Americans Abroad

Lewis' dominant effort on left flank propels North End past Watford 2-1.

Eddie Lewis (right), here rounding a defender to enter the penalty area, gave Watford fits in Preston North End's victory -- Preston North End web site photo --

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

(Sunday, August 8, 2004) -- United States midfielder Eddie Lewis turned in a dominant performance yesterday, playing a crucial role in Preston North End's 2-1 victory over visiting Watford on opening day in the English League Championship, previously know as the First Division.

The other League Championship club employing Americans also won as Reading survived Brighton 3-2 at home.

Before 12,208 at Deepdale, Lewis caused Watford trouble on the left flank all day, culminating with a charge into the box that led to David Healy's decisive penalty kick in the 74th minute.

Early on, Lewis controlled the left side for Preston and sent in several dangerous crosses. Off a free kick in the 25th minute, he worked a give-and-go with Healy who had a good look at goal, but shot wide. In the 42nd minute, Lewis bulled his way into the box and rammed home a rebound, but the goal was disallowed when the referee called Lewis for clearing space for his shot by pushing a Watford player into the net. Lewis then was shown a yellow card for dissent.

Lewis continued his effort after intermission. In the 56th minute, he stormed down the left touchline, playing a neat one-two with Richard Cresswell. The American got to the endline before delivering a ball to the back post for what looked like a sure Healy goal, but his attempt was cleared off the goalline.

In the 74th minute, Lewis again battled his way into the box where he was taken down by defender Jack Smith. Healy converted the subsequent penalty kick to make it 2-1.

Cresswell put North End ahead 1-0 in the 34th minute with Paul Devlin evening matters at 1-1 for Watford in the 47th minute.

Host Reading came back from conceding a goal in the opening 20 seconds to beat newly-promoted Brighton 3-2 at the Madejski Stadium.

Brighton sent the opening kickoff far down the field. Reading midfielder Glen Little mishit his attempted clearance directly to Brighton's Swiss-born Italian striker Maheta Molango who drove it past American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann who was caught flatfooted.

Reading quickly tied matters on a tally by Dave Kitson in the second minute and went ahead 2-1 when James Harper scored in the 41st .

Nicky Forster made it 3-1 in the 59th minute after Hahnemann pumped a long ball downfield. Andy Hughes won a header on the edge of the box and the loose ball dropped to Forster who smashed a fierce left-footed half-volley into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Four minutes later, Brighton pulled to within 3-2 on a goal by Jake Robinson, but a couple of good saves by Hahnemann preserved the Reading victory.

U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey, Reading's $1.5-million transfer acquisition, was on the bench, but did not play. He has seen only limited training as he recovers from a deep bruise in his left thigh. His status will be reviewed before the Royal's Tuesday trip to West Ham United.

The duel between American Kasey Keller and Paul Robinson to be the starting goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League continues.

Spurs goalkeeper coach Hans Segers called the competition a "battle royal." "There is a serious battle going on," he said. "Kasey has played for the last two seasons non-stop in the first team. Paul has to prove himself, but Kasey also has to prove himself all over again.

"It is a new (Spurs) management, completely new staff, so the goalkeepers start from scratch. So far, almost four weeks into the (pre)season, both are in great form, both are great trainers and the battle is on. It will be an interesting decision the gaffer (manager Jacques Santini) has to make when we play Liverpool (Saturday in the season-opener). One thing I know for sure, one goalkeeper is going to be very disappointed."

In the Kappa Cup tournament in Seville, Spain, Tuesday, Keller played well but Spurs dropped a 2-1 decision to Feyenoord of the Netherlands. After Spurs took an early lead, the Dutch side leveled the score when a shot deflected off Spurs defender Gary Doherty and went in off the post beyond the reach of a diving Keller.

In the second half, Keller made several saves, but could not get to a ground-level header by Dirk Kuyt in the 69th minute. Two days later, Robinson gave up a tying rebound goal to Serbian club Partizan Belgrade to make it 1-1 in a match Spurs won in a penalty-kicks tiebreaker.

On Saturday, Robinson was twice victimized in a two-minute span of the second half as Cagliari, newly-promoted to Italy's second-division Serie B, fought back for a 2-1 win. Robinson was clearly not at fault when Daniele Conti put a rebound off a defender low into the corner.

On Cagliari's winning goal, Robinson was not able to hold an initial shot and Marcello Albino buried the rebound. Whether Robinson could have controlled the first shot -- the Tottenham web site said he made "a fantastic save" -- has been a matter of contention in media accounts.

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.