Sunday, June 13, 2010
Green blunder sends England back to square one
11:37 AM | 
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| Saturday, June 12, 2010 | |
 RUSTENBURG, South Africa: A blunder by goalkeeper Robert Green shattered England's perfect start to the World Cup as the first half of their Group C meeting with the United States ended with the sides tied at 1-1.Steven Gerrard gave England a fourth-minute lead at the Royal Bafokeng stadium but they were sent back to square one five minutes before the break, when Green allowed Clint Dempsey's tame shot to spin off his gloves and into the net. England had gone from their first foray into opposition territory, taking advantage of some slack marking from the Americans. Picking up a Glen Johnson throw-in from the right, Frank Lampard threaded a pass through to Emile Heskey on the edge of the area. The Aston Villa striker's reverse pass perfectly anticipated Gerrard's untracked surge into the box and the Liverpool midfielder finished deftly with the outside of his right boot. Green had his first save to make from a Clint Dempsey header as the Americans began to threaten and England had a significant let-off when Jozy Altidore outjumped Ledley King to meet Landon Donovan's chip only to direct his header wide of the target. England were forced into a change on the half hour mark when James Milner, who had been booked for a foul on Steve Cherundolo, was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips. The Americans were enjoying plenty of the ball but England looked comfortable until Green's 40th-minute blunder. Dempsey turned past Gerrard on the edge of the box and unleashed a low drive. There seemed no danger as Green bent to gather the shot but somehow he managed to place his gloves in the wrong place and the ball slithered off his right hand and over the line. England hit back through Glen Johnson, who tested Howard after a mazy run to the edge of the area, but they were unable to restore their advantage before the interval. |
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