Americans Abroad

Howard is flawed, but redeemed in Man. United's 2-2 draw at Bolton.

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

(Sunday, September 12, 2004) -- In a bizarre finish, United States goalkeeper Tim Howard gave up a goal in stoppage time to the Bolton Wanderers' Les Ferdinand, but then saw his error erased when David Bellion then scored to give visiting Manchester United a 2-2 draw yesterday in the English Premier League.

It was a point gained," said United defender Wes Brown, back in action after injury woes. "Some silly mistakes again almost cost us the point itself. We showed a bit of determination and grit to get back down to the other end and nick one to make it draw. So in the end of the day, we were lucky to get the draw."

Howard had trouble on both Bolton goals. In the 51st minute, Jay-Jay Okocha slammed a shot at Howard that the American blocked but was not able to hold. Kevin Nolan was first to the rebound and headed it in to tie the game at 1-1 for Wanderers

In injury time, Howard dropped a high Bolton free kick into his box and waited for defender Mikael Silvestre to sweep it clear, only to see Ferdinand come in score.

"It must have been just lack of communication because I'm sure Tim had it and then he dropped it," Brown said. "And then it was a scramble and Les just got in there to nick in."

"For Bolton's second goal, I don't think it was a free kick. If anything, it was a free kick to us," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "Tim, however, should have done better."

American defender Jonathan Spector did not leave the Manchester bench.

Midfielder Claudio Reyna, who played for the U.S. men in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Panama, played 90 minutes for host Manchester City which dropped a 1-0 decision to Everton yesterday.

Tim Cahill scored the Everton goal and then was sent off with his second yellow card when he raised his shirt over his head in celebration, leaving his side a man short for the final 29 minutes. Reyna helped City come close several times, but it could not break through.

For almost an hour, it looked as if host Fulham might be able to stop Arsenal's 45-match unbeaten streak, but then Arsenal scored three times in nine minutes midway through the second half for a 3-0 triumph and that was it.

U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra started at left back and played well over that first 60 minutes. Fulham's Collins John had a goal disallowed while Bocanegra and the Fulham defense held Arsenal in check. However, in the 62nd minute, Thierry Henry fed Fredrik Ljungberg who scored for a 1-0 lead. Ljungberg forced Fulham into an own goal three minutes later before Jose Antonio Reyes finished off the scoring in the 71st minute.

U.S. striker Brian McBride came on in the 83rd minute for mop-up duty.

Blackburn Rovers dropped a 3-0 decision at Newcastle United which just hired manager Graeme Souness away from Rovers. Souness has not yet taken over at Newcastle, where he will succeed the legendary Bobby Robson. Tony Parkes will serve as manager until Blackburn hires a replacement.

U.S. keeper Brad Friedel played decently for Rovers who are clearly in disarray. He made wonderful saves on Jonathan Stead and Lee Bowyer, but could do nothing on an own goal off his midfielder Garry Flitcroft in the ninth minute. In the 16th minute, Friedel got both hands on a powerful point-blank header from Alan Shearer, but could not keep it out of his net.

U.S. keeper Kasey Keller put in 90 minutes for the U.S. in Panama Wednesday, but was in his usual spot on the Tottenham Hotspur bench in today's 0-0 home draw with Norwich. Paul Robinson, who was promoted to be England's starter Wednesday in a 2-1 decision over Poland, recorded the shutout for Spurs.

American keeper Marcus Hahnemann was strong in goal for visiting Reading in a 2-1 loss to Derby.

Tommy Smith powered a header past Hahnemann for a 1-0 lead in the 70th minute. Thirteen minutes later, Marcus Tudgay, who had been denied three times by good Hahnemann saves, scored, Tudgay was wide open when he received a square pass from Tom Huddlestone who had stripped Reading defender Nick Shorey.

Shorey tried to make up for his mistake, when he scored in the 88th minute, off a sequence which was aided by U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey who came off the bench in th e76 th minute.

U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis, who took a knock in the final moments of the U.S.'s 1-1 draw against Panama, did not dress for Preston North End's easy 3-0 win over Stoke City.

Two Americans scored second-half goals for the Arsenal Reserves which began play in the reserve league with an easy 5-2 win over West Ham United which was reduced to 10 men by a red card.

Frankie Simek scored in the 51st minute, followed by a tally by Danny Karbassiyoon 13 minutes later. Simek was wide open on the penalty spot and easily headed in a corner kick from Sebastian Larsson. Karbassiyoon moved up on attack from his left-back position and hooked one home from long range at a sharp angle.

In France's Ligue 1, Greg Vanney returned from Panama City, but did not play for Bastia which defeated Auxerre 1-0 in a match for first place. Bastia is one of four teams tied for first place at 3-0-2 while Auxerre fell to 3-2.

Beasley was probably held out with PSV's Tuesday visit to Arsenal in the Champions League.

U.S. defender\midfielder John O'Brien for Ajax Amsterdam which played a 3-3 draw with Den Haag. O'Brien also did not play for Ajax's reserves earlier in the week as he continues to make his way back from a series of injuries.

In Belgium today, American defender Oguchi Onyewu played a strong match for Standard Liege against RC Genk in a 1-1 draw in the Jupiler League.

In Norway's first-division Tippeligaen, American defender Robbie Russell played the second half of Rosenborg's horrid 4-1 loss to Vålerenga with the hosts conceding two goals in each half. Rosenborg, still the league leader at 11-3-6 with 39 points, is looking forward to a Wednesday Champions League match against Panathinaikos in Greece.

In Sweden's second-tier Superettan, American midfielder Leighton O'Brien has decided to leave Boden while he continues rehabbing what looks like a long term injury. Born in Ireland, but also a native of Tacoma, Wash., O'Brien is a veteran of the Major Indoor Soccer League, the A-League, where he was the league's "Most Valuable Player" for the Seattle Sounders in 2002 and of four games and 62 minutes with Major League Soccer's San Jose Clash in 1999. He is expected to be out for two-to-three months.

Meanwhile, Brian Dunseth, who played for four teams in seven MLS seasons and was a star of U.S. youth teams, has been a strong force on defense for Boden which is 2-10-12 with 18 points, after drawing its last three outings. Under a new coach, Boden is sitting in the relegation zone, 15th among 16 teams.

In Portugal's first-division Superliga, American striker Kenny Cooper played the second half of Académica's 2-1 road loss to Guimarães last Sunday. According to media reports, Cooper had one good shot, but it was stopped by the keeper.

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