Americans Abroad

Bocanegra goal cannot save Fulham from 4-3 loss to Portsmouth.

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

(Monday, August 20, 2004) -- United States defender Carlos Bocanegra scored, but it was too late for visiting Fulham which went down to defeat 4-3 when Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu scored three times for Portsmouth in an English Premier League match before 19,728 at Fratton Park tonight.

Fulham trailed 4-2 when Bocanegra dove full-length to get a head on a free kick from Luis Boa Morte and put it past goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who once played for Howard University. That was as close as Fulham could get and the insertion of U.S. striker Brian McBride in the 86th minute did little to spark a comeback.

For the second match in a row, Fulham manager Chris Coleman criticized his team's defense, and said that some changes are going to have to be made. "If we came here and scored three goals, I would expect to win the game. I did not expect us to give away four goals in the fashion we did," he told Sky Sports. "We have conceded six goals in two games and that is unacceptable."

Playing its third match in five days, host Manchester United was flat and drew 0-0 with Everton before 67,803 at Old Trafford.

For the third straight outing, United started a pair of Americans -- goalkeeper Tim Howard and defender Jonathan Spector, both of whom played 90 minutes. Howard saved Spector from disaster when the 18-year-old lost the ball to Kevin Kilbane who came in on goal alone for Everton's best chance of the day. Howard came out very quickly and stripped the Republic of Ireland winger of the ball.

Howard also did well to stop Leon Osman, who scored twice for Everton on Saturday, and turn away a low shot from Tim Cahill. In the second half, Spector came close to scoring, carrying deep into the Everton half and hammering in a shot that went about a foot wide of the target.

In the 15th minute, Lewis beat two defenders, carrying the ball to the left byline where he chipped a cross to Richard Cresswell. Cresswell flicked the ball to the near post where Dickson Etuhu put it away for his first of two goals and a 1-0 lead.

A few minute later, Lewis tried from close in, following good work from Etuhu, but could get little power on his shot. Then, late in the first half, he put a pinpoint cross onto Cresswell head for a blast that was saved by Michael Pollitt.

In first-half stoppage, Lewis passed to Marlon Broomes who advanced it to Etuhu. Etuhu turned and nailed his shot put it into the roof of the net.

Lewis came out in the 88th minute for defender Omar Daley.

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