Americans Abroad

Howard struggles again, could lose job after Champions League draw.

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

(Thursday, September 16, 2004) -- United States goalkeeper Tim Howard continued to have problems for Manchester United which crossed the English Channel for a 2-2 draw with France's Lyon in the European Champions League Group D at the Municipal De Gerland.

At this stage, the 32 remaining teams are broken into eight groups of four with each side playing six games. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout round. The Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals are decided by two-match, total-goals series with a single championship game.

Howard, who earlier this week admitted he had not yet displayed his rookie form of 2003-04, which led to him being named England's top keeper, had an easy start, not having to make a save until the 28th minute when he gathered Sylvain Wiltord's hard shot. However he did have problems seven minutes later when he could not hold a cross from Pernambucano Juninho, the ball falling to Cristiano Cris who tapped it home to put Lyon ahead 1-0.

In the 44th minute, Howard could do little with Pierre-Alain Frau's twisting shot which made it 2-0 in Lyon's favor. Yet, just when it looked like the English Premier League side was going down on the road, Ruud van Nistelrooy displayed his brilliance with goals in the 56th and 61st minutes to make it 2-2.

In the 69th minute, Juninho beat Howard with a shot which was cleared off the goal-line by Paul Scholes. Two minutes later, Howard had to be sharp to punch away a hard effort from Juninho. In the 72nd minute, the American did well to hold a short cross from Florent Malouda. Lyon pressed forward and nearly won the game when Juninho hit a post in stoppage time.

After the match, United mananger Alex Ferguson hinted there could be a change in goal and several other positions. "I could only say we had three performers who reached the standard we are looking for -- Gabriel Heinze, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "In that situation, we have to be happy with a 2-2 draw.'

United continued to be shorthanded with injuries and suspensions and was missing strikers Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha, and defenders Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville.

U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley was pretty much stymied as visiting PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands put up a brave fight, but was done in by an own goal, falling to EPL-leading Arsenal 1-0 in a Group E game at Highbury.

In the 42nd minute, under intense pressure from Thierry Henry who saw several first-half chances foiled by PSV keeper Edwin Zoetebier, the Frenchman cut in from the left flank and crossed sharply. The ball was put into his own net by Brazilian defender Alex, who was under pressure from Gilberto Silva.

Beasley was neutralized by a five-man Arsenal midfield and he was replaced by Jefferson Farfan in the 59th minute.

Also in Group E, American defender Robbie Russell came on as an early substitute for Rosenborg or Norway which lost 2-1 to Panathinaikos in Athens.

Russell came on in the 23rd minute, replacing an injured Christer Basma. Panathinaikos scored a goal in each half.

U.S. defender\midfielder John O'Brien was not dressed for Ajax which dropped a 1-0 decision to Italy's Juventus at home in the ArenA in Amsterdam.

Marcus Hahnemann was solid in goal for Reading with a half dozen saves, three on U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis.

In the eighth minute, Hahnemann denied Lewis from close in and, 17 minutes later, he pushed aside a Lewis blast that looked like it was headed for net. In the second half, Hahnemann made a nice save on a long-range Lewis shot.

American Bobby Convey came on for Reading, replacing midfielder Andy Hughes, in the 74th minute. He had several good touches before adopting a defensive role after Nicky Forster put the club ahead 3-1 in the 85th minute.

Preston is searching for a new manager after Craig Brown stepped down Sunday, "under mutual consent." Billy Davies will handle the job until a permanent replacement is found.

In England's Premier League, U.S. keeper Brad Friedel has a new manager after Mark Hughes, who had been leading Wales' national team, was hired. Graeme Souness left the job to take over Newcastle United.

Less than four hours after the Football Association of Wales gave Hughes permission to talk to Rovers, the deal was done.

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