Americans Abroad

Reyna returns, City regains punch in beating Charlton 5-2.

Reading's American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnamann (left) makes save on Luton Town's Rowan Vine (9). -- Reading FC web site photo --

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

(Tuesday, December 6, 2005) -- United States midfielder Claudio Reyna returned to Manchester City's lineup -- along with midfielder Trevor Sinclair -- and with both back after long injury layoffs, City suddenly regained its offensive punch and rocked Charlton Athletic 5-2 at The Valley in the English Premier League.

Reyna returned to his role as the midfield link and he freed Sinclair and others to push forward. Reyna received a rare yellow card in the 72nd minute for delay of the match when he obstructed a Charlton free kick. He and Sinclair both came out in the 86th minute to the cheers of the City faithful who had made the trip to London.

U.S. defender Jonathan Spector returned to the Charlton starting side after sitting out the last match when the London club went to a three-man backline. But four in the back did little to stem the tide Sunday as Manchester City made Charlton look foolish with weak marking on several of the goals including Joey Barton's 69th-minute put-back of a failed penalty kick.

City is in eighth place at 7-5-3 with 24 points. Charlton (6-7-1, 19 points) fell into a tie for 10th place, but with a game in hand on Middlesbrough and Newcastle United, both 5-6-4.

U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel watched two goals go by for the short-handed Blackburn Rovers who fell 2-0 on the road to Everton. Friedel and the Rovers defense actually played well, but they were handicapped after captain Andy Todd was sent off in the 31st minute for a deliberate hand-ball.

Just before Todd was sent off, Everton grabbed the lead when, in the 28th minute, a long ball from left back Phil Neville was flicked on twice before James McFadden beat defender Michael Gray to head it home past a stranded Friedel.

Everton doubled its advantage when Leon Osman surged toward goal, drawing several defenders to him before sliding the ball to Mikel Arteta who hit a first-time curler into the top corner from 18 yards.

Rovers (5-7-3, 18), now in 13th place, had their chances in both halves, but could not score.

Fulham kept West Bromwich Albion at bay for a 0-0 road draw at The Hawthorns despite playing with 10 men after captain Luis Boa Morte sent off in the 45th minute after his second yellow card.

U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra had a strong match as Fulham limited the home team to few good chances. American striker Brian McBride could not match his offensive show of last week when he scored a pair of goals. He did play solidly for 83 minutes, spending most of the second half alone on top and often digging back in a defensive role because Fulham only rarely pushed forward. McBride received a yellow card in the 51st minute for dissent.

Fulham (4-7-4, 16) is in a three-way tie for 14th place.

Reading (16-1-5, 53) maintained its four-point league lead over Sheffield United (15-3-4) after a match that was much closer than the score would indicate with Luton dangerous with its counterattacks. Hahnemann made several good saves, including one in the first half on Rowan Vine.

Convey was very active in the Reading offense. In the fourth minute, his well-struck corner-kick was headed on Steve Sidwell, but was saved by veteran keeper Marlon Beresford. In the 35th minute, Convey let fly a rocket that was headed over his own net by Luton defender Markus Heikkinen. In the 44th minute, Convey's cross was headed clear to Sidwell, whose shot from 30 yards hit Paul Underwood and flew past Beresford for a 1-0 lead.

Convey tired and came out in the 66th minute.

U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis was sharp for Leeds United which defeated Leicester City 2-1 for its fourth successive league win.

Lewis gave Leeds its first chance in the third minute when he put a perfectly-struck free kick onto the head of Paul Butler who put his shot just over the net. In the 10th minute, it looked like the American had scored, but Lewis banged his 18-yarder off the crossbar.

After Leeds had taken a 1-0 halftime lead, Lewis helped put the match away in the 73rd when his free kick went to Robert Blake, who laid it off to Matthew Kilgallon to fire home from 12 yards.

Leeds (11-4-6, 39) moved into third place, but still 10 points behind Sheffield United.

Sheffield United defeated Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 on Alan Quinn's 24th minute goal in a hard-fought local derby. American defender Frank Simek went the distance on the back-line for Wednesday who saw its record drop to 4-10-8 with 20 points as it continues to languish three points from the bottom of the standings.

American defender Jay DeMerit came off Watford's bench in the 69th minute to help hold visiting Brighton to a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

Watford got its goal from Marlon King, who also missed a penalty kick. The draw extend Watford's unbeaten league run to nine games. With a 10-4-8 record and 24 points, it is in fourth place and in the thick of the battle for the postseason promotion playoff.

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