 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| England 2-2 Macedonia | ||||||||||||||
David Seaman committed another costly blunder that could signal the end of his international career as England twice came from behind to snatch a draw against Macedonia. Seaman let Artim Sakiri's 11th minute corner float over his head into the far corner to give the lowly visitors a shock lead in the Euro 2004 qualifier at Southampton. David Beckham equalised just three minutes later with a sublime lob but Vance Trajanov put the Group Seven minnows back in front after 25 minutes. Steven Gerrard - stretchered off in the second half - got England back on level terms again with a fine volley 10 minutes later, but despite throwing on an extra striker in Darius Vassell the home side could not find a winner. England's miserable evening was complete when Alan Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time. The result leaves them with four points from two games, five behind group leaders Turkey who thumped Liechtenstein 5-0, and piled the pressure on England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. Eriksson's latest attempt to solve the problem slot on the left-side of midfield was to play local favourite Wayne Bridge in that position with Ashley Cole at left-back. And it was Bridge who created the first chance of the game after nine minutes with a first-time pass to Owen that put the Liverpool striker in on goal. Owen took advantage of a lucky bounce to round the goalkeeper but by then the flag had gone up with the linesman correctly adjudging Owen was fractionally offside. That early show of promise was soon forgotten however as the visitors took a shock lead after 11 minutes. Sakiri's left-footed corner from the right drifted straight over Seaman's outstretched hand with no Macedonian player in the six-yard box, and as the ball floated over his head Scholes, on the far post, ducked underneath it and turned to see it nestling in the back of the net. Memories immediately returned to Ronaldinho's long-range free-kick at the World Cup and the latest in an increasing list of blunders could hasten Seaman's retirement from the international scene. Fortunately for Seaman his expression of disbelief soon turned to one of relief as England equalised just three minutes later. Goce Sedloski was caught in possession by Scholes who played Beckham in behind the defence, the captain taking one touch on his chest before hitting an exquisite lob over Petar Milosevski. Milosevski then just got a fingertip touch to Bridge's dangerous cross as Smith waited to pounce at the far post and England appeared to have recovered from the early setback. The Macedonians had not read the script however and from their second meaningful attack they went in front again. This time it was Gerrard the guilty party as he gave away possession to Sakiri who advanced before hitting a speculative shot from long range. Campbell tried to clear but only succeeded in finding Vance Trajanov who stroked the ball into the far corner past Seaman's dive. The fact that Seaman was not culpable for the goal will have be no consolation to Eriksson, but England were at least making chances at the other end. Beckham refused to give up a lost cause and pulled the ball back from the by-line but Milosevski crucially diverted the ball away from Owen and Scholes could not turn in the loose ball. Two minutes later Scholes turned provider, feeding Smith on the left-hand side of the area but the Leeds striker could not get any power on his shot and Milosevski saved at his near post. There was nothing the goalkeeper could do about England's second equaliser after 35 minutes however, Gerrard thumping a superb volley past him from 20 yards after Beckham's initial corner was not cleared. Eriksson resisted the temptation to make any changes at half-time but he was forced to just 10 minutes into the second period. Gerrard stayed down after stretching to intercept a loose ball and was taken off to be replaced by Nicky Butt. By then Sakiri had already forced Seaman to smother his shot at the near post and Gerrard's last contribution to the game had been a lob onto the top of the net after Beckham's free-kick was again not cleared. Eriksson then made his first substitution of choice, bringing on Darius Vassell for Bridge but the Aston Villa striker's first contribution was to get caught offside as Owen thought he had put England in front. Smith was then booked for a needless foul before Leeds colleague Jonathan Woodgate saw his shot saved on the line by Robert Popov as England pressed for the winner. Vassell went close with a flashing volley from Gary Neville's cross to the near post and when Vassell turned provider Smith's volley produced another fine save from Milosevski. Smith's last contribution was to pick up a needless, if rather harsh, second yellow card that reduced England to 10 men for the last frantic minutes. |
||||||||||||||
