Americans Abroad

Lewis goal, assist power Leeds to 1-0 comeback win over Burnley.

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

(Tuesday, October 18, 2005) -- United States midfielder Eddie Lewis found net with a direct kick for the tying goal and assisted Rob Hulse's decisive tally, both in the final 20 minutes, lifting visiting Leeds United to a 2-1 come-from-behind triumph over Burnley in the second-division English League Championship Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 on Garreth O'Connor's penalty kick in the 60th minute, Leeds gained the free kick when Burnley's Jon Harley grabbed United reserve David Healy on the top of the penalty area, Lewis rifled a free kick into the far top corner, past goalkeeper Brian Jensen's goal to equalize at 1-1.

Four minutes later, Lewis put his cross from the left side on the head of an unmarked Hulse who nodded home the winner from eight yards out.

Leeds (6-3-3, 21 points) now holds fourth place.

On Sunday, it was another clean sheet for Marcus Hahnemann as Reading moved to within three points of first-place Sheffield United with a 2-0 home decision over Ipswich at Madejski Stadium.

The win was not easy for either Reading or Hahnemann. After going ahead on an own goal, Hahnemann was beaten by former Reading striker Nicky Forster, but the goal was disallowed. Later Hahnemann had to lay out fully to deflect a drive by Forster.

Later, he was lucky when he could not hold a drive from Sam Parkin, but the rebound was cleared off the line by a defender.

U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey did well for Reading over the first 81 minutes. In the first half, he pounced on a loose pass and ran clear with it. He fed Leroy Lita, who wasted a great chance from close range. After intermission, Convey beat a defender and slotted the ball into the net, but was flagged for a disputed offside call.

Reading says it has started talks with Hahnemann for a long-term extension to his contract which ends this season, but has a one-year player option. "Marcus has an option in his contract to extend it," Reading director of football Nicky Hammonds said. "I've already spoken with him and we're both happy with that."

Hahnemann recently told a local newspaper "I think everyone knows the club want to keep me and I want to stay, so talks should be pretty easy. I effectively have two years anyway, so I'm not going anywhere, but I would like to sign a 10-year deal here. I want to finish my career at Reading. I'm 33 and I want to keep going until I'm 40, so I'll settle for seven. I will keep going as long as I can keep playing well and not hurt when I get out of bed every day."

Reading (9-3-1, 30) is unbeaten since the opening day of the season and remains three points behind high-flying Sheffield United (11-2-0, 33) with third-place Luton Town at 7-3-3 with 24 points.

American defender Frank Simek committed the foul with 12 minutes remaining that resulted in the penalty kick that cost Sheffield Wednesday (2-5-5, 11) a one-goal lead in a 1-1 draw at Plymouth (3-6-4, 13).

In the match between struggling sides, Wednesday went head on an own goal in the 23rd minute.

With a rare road victory in sight, Simek took down David Norris in the box and Paul Wotton equalized from the spot. Other than the miscue, Simek and his defensive mates played well over 90 minutes.

In the English Premier League, U.S. keeper Brad Friedel and Blackburn Rovers played nearly an hour with only 10 men, but still managed to stay close before losing 1-0 to host Liverpool Saturday at Anfield on a late goal from French international Djibril Cisse.

After Rovers' Zurab Khizanishvili was shown a red card in the 32nd minute, Liverpool pushed hard to capitalize on its advantage, but Friedel held the Reds at bay with a heroic nine-save effort.

The match turned in the 75th minute when referee Mark Halsey, who some said had a tough day, failed to penalize Boudewijn Zenden for a foul on Robbie Savage. The furious Welshman immediately fouled Zenden, setting up a free kick for Liverpool. Xabi Alonso touched the ball to Cisse who drilled a low shot past Friedel's right hand into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.

Manchester City, with solid midfield play from American Claudio Reyna and goals from 34-year-old Andy Cole in the 17th and 55th minutes, defeated West Ham United 2-1 Sunday.

Reyna assumed mainly a defensive role in the match that saw West Ham kept off the scoreboard until well into stoppage time. City had a few anxious moments, but killed off the final seconds of the match.

Last night, visiting Fulham played to a dull 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra started and played a solid match for Fulham, pushing forward late in the game seeking a winner. American striker Brian McBride started on Fulham's bench in favor of Collins John.

John put Fulham ahead 1-0 in the 28th minute after he ran between Charlton defenders.

Danny Murphy pulled the home team level at 1-1 in the 48th minute, using a first-touch blast of a deflection to find the net from the right side. Otherwise, the Fulham defense was solid all night.

McBride replaced John in the 77th minute, but got few touches. He was fouled twice when he did get the ball, but the resulting free kicks were off target.

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