Americans Abroad

Convey's two strikes spark Reading's 5-0 rout of Millwall.

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

(Sunday, August 21, 2005) -- United States midfielder Bobby Convey, who saw little action last season, returned to Reading this year with no promises of an improved situation. After a determined training camp, Convey earned himself a job and now he is not only a starter, but a star.

Convey earned "Man of the Match" honors for the second consecutive weekend, scoring his first two goals of the young English soccer season in Reading's dominating 5-0 victory over Millwall in the second-tier English League Championship.

Convey scored both goals early -- in the sixth and 25th minutes. The first came on a great individual effort. He picked the ball up 15 yards inside his own half, raced the length of the field, holding off a pair of defenders before slotting the ball past keeper Andy Marshall to make it 1-0.

After Marshall was sent off for handling a ball outside of his box in the 25th minute, Convey took the subsequent free kick from near the edge of the penalty area and found the bottom left-hand corner for a 2-0 lead.

A week earlier, Convey played a part in setting up all three goals for Reading which blanked Preston North End 3-0.

Convey, who played well for the U.S. men in Wednesday's 1-0 World Cup qualifier over Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday in East Hartford, Conn., tired from his busy week and came off in the 57th minute.

Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann had a solid match, earning his second clean sheet of the season. He made two good first half saves when the match was still in doubt.

Reading sits atop the league at 3-1 with nine points, its plus-nine goal differential leaving it ahead of Sheffield United (3-1, 9, plus-4).

U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis got his first goal for Leeds United which broke visiting Wolverhampton's 21-match unbeaten run with a strong 2-0 triumph at Elland Road.

In the eighth minute, Wolves left back Lee Naylor failed to control a loose ball on the edge of his own box and Frazer Richardson seized possession. He advanced, producing a delightful low center across the face of goal. Lewis managed to get onto it and fired the ball home from 10 yards past keeper Michael Oakes for a 1-0 advantage

American Frankie Simek did well on the back line for Sheffield Wednesday, but it wasn't enough in a 2-1 setback to Ipswich Town. After losing last week, Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock changed to a 4-5-1 formation with Simek in the center of the defense. The revamped defense did not work when it failed to clear a ball properly from its box and Wednesday striker Richard Naylor capitalized for a 1-0 lead.

Ian Westlake made it 2-0 in the 71st minute, before Sheffield got on the board on Lee Peacock's tally 10 minutes later.

American defender Jay DeMerit did not dress for Watford which defeated Burnley 3-1. Newly-signed Scottish central defender Malkay Mackay got the start and DeMerit's playing time will surely be adversely affected..

Versatile American Danny Karbassiyoon is on the Burnley roster, but is nursing hip and groin injuries and is some weeks away from making his debut. The hobbled U.S. under-20 international has yet to kick off his Turf Moor career after signing a two-year contract in the offseason. The move came after two years and three appearances with Arsenal and a loan spell at Ipswich Town, where he played five times.

Seb Orton contributed to this story from Watford, England.

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