Americans Abroad

Convey makes Reading debut, but Reyna steals show for City.

Bobby Convey made his debut for Reading with a relief performance Monday in a 4-1 loss to Manchester City. -- Reading FC web site photo --

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
and Gary Davidson (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Tuesday, August 3, 2004) -- Bobby Convey made his debut for Reading Monday night, but it was his fellow United States midfielder Claudio Reyna who shone, scoring a pair of goals and leading visiting Manchester City to a 4-1 exhibition victory before 11,586 at Madejski Stadium.

"Claudio was doubtful to play at Reading, but he came in and got his two goals and I think he enjoyed the match," City manager Kevin Keegan told his Premier League club's web site. "He is fit because he's had a preseason. You have to remember he missed last preseason and the whole of the season before (at Sunderland), he was injured. He has probably found a level of fitness now that he hasn't had for a couple of years."

Convey came on in the 55th minute and two minutes later Reyna's second tally put City ahead 3-1. Convey made little impact with Reading having lost control of the match at that point.

Reading's American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was brilliant in the first half before his defense gave out under wilting pressure.

Reading, which plays in the second-tier English League Championship (formerly the First Division), took a 1-0 lead 11 minutes in after unmarked Ivar Ingimarsson put away a corner kick from left back Nicky Shorey.

Jon Macken tied matters at 1-1 in the 23rd minute, putting away a pass from Ronnie Fowler.

Five minutes after missing the net on a good chance in the 30th minute, Reyna tied the game with a well-executed give-and-go with Fowler, blasting a shot past Hahnemann from close-in.

Hahnemann was strong, stopping at least 10 shots, including two point-blank efforts from Nicolas Anelka, but Reyna beautifully chipped a shot over him for his third goal of the preseason for the 3-1 lead in the 57th. Reyna started the play by taking a short corner kick from Steve McManaman and creating space for his shot.

"We want goals from midfield," Keegan said. "We know our forwards can score, but what we really need is goals from the midfield and Claudio has shown he can deliver those."

Antoine Sibierski laced home a free kick in the closing minutes to finalize the scoring for City.

Convey, who signed with Reading July 22, was limited to a reserve performance, probably because he has not fully recovered from the deep left thigh bruise he suffered playing for the U.S. July 11 in a 1-1 draw with Poland in Chicago. He was described as having a "dead leg" when he joined the team last Thursday, and was limited in training.

Convey was quickly dubbed, "The Yank on the Flank," by the Reading radio commentators.

Major League Soccer received a $1.5-million transfer fee for Convey who is believed to have signed for a salary slightly in excess of $500,000 annually in a three-year deal with Reading. Convey was to have earned $143,000 from MLS and D.C. United had he finished the season.

"The left side of midfield has been a priority. We had an imbalance on that side and he gives me options," Reading manager Steve Coppell told the Readding web site. "He is flexible and that fits in with my format. He is an extra part of the jigsaw to take us where we want to go. . . We should not expect too much too soon. He's only 21 and it's a massive leap for him."

Reading opens its season by hosting Brighton Saturday "We are on the verge of the season and ideally (the Convey transfer) would have been done five or six weeks ago," Coppell said. "He will integrate well. We are a family unit and as Bobby has said he feels comfortable in this environment with other young players. . . He's a regular international and for us to have someone with that potential speaks volumes."

The transfer fee for Convey was reported to be the largest ever offered by Reading. "Bobby's signing is a major coup for us and without doubt one of the most significant transfers in the history of Reading FC," Reading chairman John Madejski said on his team's web site. "He is an extremely exciting player, and the fact that we have been able to bring him to Reading illustrates exactly how far we have progressed in recent years. I know he is very excited by the challenge presented by English football, and that he is eager to help us make the climb into the Premiership for the first time in our history."

Hahnemann predicted success for his new teammate. "He's obviously got a lot of skill," he said. "He'll be alright once he gets the pace of the game over here and the physical nature."

Convey had a deal to move to the Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur fall through last season when the club could not obtain a work permit with him. Now a regular with the U.S. men, Convey fully met the criteria now and had no trouble obtaining the permit.

"I'm truly excited to join Reading FC and I now have the opportunity to show that another American, born and bred professionally in the MLS, is world-class," Convey told loca reporters. "My dream of going to England has come true and I'm sure that it will be a great experience."

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman. Gary Davidson is managing editor of SoccerTimes. E-mail Gary Davidson.