men when captain Velice Sumulikoski was sent off for a second yellow card in the 53rd minute — both cards for poor tackling.

Gevorg Ghazaryan added Armenia’s third in the 69th off Movsisyan’s cross from inside the box.

Artur Sarkisov completed the scoring in injury time after Movsisyan picked up the ball near the box.

Dennis Rommedahl scored two and made a third as Denmark beat Cyprus 4-1 in Group D to edge closer to a place at the 2012 European Championship.

Denmark opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Cyprus lost possession in defence and Rommedahl lined up Lars Jacobsen to score. Four minutes later, Rommedahl collected a pass from Christian Eriksen and rifled home Denmark’s second.

Michael Krohn-Dehli volleyed past Cyprus keeper Antonis Giorgallides in the 20th minute, and Rommedahl added the Danes’ fourth just two minutes later.

Denmark promptly lost pace and concentration, allowing Andreas Avraam to score a consolation goal for Cyprus in first-half stoppage time after Jacobsen lost the ball.

Denmark play Portugal to decide the group winner on Tuesday in Copenhagen.

Bosnia-Herzegovina swept to a 5-0 victory over Luxembourg, lining up a decisive showdown with France next week in Group D.

Bosnia-Herzegovina were 4-0 up at halftime after Edin Dzeko opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Zvezdan Misimovic scored from a free kick and then a penalty, and Miralem Pjanic added the fourth.

Haris Medunjanin completed the rout in the 51st minute.

The win means Bosnia-Herzegovina’s match in Paris on Tuesday will decide which team qualifies automatically for the finals in Ukraine and Poland.

Belgium kept alive their hopes of reaching the qualifying play-offs for the 2012 European Championship with a comfortable 4-1 win over Kazakhstan.

The result, coupled with Turkey’s 3-1 loss to Group A winners Germany, put Belgium in second place ahead of their final game against Germany. Turkey, who are a point behind, are expected to beat Azerbaijan in Tuesday’s games.

Belgium were 2-0 ahead by halftime after a penalty by Timmy Simons and a goal from Eden Hazard. Vincent Kompany made it 3-0 shortly after the break before Kazakhstan went down to 10 men.

Substitute Marvin Ogunjimi completed the scoring for the hosts in the 85th. Kazakhstan grabbed a late consolation through Kairat Nurdauletov’s penalty.