Wembley: David Beckham is doing his best to dazzle American football fans with his precision free kicks. He also is making sure they don't forget about them back in England.
Beckham's perfect curling ball set up John Terry for the go-ahead goal in the 38th minute, and England outclassed the United States 2-0 in an exhibition game at Wembley.
While England may not have been good enough to qualify for the 16-team European Championship next month, they easily dispatched the Americans on the world's most famous football field.
Steven Gerrard scored the second goal in the 59th minute off a through-ball from Gareth Barry that exposed the US defence. With 10 minutes to go, England's long-suffering fans were belting out choruses of "God Save the Queen."
The match drew 71,233 to Wembley, the lowest figure in any of England's eight games at the 90,000-capacity arena, which opened in 2007 following years of reconstruction.
The United States, whose five-match unbeaten streak ended, dropped to 2-7 against the English, winning at the 1950 World Cup and in a 1993 exhibition game at Foxborough, Mass.
This matchup came three years to the day after England's 2-1 win at Chicago's Soldier Field.
Beckham was given a standing ovation before kickoff when he received a golden cap from English great Bobby Charlton in recognition of Beckham's 100th international appearance, in March against France.
Landon Donovan, Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy teammate, missed out on a chance to become the fourth-youngest player with 100 international appearances. The 26-year-old didn't dress because of a tight groin.
The loss began a series of tough tests for US coach Bob Bradley's team ahead of the start of World Cup qualifying against Barbados on June 15.
The Americans play next Wednesday at Spain, then face Argentina on June 8 at East Rutherford, NJ.
Fabio Capello, who took over as England's manager after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, fielded nearly all his top stars.
Beckham only played the first half, but that was enough to give Capello plenty of reassurance that the 33-year-old midfielder remains in contention for World Cup qualifiers in the autumn.
Beckham, who joined the Galaxy last year after starring for Manchester United and Real Madrid, nearly put England ahead in the 11th minute, when Gerrard tapped his free kick past goalkeeper Tim Howard. But Greek referee Kyros Vassaras ordered the kick to be retaken.
PAGE_BREAK
Terry, whose missed penalty kick cost Chelsea the European Champions League title last week, scored when he outjumped several defenders inside the penalty area and beat a diving Howard with a powerful header.
Barry, who had just entered the game, created the second goal when his cutting pass to Gerrard caught defender Oguchi Onyewu upfield. Gerrard beat substitute goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a sidefooted shot inside the left post.
The Americans had few good chances at only their second match at Wembley - the first was a 2-0 loss in September 1994.
Eddie Johnson came close to scoring early in the second half, taking a cross inside the penalty area from Heath Pearce and sending a shot just wide of the post.
Eddie Lewis produced another chance in the 80th minute, going past Joe Cole on the right flank and sending a dangerous cross in front of the net that was tipped away by goalkeeper David James.
Russia beat Serbia
Substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 48th minute to lead Russia over Serbia 2-1 on Wednesday in a friendly match ahead of the European Championship.
The Spartak Moscow striker converted a cross from Lokomotiv Moscow's Dmitry Sychev.
Russia opened the scoring in the 11th with a 30-yard (meter) free kick from Zenit St Petersburg's Pavel Pogrebnyak into the top left corner.
Pogrebnyak left the field soon after, clutching his knee. The extent of his injury was not immediately clear.
Serbia equalised just before half time when Hertha Berlin striker Marko Pantelic took advantage of hesitation in the Russian defence to go past a defender and flick the ball over Igor Akinfeyev.
Hertha Berlin striker Marko Pantelic headed over the Russian crossbar from six yards out just seconds after Pogrebnyak's goal, while Russia had a penalty appeal turned down when Serbia defender Slobodan Raikovic appeared to keep the ball out of the goal with his hand.
Russia remain in Berghausen to play Lithuania next Wednesday in their final match before heading for Euro 2008, where they face Spain, Greece and Sweden in the group stage.
Serbia, who did not make the cut for the championships, will face Germany on Saturday.
Comments
0 comment