Americans Abroad

Simek's first pro goal gives Wednesday 1-0 win over Millwall.

Frank Simek's first professional goal gave Sheffield Wednesday a victory over Millwall and some breathing room above the English League Championship relegation zone. -- Sheffield Wednesday web site photo --

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

(Saturday, February 4, 2006) -- American defender Frank Simek's first professional goal came amid controversy, but proved to be the game-winner for Sheffield Wednesday which outlasted host Millwall 1-0 today in a battle of teams striving to avoid relegation from the second-division English League Championship.

Millwall thought it had taken the lead in the 63rd minute when Tony Craig's in-swinging corner kick sailed over goalkeeper Lee Bullen and into the net as several attackers charged the net. About half of the Millwall team ran to celebrate with Craig, but referee Steve Tanner had ruled that Bullen had been fouled before the goal.

Wednesday quickly advanced the ball and, after a goal-mouth scramble, the ball came out to Simek who buried a shot with his left foot from the right side of the box for the decisive tally.

Simek also did a good job of marking Marvin Williams, Millwall's speedy striker.

"It was a weird game," Simek told the media after the game. "I have never played in a game like that before."

Bullen, Wednesday's captain and normally a defender, played the second half in goal after David Lucas was injured.

Going the distance at right back for Millwall was American Zak Whitbread, who was solid on defense and, on occasion, added to the attack with crosses into the box.

With 14 matches remaining, Wednesday put some distance on the relegation zone, raising its record to 8-15-9 for 33 points, good for 20th place and four points from danger. The bottom three clubs in the 24-team league are sent down to the third-division League One.

Millwall is in the drop zone in 23rd place at 5-15-12 with 27 points, needing four points to climb to safety.

Reading's days in the League Championship appear numbered, too, but the Royals are headed upwards. Its 4-3 road victory over Crewe before 6,494 at Alexandra Stadium extended Reading's unbeaten streak to 31, a 24-0-7 record since Opening Day.

Liverpool held the previous record unbeaten streak for the second-tier of English soccer, going 30 matches without a loss in 1893-1894. Reading still has a ways to go to equal the 38-match unbeaten streak Arsenal compiled, going 26-0-12 in its 2003-04 Premier League championship campaign

Marcus Hahnemann, who has 20 league shutouts this season, conceded three goals for the first time in the League Championship this season and second time overall. Reading came out on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline to Arsenal November 29 in the Carling Cup Round of 16.

U.S. left midfielder Bobby Convey consistently gave the Crewe defense problems and he assisted on Reading's final tally which ultimately proved to be the winner.

Even watching three goals go by, Hahnemann was strong in net. In the first 10 minutes, he did well to stop shots from Gary Roberts and Gary Jones and, in the 14th minute, he denied Roberts again. This time, however, the rebound went to Lee Bell and there was nothing Hahnemann could do to stop the shot from the right side of the penalty area.

Reading might have led 1-0 at this point but Convey, having intercepted a clearance, volleyed well high in the opening moments.

In the 24th minute, Reading pulled even when Nicky Shorey curled a free kick into the left corner of the net after Convey was tugged down just above the box. Two minutes later, the Royals went ahead for good 2-1 on a tally from Steve Sidwell.

Hahnemann made a great save on Roberts, while at the other end Crewe goalkeeper Ross Turnbull went low to stop a wicked shot from Convey. Then, Leroy Lita scored the first of his two goals in the 43rd minute for a 3-1 lead at halftime.

Convey created the first good chance of the second half, but he placed his shot too close to Ross Turnbull and the keeper grabbed it.

In the 51st minute, Hahnemann made a good save on Steve Jones, but Roberts followed to put away the rebound to bring Crewe back to 3-2.

Reading answered to make it 4-2 two minutes later when Lita flicked home a sharp, low cross from Convey who had worked a combination with forward Kevin Doyle.

Kenny Lunt made things interesting with a penalty kick in the 68th minute as Crewe closed to within 4-3.

Convey came off for the more defensive-minded Stephen Hunt in the 79th minute.

Reading (24-1-7, 79) extended its lead to 10 points over second-place Sheffield United (21-4-6), which hosts fourth-place Watford (15-6-10, 55) Monday.

The top two League Championship finishers earn automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the next four teams go into a playoff for a third promotion berth. With 14 matches left, Reading sits 21 points ahead of third-place Leeds United (17-7-7).

U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis assisted the second goal today for Leeds which registered a well-crafted 2-0 home victory over Queens Park Rangers (10-13-9. 39).

Playing the entire match, Lewis narrowly missed scoring on a pair of occasions. He had his first-half shot cleared off the goal-line and he sent a blast inches wide in the 60th minute.

In the 84th minute, Lewis' well-placed cross was headed in by Paul Butler to make it 2-0.

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

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