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Convey contributes to three goals to lead Reading past North End 3-0.
O'Brien to make Den Haag debut at secret location.
Convey gets starting nod for Reading in loss to Plymouth.
Keller, 'Gladbach are routed by Bayern Munich in Bundesliga opener.
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Americans Abroad McBride scores, but Fulham falls 2-1 to Rovers, Friedel.By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
(Sunday, August 21, 2005) -- United States striker Brian McBride scored his first goal of the English Premier League season for Fulham, but it wasn't enough for Fulham which fell 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers who had American Brad Friedel in goal. Morten Gamst Pedersen gave Rovers a 1-0 lead that stood into the second half. In the 49th minute, McBride did well to get a foot on Niclas Jensen's cross and he put it past Friedel for a 1-1 tie, resembling his winning tally in the second minute of the U.S.'s 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday in East Hartford, Conn. Twenty-two minutes later, Kerimoglu Tugay netted the decisive goal for Blackburn. Last week, McBride had a goal against Birmingham City called back in a scoreless draw. Replays have confirmed he was onside and should have been allowed the potential game-winner. Friedel had six saves on the afternoon for Rovers, the best, by far, coming on the half hour when Papa Bouba Diop met Claus Jensen's free kick with a powerful header. U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra, again was not dressed for Fulham. He has recovered from a minor knee problem he incurred on Fulham's U.S. tour, but he has not regained full fitness. He should be available next week. U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna stood out for Manchester City in its 2-1 win at Birmingham City before being injured in a collision and had him come out in the 71st minute. After Nicky Butt put Birmingham ahead 1-0 in the seventh minute, Reyna started the play that resulted in Joey Barton's 20th-minute equalizer for City. Andy Cole scored the winner for Manchester in the 47th minute. Reyna was solid on defensive, making numerous tackles. In the 69th minute, he took the ball away from Muzzy Izzet and then was chopped down. After treatment on his right leg, Reyna returned to the action, but was clearly slowed and came out two minutes later. American keeper Tim Howard was on the bench as Manchester United, with Edwin Van der Saar in goal, defeated Aston Villa 1-0. Jonathan Spector, on loan to Charlton Athletic from Manchester United for this season, still has not made his debut. He is recovering from a preseason hamstring injury and did not dress for Charlton's 1-0 defeat of Wigan. Bundesliga teams take the German Cup competition very seriously, so U.S. keeper Kasey Keller and most of the Borussia Moenchengladbach first team traveled south to Saarbrücken for an easy 3-0 decision over FC Kutzhof in the first round of the Cup. The match was level at intermission, but two Gladbach goals in the first four minutes of the second half sealed the win and allowed the use of substitutues. U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo has begun light training with Hannover 96 as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered while playing for his national team in this summer's Gold Cup competition. Defender Gregg Berhalter, who played 90 good minutes for the U.S. in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat of Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup qualifying, did not dress for Energie Cottbus in its 2-2 draw with VfL Bochum Friday night. Cottbus tied the Cup game deep in stoppage time.
Feilhaber entered UCLA without a scholarship and played two years as a midfielder, during which period, five of his seven goals were game-winners. Goalkeeper David Yelldell, 23, who was the third-string keeper at Blackburn behind Brad Friedel, has moved on to the SV Stuttgarter Kickers in Regionalliga Süd (third tier). He has started all three Kickers games so far this season, he has given up seven goals during a 1-0-2 start. Yelldell was born in Stuttgart and carries a dual German-American citizenship. In the Netherlands, it is again frustration time for U.S. midfielder\defender John O'Brien as his Eredivisie debut for ADO Den Haag was again been postponed after he failed a match-day fitness test. Den Haag went on to lose 2-1 on opening day to SC Heracles Almelo on two late goals by Japanese youth international Sota Hirayama. O'Brien picked up a hip pointer early in the U.S. qualifying victory over Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday. The injury is not considered serious, but he was deemed not ready to go, so he will have to wait until Friday's match against Heerenveen. Two Americans -- PSV Eindhoven midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and Feyenoord defender Cory Gibbs -- remain injured and neither has made his Eredivisie debut this season. Beasley might be ready in a week or two. Gibbs, who had knee surgery in June to repair a torn meniscus, is expected to begin training in perhaps two-to-three weeks, according to his club, but it will be some time before he is ready to play. In Norway, American keeper Adin Brown's Aelesunds FK will play Rusenborg Trondheim Tuesday. American left back Heath Pearce, who has just signed an extension on his first contract with Danish SAS Ligaen (Premiere League) club FC Nordsjaelland, has started in all six matches this season, including Sunday's 2-1 loss to league leader Brøndby. There is talk that larger clubs both in and out of Denmark have expressed an interest in acquiring young veteran of three years at the University of Portland.
Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman. |
