Americans Abroad

Convey goal, assist lead Reading past Hull 3-1.

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

Bobby Convey acknowledges assist from Kevin Doyle on the American's goal that put Reading ahead 1-0. -- Reading web site photo --

(Sunday, November 20, 2005) -- United States midfielder Bobby Convey scored the opening goal and later registered an assist for Reading which coasted to a 3-1 victory Saturday over Hull City at home in the second-division English League Championship.

Reading (13-1-5, 44 points), which still hasn't lost since opening day, pulled to within one point of Sheffield United (14-2-3), which drew 2-2 with visiting Millwall.

Reading started well and with a little less than five minutes expired, Convey forced a save from Hull's American-born goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, volleying an excellent cross from Steve Sidwell.

Two minutes later, Convey put Reading ahead 1-0 with his third tally of the season. Kevin Doyle won the ball on the halfway line, spotted Convey and led him through the middle into space. Convey took the pass, beat an attempted offside trap and headed to goal. He glanced at Leroy Lita, who was apparently open for an easy tap-in, but Convey didn't need him. He slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, beyond the outstretched arm of Myhill.

After Hull tied the game at 1-1, Convey sent a good pass to Ireland international Kevin Doyle, who put Reading back ahead 2-1 in the 68th minute.

A minute later, Glen Little made it 3-1 for the hosts.

Convey might have had a second goal, but his early drive was brilliantly denied when Myhill acrobatically tipped the fierce volley over the crossbar.

Convey pumped in dangerous crosses throughout the match, including with 15 minutes to go when he fed Lita a low ball. Lita seemed to be held back or he might have scored a fourth goal for Reading.

U.S. goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was solid all day for Reading with his best save coming against Hull striker Ben Burgess. Burgess turned on the edge of the six-yard box and flicked a left-footed effort toward goal, but Hahnemann reacted quickly and tipped the shot wide with his fingertips.

Leeds United, with U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis going 90 minutes, looked to be heading to a loss before scoring four late goals to defeat Southampton 4-3.

United trailed 3-0 in the 71st minute, but Liam Miller deposited the game-winner in the 86th minute.

Lewis was issued a yellow card in the 64th minute, but could not find the score-sheet.

Leeds is 8-4-6 with 30 points, good for fourth place.

With American Jay DeMerit in his usual place in the backline, Watford used first-half goals from Clarke Carlisle and Marlon King and a stout defense over the final 45 minutes to defeat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. DeMerit came out in the 79th minute of Watford's fifth successive victory.

Wednesday's American defender Frank Simek sat this one out after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season last week. Wednesday captain Lee Bullen, who Simek has replaced in the lineup, made his first start of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury, but he only lasted for nine minutes before he had to come off.

Watford is 10-4-5 with 35 points and in third place. Wednesday (4-8-7, 19) is in a three-way tie for 18th place, just one point above the relegation zone in the 24-team league

Leading the defensive effort was New Zealand international Ryan Nelsen, who captained D.C. United to the 2004 Major League Soccer championship. With Nelsen returning from injury, Friedel was only called upon to make a single save, but controlled his penalty area well.

City, with a spate of injuries in the midfield, including U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna's nagging knee and ankle problems, has not been able to generate much offense recently. Reyna is listed as "day-to-day" and hopes to play next weekend.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman started three forwards against host Middlesbrough at The Riverside today with a late goal and assist from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink sending Middlesbrough to a 3-2 decision.

U.S. striker Brian McBride, Collins John and Tomasz Radzinski all started up top for Fulham which looked on its way to victory when Papa Bouba Diop put his side ahead 2-1 in the 70th minute. However, Hasselbaink assisted Aiyegbeni Yakubu's equalizer in the 76th minute and scored the winner himself eight minutes later.

McBride played well and was unlucky not to have notched a goal when his powerful header hit a goalpost.

Fulham (3-7-3, 12) is tied Aston Villa (3-7-3) for 12th place. Middlesbrough (5-5-3, 18) is 12th.

Manchester United continued its winning ways, defeating Charlton Athletic 3-0 on the road at The Valley. A pair of goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and one from Alan Smith were more than enough for United.

American defender Jonathan Spector, on loan to Charlton from Manchester United, had to watch the match from the stands because his loan agreement prohibits him from playing against Man U. this season. As has been the case all season, American Tim Howard was on Man. United bench as Edwin Van der Sar went the distance in goal.

United (7-2-3, 24) stands third, one point behind Wigan (8-3-1) and 10 behind Chelsea (11-1-1).

Keller was victimized for an early goal in the fifth minute when his defense failed to properly clear a Tranquillo Barnetta corner kick and Simon Rolfes took advantage to fire home an eight-yarder from a crowd in front of the net.

Monchengladbach (5-3-5, 20) is in sixth place.

With U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo going the distance, Hannover 96 used a second-half goal from Chavdar Yankov to draw level with VfB Stuttgart, 2-2.

Stuttgart received a pair of goals from Jon Dahl Tomasson, but after Yankov scored for Hannover in the 70th minute, the Hannover defense held off a late Stuttgart charge.

Hannover (2-4-7, 13) is in 13th place.

As things stand now, Onyewu is suspended for three games. Standard and Onyewu launched appealed twice a two-match penalty handed Onyewu following his expulsion against G. Beerschot six weeks ago. Both appeals were denied.

An appeal of his red card in a game against Genk is pending. Theoretically, Onyewu received two two-match suspensions, but the Jupiler League committee reviewing the punishment that one game of each suspension overlapped and will be served concurrently.

The assumption is he will be available for Standard's December 16 match against Lierse.

Standard is in first place at 10-3-1 with 31 points, two points ahead of Anderlecht (8-1-5).

Seb Orton contributed to this story from Watford, England.

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