Sunday, June 13, 2010
Green blunder pegs England back
11:37 AM |
Posted by
Unknown |
Edit Post
Sunday, June 13, 2010 |
RUSTENBURG: England's hopes of a winning start to their World Cup campaign were shattered by an extraordinary blunder by goalkeeper Robert Green that gifted the United States their equaliser in a 1-1 draw here on Saturday. England captain Steven Gerrard gave his side a dream start to their Group C campaign with a fourth minute strike at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. But Fabio Capello's men were sent back to square one when Green let in Clint Dempsey's tame, 25-yard shot five minutes from half-time. "The idea tonight was to win the game, but unfortunately we have let a poor goal in and we couldn't go on and get the winner," said Gerrard. "The target now has got to be seven points." US coach Bob Bradley praised his side. "It was a great team effort to come back and equalise. At half-time we said we had a chance to win and at the end we took a point," he said. England had gone ahead from their first foray into opposition territory. Picking up a Glen Johnson throw-in from the right, Frank Lampard threaded a pass that was flicked on by Wayne Rooney to Emile Heskey on the edge of the area. The Aston Villa striker got in front of Jay DeMerit and his first-time ball anticipated an untracked run by Gerrard, who prodded the ball past Tim Howard with the outside of his boot. That might have precipitated a collapse from less resilient sides but the Americans were soon creating problems, particularly down the right. England had a significant let-off when Jozy Altidore headed Landon Donovan's chip wide after outjumping Ledley King but they generally looked in control of the match until Green's 40th-minute blunder. Gerrard was partly culpable, having allowed Dempsey to twist away from him on the edge of the area but still there seemed no danger as the West Ham goalkeeper knelt to gather a shot directed straight at him. Somehow the man Capello had selected ahead of the more experienced David James allowed the ball to spin off his right glove and over the line. England hit back through Glen Johnson, who tested Tim Howard after a mazy run to the edge of the area, but they were unable to restore their advantage before the interval. Heskey should have done so soon after the restart, when Aaron Lennon's first-time pass sent him clear of a flat-footed American defence. But the striker's shot was unleashed too early and straight at Howard. England's frustration was clear as Jamie Carragher, on as a second half substitute for King, and Gerrard picked up bookings in quick succession for late challenges. Lampard made his presence felt with a left-foot drive that Howard had to touch over at full stretch. But it was the Americans who enjoyed the clearest chance of a winner, Donovan releasing Altidore whose close range strike was touched on to the post by Green. England's best chance of the second period fell to Shaun Wright-Phillips, but Howard was able to comfortably beat away the Manchester City winger's poorly directed shot from the left of the goalmouth and it was the Americans who finished the match pressing for a winner. |
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(59)
-
▼
June
(59)
- Four matches in FIFA world cup today
- Late Argentine goals crush Greek resistance
- Uruguay, Mexico in last 16, France crash out
- Villa double seals Spain's win over Honduras
- Chile beat 10-man Switzerland to close in on last 16
- Portugal rout North Korea 7-0 in 2nd round
- Three matches in FIFA world cup today
- Dhoni plays down talk of ‘payback’ win
- Karachi edge past Quetta
- Brazil beat Ivory Coast 3-1, reach last 16
- Brazil lead Ivory Coast 1-0 at halftime
- Drogba to start against Brazil
- Kiwis pull off stunning draw with Italy
- Denmark crush Cameroon's World Cup hopes
- Netherlands beat Japan, win Group E pole position
- Netherlands and Japan goalless at half-time
- Three fixtures in football WC today
- Woeful England draw with Algeria
- Woeful England draw with Algeria
- England struggle against Algeria
- Bradley's late strike seals US draw with Slovenia
- Slovenia lead USA 2-0 at half-time
- Serbia shock10-man Germany 1-0
- Serbia lead 10-man Germany 1-0 at half-time
- Germany unchanged against Serbia
- Three matches in soccer World Cup today
- Mexico send sorry France to brink of exit
- Greece record historic World Cup victory
- Argentina set for Last 16 after hammering SKorea 4-1
- Argentina lead S. Korea 2-1 at half-time
- Maradona rests Veron for S. Korea clash
- Three fixtures in World Cup soccer today
- Uruguay beat host nation South Africa by 3-0
- History-making Swiss shock favourites Spain
- Spain dominate but held 0-0 by Swiss at half-time
- Chile end 48-year wait for World Cup victory
- Brazil struggle to beat North Korea
- Police take charge after World Cup strikes
- Brazil opt for Italy-based talent against North Korea
- Drogba back as Ivory Coast draw with Portugal
- Last gasp goal grabs New Zealand first World Cup p...
- Italy's title defence off to stuttering start
- Italy trail 1-0 to Paraguay at the break
- Honda gives Japanese historic win
- Late Kuyt strike helps Netherlands beat Denmark
- Robben on bench as Dutch take on Danish
- Three matches to be played in football WC today
- Superb Germany dismantle Australia
- Clinical Germany put squeeze on Australia
- Ghana penalty edges out Serbia
- Koren goal gives Slovenia first World Cup win
- Cautious Algeria, Slovenia level at half-time
- Green blunder pegs England back
- Green blunder sends England back to square one
- Magical Messi inspires Argentina to victory over N...
- Heinze goal gives Argentina half-time lead over Ni...
- South Korea record first win at WC 2010, beat Gree...
- South Korea lead Greece at half-time
- No title
-
▼
June
(59)
0 comments:
Post a Comment