Americans Abroad

McBride scores goal for Fulham, but Man. U. is a 4-2 winner.

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

(Saturday, February 4, 2006) -- United States striker Brian McBride scored a goal, but it wasn't enough for Fulham which fell behind early and could never pull even in dropping a 4-2 decision today to host Manchester United in an English Premier League match at Old Trafford.

It was an especially long night for U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra who went the distance in the left center of Fulham's four-man back-line and had United's first goal carom off him and into the net. Bocanegra's job was to mark EPL leading scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy who was a dynamic performer throughout the game, though he did not score himself.

The match started off at a frantic pace. McBride had two chances for Fulham in the first four minutes, while at the other end, van Nistelrooy, despite having Bocanegra draped on him, triggered two shots that forced Fulham keeper Antti Niemi into saves.

In the sixth minute, van Nistelrooy pushed the ball out to winger Ji-Sung Park. As Bocanegra moved to continue covering van Nistelrooy, Park drilled a wicked shot that hit the American full in the back, changed direction and ended up in the net to put United ahead 1-0.

Eight minutes latter, Cristiano Ronaldo put Man. U. ahead 2-0.

McBride helped Fulham halve its deficit in the 22nd minute when he rose high above Gary Neville to blast a header past keeper Edwin Van der Sar to make it 2-1.

It was McBride's ninth league goal of the season -- tying him for ninth place on the scoring chart -- and 10th overall.

United, however, came back and scored off the subsequent kickoff. Van Nistelrooy, who appeared to be in an offside position, ripped a shot with Bocanegra trying hard to prevent it. Niemi mad the save with the rebound going to Louis Saha who buried it for a 3-1 advantage.

But Fulham again came back with a Heidar Helguson goal in the 37th minute to make it 3-2.

McBride was almost in position to tie the game in first-half stoppage time. Midfielder Steed Malbranque sent a cross that Helguson knocked to McBride, but the American lifted his shot over the crossbar.

Early in the second half, it was McBride who set up Helguson, but the striker sliced his shot over the bar.

Cristiano Ronaldo secured Man. U.'s triumph with his second tally in the 88th minute.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard served as an unused reserve for Man. U.

Fulham (8-12-5, 29 points), which remains the only team in England's top four divisions to be winless on the road (0-10-3), fell to a tie for 14th place with Newcastle United (8-11-5). Newcastle owns a game in hand. Man. U. is 15-4-6 with 51 points, good for second place behind Chelsea (20-1-3, 63), which plays third-place Liverpool (13-3-6, 45) on Sunday.

U.S. keeper Brad Friedel made seven saves, but the Blackurn Rovers came out flat and offered little resistance in a 2-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion today.

Friedel was caught in no man's land in the sixth minute when Kevin Campbell controlled a sharply hit cross in full stride and put it into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Friedel kept the match close when he was fully outstretched to make a save on Jonathan Greening in the 30th minute, but two minutes later, Greening made it 2-0 after intercepting a poor clearance.

Rovers (11-9-4, 35) are in ninth place, while West Brom (7-13-5, 26) stands 16th.

In the Netherlands, PSV Eindhoven trailed by two goals after five minutes, but rallied to defeat visiting Roda JC 3-2 at the Philips Stadion tonight to extend its lead in the Eredivisie.

Roda shocked the home fans when Simon Cziommer beat PSV goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes from 20 yards to make it 1-0 in the second minute.

Three minutes later, Cziommer concluded a nice passing combination inside the penalty area by finding Pacheco Sergio whose pretty finish increased the margin to 2-0.

Two minutes later, Roda defender Vincent Lachambre handled the ball inside his box and PSV striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink recorded the first of his two goals with a penalty kick that cut the deficit to 2-1.

Three minutes later, U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley missed his target on a good chance on goal, but PSV won on goals by Vennegoor of Hesselink in the 52nd minute and Ismali Aissati 12 minutes after that.

Three minutes before Aissati's winner, Roda was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Gregoor Van Dijk was sent off with a red card.

Beasley was replaced in the 90th minute by PSV, which improved to 17-2-3 with 54 points. PSV increased its lead to five points over AZ Alkmaar (15-3-4), which drew 1-1 at home with Vitesse Arnhem (10-9-3, 33). Feyenoord Rotterdam (15-3-3), which is six points back in third place, plays its weekend game on Sunday, hosting Ajax Amsterdam.

Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman. Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes managing editor. E-mail Gary Davidson.

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