England tops U.S. 2-1 in soccer friendly
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-29 08:58

England's soccer future appears to be in very good hands. Kieran Richardson scored twice in his first appearance for England, leading it to a 2-1 victory over the United States in the teams' first meeting in more than a decade. Clint Dempsey scored his first career goal in the second half to spoil England's shutout.

England's Kieran Richardson (8) celebrates his second goal of the match with teammate Andy Johnson, right, as United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller (18) looks on during the first half Saturday, May 28, 2005 at Soldier Field in Chicago. [AP]

This was the first time the United States and England had played since 1994, when the English won 2-0 at Wembley to avenge a loss in Foxboro, Mass., the year before. Though the English had won five of the teams' first seven meetings — and won handily — this game was by no means a gimme.

Not only have the Americans gotten better, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, but England essentially brought its JV team. With the European season just ending and no World Cup qualifier until September, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell were the only mainstays in the lineup. David Beckham and Michael Owen are expected to join the team for Tuesday's game against Colombia in New Jersey.

The United States wasn't at full strength, either, and the Americans were far more concerned with next week's World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Panama than a friendly.

Still, it was England.

Except for one group of fans behind the south goal who held up a large American flag and a banner reading "Yank Army Don't Tread on Me," Soldier Field looked more like an English stadium. Banners featuring the English flag and various English teams — Everton, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, just to name a few — covered every spare inch of the walls ringing the field and the first row of seats.

And the English didn't disappoint. After Eddie Pope fouled Andy Johnson in the fourth minute, Richardson took the free kick. He made a beautiful curving shot that was just out of reach of diving U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, giving England a 1-0 lead.

When the ball settled into the net, Richardson was mobbed by the rest of the English team.

He wasn't done, either. In the 44th minute, Pope whiffed as he tried to knock down the ball on a throw-in, and Joe Cole darted in to collect the ball. He made a perfect pass to a wide-open Richardson and, without missing a stride, the rookie took a shot from about the penalty mark and Keller never had a chance as England took a 2-0 lead.

The United States blew two chances to score in the first half, both by Landon Donovan. His free kick in the 20th minute banged off the far post, and a perfect shot from about 15 yards out in the 37th sailed wide of the far post.

The Americans finally scored in the 79th minute, when Donovan took a free kick and Carlos Bocanegra flicked it while sliding in front of the goal. England goalie David James made a nice kick save, but the ball caromed straight back at Dempsey, who headed it in.

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