Americans Abroad

Convey scores to ice Reading's 4-0 rout of Norwich.

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

(Tuesday, January 31, 2006) -- United States striker Bobby Convey scored his fifth goal of the season, helping Reading strengthen its first-place position in the English League Championship with an easy 4-0 victory over visiting Norwich before 21,442 at Madejski Stadium tonight.

By the time Convey scored, Reading's triumph was well in hand. He made a long solo run down the left side, cut toward goal and slid the ball under keeper Robert Green to make it 4-0 in the 68th minute.

In the 90th minute, Convey came close to scoring a second goal, but his free kick was saved by Green.

U.S. keeper Marcus Hahnemann picked up another clean sheet for the Royals, his 20th this season, without having to work too hard. The best of his two saves came around the 60th minute when he made a kick save on a point-blank shot from Dickson Etuhu.

Reading (23-1-7, 76 points), which has outscored opponents 66-16, is undefeated in its last 30 matches and is 10 points ahead of Sheffield United (20-4-6). United plays at Derby Wednesday night.

U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis went 90 minutes for Leeds United which used an 88th-minute penalty kick by David Healy to salvage a 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

Just before halftime, Lewis won a ball in the box and fed striker Rob Hulse whose shot was saved. In the 76th minute, Lewis again sent a cross to Hulse whose hard shot was stopped. The rebound went to Lewis who saw his shot denied.

Leeds (16-7-7, 55), which holds a game in hand, is tied for third place with Watford (15-6-10).

American Frank Simek went the distance on the back-line for Sheffield Wednesday which outshot Luton Town 14-8, but still lost 2-0.

Simek turned in a generally strong effort, but he was beaten by Luton striker Rowan Vine, who was eventually chopped down by Graham Coughlan in the Wednesday box in the 52nd minute. Kevin Nicholls put away the subsequent penalty kick to put Town ahead 1-0.

Wednesday (7-15-9, 30), which has dropped two straight in league play after winning three in a row, is again threatened with the relegation zone. In 20th place, Wednesday is only one point above the drop zone.

American defender Zak Whitbread went 90 minutes for Millwall in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff. Even after earning a point, Millwall (5-14-12, 27) is next to last and two points from escaping the relegation zone. Cardiff (12-10-9, 45) is in seventh place.

Bradley's father Bob was his coach at the MetroStars until he was fired October 4 with three games remaining in the regular season.

Bradley joined the MetroStars in 2004 at age 16, but did not get into a game, partially because he was hampered by injury. He started all 30 regular-season matches he played in 2005, recording a goal and four assists.

The MetroStars will retain Bradley's rights should he return to MLS.

"Heerenveen is a club with a great history of developing young players in Europe and I can't wait to get started," Bradley said. "Everything I learned for two years playing for the MetroStars in MLS will be very valuable to me as I look to become the best player I can be."

Prior to being drafted by the MetroStars, Bradley was in the U.S. under-17 men's residency program in Bradenton, Fla., from the fall of 2002 to the spring of 2004. His only goal came in a 2-0 defeat of Chivas USA less than two weeks after his father was fired.

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

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