Americans Abroad

Friedel records shutout, but Rovers can only draw 0-0 with Bolton.

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

(Sunday, January 15, 2006) -- United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel posted his fifth clean sheet in seven matches, but Blackburn Rovers could not take advantage in a drab 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League Saturday at home at Ewood Park.

Rovers could not take advantage of Bolton playing a man short after Hidetoshi Nakata was sent off with a second yellow card in the 33rd minute.

Friedel made four saves, but only one was difficult. In the 10th minute, Rovers defender Lucas Neill blundered on a long throw-in, and put the ball on Bolton attacker Kevin Davies' foot. He slammed in a powerful shot from point-blank range, but Friedel made a superb kick save.

He got lucky in the 70th minute when young Wanderers substitute Ricardo Vaz Te went in and stepped around Friedel, but then slipped and fell before he could push the ball into the open net.

Rovers spent much of the game attacking and took 18 shots, but put only three on net.

Blackburn (9-8-4), owning a game in hand, is tied for eighth place, with Manchester City at 31 points. Bolton (9-5-6, 33 points) is seventh.

U.S. striker Brian McBride was recovered enough from a neck strain to go the distance for Fulham and started the sequence that led to the only goal in a 1-0 decision Saturday over Newcastle United.

American defender Carlos Bocanegra, however, continued to nurse a strained hamstring, and did not play in the home match before 21,974 at Craven Cottage.

Fulham outshot the visitors 12-5 and won when reserve Steed Malbranque scored in the 75th minute. The Frenchman, himself coming back from injury, was in the right spot after McBride threaded a pass to Collins John whose shot from an acute angle was parried away by keeper Shay Given. The rebound fell to Malbranque, who put it away from close range.

Fulham (7-10-5, 32) is tied with Newcastle (7-9-5) and Everton (8-12-2) for 12th place in the crowded middle of the table.

Manchester City did not miss injured Claudio Reyna, and defeated crosstown arch-rival Manchester United 3-1 in a thrilling local derby at home at City of Manchester Stadium before a capacity crowd of 47,192.

Reyna continues to recover from ankle surgery and it is hoped he can play again by early March. Saturday, his place in the starting lineup was taken by Stephen Ireland who combined with Joey Barton to give City two deep midfielders.

City built a 2-0 half time lead on goals by Trevor Sinclair in the 32nd minute and Darius Vassell in the 39th. When United's Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off with a red in the 66th minute, City looked to be safe, but Ruud van Nistelrooy to within 2-1 with a goal in the 76th minute.

After some tense moments, Robbie Fowler added an insurance tally for City in the 90th minute.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard was, as usual, on United's bench.

Uinted (13-3-6, 45) is in second place, but lost more ground to Chelsea (20-1-1, 61) and is only one point ahead of Liverpool (13-2-5)

U.S. defender Jonathan Spector was on the bench for Charlton Athletic which defeated Birmingham City 2-0.

Charlton (9-10-1, 28) is in 11th place.

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