Saturday, 12th June 2010
No Home Run
 
England vs USA
in Rustenburg.
England failed to make up for their 1950 defeat to the United
States in Belo Horizonte; after yet another goalkeeping error just before half-time.
New England captain, Steven Gerrard, led the way forward by nipping
inside Ricardo Clark - after a touch from Emile Heskey - and flicking the ball back across
Tim Howard, to put Fabio Capello's team ahead within the opening minutes.
England were maybe a little lucky to escape unscathed from three
successive US corners around the 13th minute; and Capello knew it.
After Jozy Altidore fluffed a header in the 19th minute, Aaron Lennon
drove into the American area at the other end; Frank Lampard trying an overhead kick to
return the American clearance.
While Tim Howard was receiving treatment after a heavy slide through
by Emile Heskey, Fabio Capello decided to take off James Milner; who had received a yellow
card shortly before.
England have a history of losing a player to a red card in important
games, so perhaps the Italian was just being cautious.
A bigger case for concern in the England camp has been the goalkeeping
position, though.
Clint Dempsey made life a little more miserable for West Ham's Robert
Green, five minutes before half-time, when a low drive from the American spilled out of
Green's hands and into the net.
Half-time: 1:1
There was more concern for Fabio Capello at half-time, when a second
substitution had to be used to replace Ledley King with Jamie Carragher.
Robert Green managed to redeem himself when he turned a Jozy Altidore
shot onto the post; fortunately there were no Americans following up.
Tim Howard managed to keep out sustained English pressure in the
second half and help steer the Americans on a course for the second round.
Final Score:
England 1 USA 1
 Goalscorers:
1:0 Steven Gerrard (4 mins)
1:1 Clint Dempsey (40 mins)
Man of The Match:
Tim Howard - Despite being clattered by Emile Heskey, the Everton goalkeeper took a deep
breath and went on to deny his Premier League colleagues.
Teams
 England:
12 Robert Green; 3 Ashley Cole, 6 John Terry, 20 Ledley King, 2 Glen Johnson; 16 James
Milner, 4 Steven Gerrard, 8 Frank Lampard, 7 Aaron Lennon; 10 Wayne Rooney, 21 Emile
Heskey.
 USA:
1 Tim Howard; 3 Carlos Bocanegra, 5 Oguchi Onyewu, 15 Jay DeMerit, 6 Steve Cherundolo; 8
Clint Dempsey, 13 Ricardo Clark, 4 Michael Bradley, 10 Landon Donovan; 17 Jozy Altidore,
20 Robbie Findley.
Referee:
Carlos Simon (Brazil)
 Substitutions:
30 Mins (England) - 17 Shaun Wright-Phillips on for 16 James Milner
46 Mins (England) - 18 Jamie Carragher on for 20 Ledley King
77 Mins (USA) - 14 Edson Buddle on for 20 Robbie Findley
79 Mins (England) - 9 Peter Crouch on for 21 Emile Heskey
86 Mins (USA) - 11 Stuart Holden on for 17 Jozy Altidore
 6 Yellow
Cards:
26 Mins - James Milner (England)
39 Mins - Steve Cherundolo (USA)
47 Mins - Jay DeMerit (USA)
59 Mins - Jamie Carragher (England)
61 Mins - Steven Gerrard (England)
74 Mins - Robbie Findley (USA)
 0 Red Cards.
Previous Encounters:
England fans will want to forget their defeat (0:1) to USA in Belo Horizonte, during the
group stage of Brazil 1950.
England went on to settle the score with four convincing wins on the
trot - (6:3) New York 1953, (8:1) Los Angeles 1959; (10:0) New York 1964; and (5:0) Los
Angeles 1985 - then stumbled again (0:2) Boston 1993.
England failed to qualify for USA
1994 but did play USA later in that year; winning (2:0) in London. This was followed
with wins in Chicago (2:1) in 2005 and London (2:0) in 2008.
2010 World Cup Finals - Knockout Stage.
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