Americans Abroad

Beasley, PSV mates use defensive effort to tie AC Milan 0-0.

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

(Wednesday, October 19, 2005) -- United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley might not be regarded first as a defensive player, but tonight he and his PSV Eindhoven teammates combined for a sterling effort on "D," holding host AC Milan of Italy to a scoreless draw in European Champions League action.

PSV coach Guus Hiddink normally plays a three-man front and, recently, Beasley has been starting on the left side of the three strikers. Tonight, he nominally was at that position, but tactically played a defensive midfield role and, at times, switched from left to right.

Hiddink's strategy worked well. While PSV, from the Netherlands, created few chances, Milan only threatened on a couple of occasions and PSV escaped from its most difficult road match in Group E with a valuable point.

Halfway through group play, Milan stands first in the four-team group at 1-0-2 with five points, followed by PSV and Fenerbahce of Turkey, both 1-1-1 with four points, though Fenerbahce is plus-1 in goal differential to minus-2 for Eindhoven. Germany's Schalke 04 takes up the rear at 0-1-2 and two points, with the top two finishers in each of eight preliminary groups advancing to the knockout round of 16.

U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis came close to scoring on a couple of occasions for Leeds United which continued to move up in the standings with a 2-1 win over Southampton, thanks to first-half goals from Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake.

In the opening 45 minutes, Lewis took a 25-yard free kick that beat goalkeeper Antti Niemi, but hit the goalpost. Later, Lewis was sent clear by Hulse and struck a hard shot, but Niemi managed to deflect it just over the crossbar.

Early in the second half, Lewis made a strong run, but was taken down just outside of the box. In the 62nd minute, he sent a perfect corner kick that Sean Derry steered on frame with a firm header, but Niemi turned it over the bar.

U.S. keeper Marcus Hahnemann made seven saves, but Reading lost ground to league-leading Sheffield United with a 1-1 draw at Hull.

Hahnemann put in a strong overall effort, but was undone by a corner kick that took an odd carom off the crossbar in the 56th minute. The in-swinger bounced off the woodwork and landed at Chris Brown's feet, and he put it away.

U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey played the first 70 minutes for Reading and missed wide with two early chances.

Second-place Reading (9-1-4, 31 points), has not lost since opening day, but fell two more points behind Sheffield United (12-2-0, 36). Leeds (7-3-3) is in fourth place with 24 points, but owns a game in hand on the three clubs above it.

Leeds hosts Sheffield United Friday night.

American Frank Simek was Sheffield Wednesday's best defender in a 1-1 draw at home with Watford.

In the 84th minute, Simek saw American Jay DeMerit join the fray for Watford, the defender coming in for midfielder Paul Devlin.

DeMerit has been nursing an injured shoulder and missed almost a month.

The match was scoreless in the 57th minute when Watford midfielder Ashley Young burst down the left side and let loose a blast that was blocked by Simek, who was slightly injured on the play. Simek stayed in the game and, six minutes after Wednesday took the lead in the 64th minute on Chris Brunt's goal, Simek made another save when he slid to block a drive from striker Marlon King.

Two minutes after DeMerit came in, Young scored the equalizer for Watford and the match stayed even through seven minutes of stoppage time.

Seb Orton contributed to this story from Watford, England.

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