FUTBLOG: England 2, USA 1 on 5/28


England wins a rare, and virtually meaningless, friendly with the USA. The strong first-half performance by the second-string English team was too much for the USA to overcome, despite a second-half rebound by the Americans. See end for player ratings.

The game is a tune-up for the upcoming U.S. World Cup Qualifying games, especially games against Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. It's not clear what England are trying to do, since they do not play a competitive match until the fall. Therefore, England is missing virtually all of its first team, names like Beckham and Owen and Terry and Ferdinand are nowhere, and in their place are young strivers looking to impress the coach. No one does so better than Kieran Richardson, the young midfielder who is under contract to Manchester United although he has not been in their first team.
In the 4th minute, Richardson curls a perfect free kick over and around the wall and into the upper right hand corner of Keller's goal. Color announcer Marcelo Balboa had called it before the play, saying he had seen Richardson and Cole practicing just that shot all day during training Friday. Go 'Celo. Two minutes later, the U.S. shows it will not roll over, as Wolff gets on the end of a nice lob, but mis-hits. The U.S. is showing control of the ball, but is turning away from the well-placed English midfield and defense. In the 20th, Landon Donovan curls his own free kick towards the goal, 'keeper David James flails at it inexpertly, but the ball hits the post. Keller saves a nice long-range shot from Joe Cole in the 21st. Donovan and Wolff seem to lack understanding up front, and McBride is strangely absent.
The crowd is in the game, with chants of U-S-A, as well as, later, English songs. Richardson is having a field day, just missing a full volley in the 29th. Glen Johnson and Gibbs go face-to-face over a tackle in the 42nd, with McBride keeping the peace by hustling Gibbs away before the fists and cards fly. In the 44th minute, a little squib falls for Joe Cole just ouside the box, he makes as if to shoot, but instead passes to a relatively unmarked Richardson, who cannons it home. It's 2-0.
In the second half, the U.S. comes out hard, Vanney missing a volley immediately. Joe Cole gets behind the U.S. defense on a 49th minute throw-in, but shoots wide. I think the U.S. could use Taylor Twellman, with his ability to run at defenders as well as his understanding with Ralston and Dempsey. The U.S. is lacking fluidity in its play, although that begins to change as the second half wears on. Cherundolo is pushing up more on the right. In the 69th, after Andy Cole and Richardson have been subbed, Glen Johnson smothers a U.S. cross in the box, and the crowd appeals for a handball, but it didn't look like it and the ref lets play continue. In the 79th, a free kick to the far post poked towards the goal by Bocanegra with his toe. James saves with his right foot, but Dempsey jumps on the rebound and slips it between the goalie and the right post. Conor Casey, on for McBride, takes a late cross and controls it well, but as he turns to shoot, it's kicked away. The game ends 2-1, a creditable second-half performance for the U.S. However, considering the England regulars who were missing, it will have to be considered a disappointment.
Player ratings:
US
Keller, 7
Vanney, 5
Gibbs, 6
Cherundolo, 7
Pope, 6
Zavagnin, 6
Dempsey, 7
Ralston, 5
McBride, 4
Donovan, 6
Wolff, 7
subs: Bocanegra, 6
Convey, 7
Casey, 7
Simms, no rating
England:
James, 4
Brown, 6
Campbell, 6
Carrick, 7
G. Johnson, 6
A. Cole, 6
Jenas, 6
A. Johnson, 7
J. Cole, 8
Smith, 5
Richardson, 9
subs: Knight, 7
DeFoe, 6
Neville, 6
Young, no rating

Posted: Sun - May 29, 2005 at 09:38 PM          

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