Americans Abroad

McBride scores pair, lifting Fulham to 2-1 win over Bolton.

Brian McBride (left) is congratulated by Fulham teammate Luis Boa Morte after scoring one of his two goals against Bolton. -- Fulham web site photo --

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

(Monday, November 28, 2005) -- A pair of first-half goals from United States striker Brian McBride was all Fulham needed for a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League yesterday.

Ending a seven-game scoring drought, McBride has five goals and is tied with four others for seventh in the EPL. In the fourth minute, McBride put Fulham ahead 1-0 following Tomasz Radzinski's brilliant run from midfield. Radzinski picked up the ball near the center line and raced down the left side while McBride ran down the middle and cut toward the left post. McBride beat Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to Radzinski's low pass and steered the ball past him.

In the 18th minute, after Radzinski shot just wide on a set-up by McBride, the American international made it 2-0 on a brilliant solo effort. Fulham goalkeeper Mark Crossley let loose a booming punt that came down just outside of the Bolton box. McBride outfought defender Radhi Jaidi for the ball and put it over Jaaskelainen in a classic finish.

He almost scored a third goal moments later, but his hard shot was denied in the box.

McBride also added a key defensive stop to his effort. In the 78th minute, he blocked a shot from Kevin Nolan off a Gary Speed corner kick. That proved a big play because Bolton pulled to within 2-1 when Fulham's Sylvain Legwinski put a ball into his own net in stoppage time.

U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra was back in Fulham's lineup after missing time with a knee injury. He started today on the left center of a four-man back-line and turned in a strong performance, especially in the air.

Fulham is in 14th place, tied with Aston Villa at 4-7-3 with 15 points.

On Saturday, U.S. keeper Brad Friedel was beaten by three sensational goals as Blackburn Rovers learned once again how hard it is to beat Arsenal at its Highbury home in a 3-0 setback. In the fourth minute, the Rovers defense failed to clear a ball in its box and Cesc Fabregas picked up a loose ball and, in one motion, deposited it into the far corner, giving Friedel no chance.

Rovers dominated much of the play for the remainder of the half with Freidel keeping Arsenal at bay with a great save on Thierry Henry. In the 45th minute, however, Henry put Arsenal ahead 2-0 on a counterattack with a masterful finish on a through pass from fellow Frenchman Robert Pires. Henry took the ball in full stride on the left side and curled it around Friedel and into the far corner without breaking stride for his 100th goal at Highbury.

Seconds later, Arsenal nearly increased its advantage, but Friedel blocked a Gilberto Silva blast. He could not stop Robin Van Persie's highlight-reel goal in second-half stoppage time when the Dutchman beat three defenders to the right end line and found net by banging a curling shot in off the far post from a seemingly impossible angle.

Blackburn is tied with Newcastle United for in 12th place at 5-6-3 with 18 points.

U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna is said to be "day-to-day with ankle and knee problems, but he did not dress for Manchester City's 1-0 loss to Liverpool at City of Manchester Stadium Saturday.

In Saturday's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley decided to keep Chris Powell at left back and did not dress American Jonathan Spector. Powell had replaced Spector last week against Manchester United when Spector, on loan from Man. U., was required to sit out under the terms of the loan agreement

Perhaps, Lewis should have listened, but not for the shopping or latte advantages. With a 2-0 triumph over Plymouth Saturday, Reading (15-1-5, 50 points) increased its League Championship hold on first place to four points. Sheffield United (14-3-4), which led the division until overtaken by Reading on Tuesday, lost to Leicester City 4-2, following a pair of draws.

Of course, things are not all that bad for Lewis at his new club, Leeds United. Leeds (10-4-6, 36) is sitting in fourth place, with a game in hand and one point behind Watford (10-4-7), which employs American defender Jay DeMerit. Opening a double-digit lead on the rest of the table, Reading and Sheffield seem well on their way to earning the two automatic promotion berths into the Premier League, but the third- through sixth-place finishers compete in a playoff for a third invitation to the EPL.

Reading avenged its only loss of the season, having lost to Plymouth 2-1 at home on opening day. Since then, Hahnemann and his stout defense have been nearly invincible, particularly while going 13-0-3 in its last 16 outings.

Reading started out slowly Saturday with Hahnemann making a fine save to deny Nick Chadwick in the 19th minute. Reading quickly counter-attacked and went ahead 1-0 on a well-taken tally from Glen Little a minute later.

Reading added a second half goal from Kevin Doyle and that was more than enough. Hahnemann twice more denied Chadwick. U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey had a quiet afternoon, often trailing back and showing good defensive work, but in the 67th minute, he triggered a wonderful curling effort that went just inches wide.

Leeds held onto fourth place by showing that sometimes luck trumps skill. After a long afternoon Saturday, Leeds seemed headed to a scoreless draw before Millwall forward Ben May playing defense on a corner kick, gave United a 1-0 decision by booting the ball into his own net deep in stoppage time.

Lewis almost put Leeds ahead in the 14th minute, but his twisting left-footer from inside the box banged off the goal-post. Later in the first half, Lewis put a cross on Rob Hulse's head, but the shot was pushed just wide. Deep into the second half, Lewis shot just wide from long distance.

Watford and Preston North End (6-4-11, 29) traded early goals and then both teams struggled the rest of the way to a 1-1 draw. DeMerit was solid in back for Watford and was issued a yellow card in the 49th minute for unsportsmanlike behavior in a 90-minute effort.

American striker Jemal Johnson had his loan from Blackburn to Preston extended through the month of December. So far, he has appeared only once for North End's first team.

American defender Frank Simek went the distance at left back for Sheffield Wednesday (4-9-8, 20), but the Owls dropped a 2-0 decision to Stoke at home despite dominating most of the action. Wednesday is tied with two other teams for 18th among 24 clubs.

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