Americans Abroad

Hahnemann shines, Convey assists, Reading ties Sheffield United 1-1.

Reading midfielder Bobby Convey prepares for one of many crosses against Sheffield United -- Reading FC web site photo --

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

(Wednesday, February 15, 2006) -- Reading could have virtually clinched the English League Championship title, but still finished the weekend in a commanding hold on first place and a virtual cinch to gain promotion to the Premier League next season.

Royals top scorer Dave Kitson had his potential game-winning penalty kick stopped by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in stoppage time, leaving visiting Reading with a 1-1 draw yesterday with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

United States midfielder Bobby Convey assisted on the Royals' one tally and American keeper Marcus Hahnemann was stellar in net for Reading, stopping eight United shots, starting with a blast by midfielder Paul Ifill blast from 25 yards in the eighth minute.

With 12 games remaining, Reading kept its remarkable 33-match unbeaten streak intact, is 25-1-8 with 83 points, in first place by 12 points ahead of Sheffield (21-5-8).

Just as importantly, with the top two teams promoted to the Premier League, Reading is 21 points up on third-place Leeds United (18-7-8) and 22 ahead of Watford (17-7-10).

In the ninth minute, a cross from Leigh Bromby deflected off a Reading defender to the feet of striker Bruce Dyer who put it away from close range past a stranded Hahnemann.

Four minutes later, Convey broke free down the left side and found Kitson unmarked in the box for the equalizer.

The rest of the affair was tight, defensive match. Twice more Hahnemann was called on to stop tough shots from Dyer while Convey had the best chance for Reading, but his long blast was held by Kenny.

On Friday, Hahnemann earned his 21st clean sheet of the season in Readings 2-0 shutout of visiting Southampton at Madejski Stadium.

Hahnemann had to be good early, turning away a powerful header from Tottenham striker Grzegorz Rasiak in his Southampton debut. Hahnemann had a rough afternoon physically after being knocked over by Peter Madsen early.

Soon after, Hahnemann held onto a fierce shot by Nathan Dyer as he did with a long-range attempt by Richard Chaplow just before the half.

Convey played 81 minutes before coming out for a more defensive-minded replacement. By that time, Reading had built its 2-0 lead on goals by Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle.

Last night, two Americans squared off in another League Championship battle with promotion implications when fourth-place Leeds United scored a 2-1 home victory over third-place Watford.

Watford led 1-0 at intermission, but was reduced to nine men when goalkeeper Ben Foster was shown a red card in the 57th minute and striker Darius Henderson was sent to the showers four minutes later.

In the 57th minute, U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis sent a ball forward that Watford defender Jordan Stewart attempted to head back to Foster. The ball was too weak and Foster hauled down Leeds forward Rob Hulse who was first to the ball and had raced into the box unattended. When play resumed, Robert Blake converted the penalty kick, the first of his two goals, for a 1-1 tie.

A minute later, Henderson was ejected for a violent conduct for his tackle on Leeds midfielder Sean Gregan. Blake put away a cross from reserve midfielder Richard Cresswell for the decisive tally in the 81st minute.

American defender Jay DeMerit did as well as could be expected under the situation for Watford.

Foster is on loan from Manchester United where he is the main long-term competition to U.S. keeper Tim Howard, now the back-up to Edwin van der Saar.

On Saturday, DeMerit scored a rare goal in Watford's easy 4-0 win over Coventry.

Watford was holding a comfortable 3-0 lead in the 82nd minute when DeMerit added a goal with an emphatic header from the middle of the penalty area off a corner kick.

Leeds was less fortunate with a dreary 0-0 draw in a visit to Derby that produced few chances by either team. Lewis went 89 minutes for Leeds and put in several quality crosses to little effect.

Today, American defender Frank Simek went the whole way for Sheffield Wednesday which lost 2-1 at Coventry.

On Saturday, Seimek was a late scratch with the flu and Wednesday drew 0-0 with visiting Crystal Palace.

Wednesday (8-16-10, 34) is now one spot and five points above the relegation zone in 21st place. Crystal Palace is in fifth place at 16-9-8 with 56 points. Coventry (11-12-11, 44) is in 11th place.

Yesterday, American Zak Whitbread went 90 minutes in the midfield for Millwall which played a 1-1 draw with Hull at home

Both goals were scored in the waning minutes.

Whitbread also went 90 minutes Saturday in a 1-0 setback to host Queens Park Rangers.

Millwall, (5-16-13, 28) is in 23rd place, six points from escaping the drop zone. QPR (11-14-9, 42) stands 14th.

Friedel's best save of the night didn't count, a 60th-minute effort on a shot by Grant Leadbitter that was ruled offside.

Seventh-place Rovers (12-10-4, 40) are just a point out of fifth place which would bring an invitation to next season's UEFA Cup. Arsenal and West Ham United are tied for fifth at 12-9-5.

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

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