England v USA half time report
England 1 USA 1
England captain Steven Gerrard gave the Three Lions the perfect start to their World Cup campaign with a goal inside four minutes against the USA, but a shocking goalkeeping error from Robert Green has allowed the US to equalise, ensuring that the sides are level at the break.
Green allowed Clint Dempsey's weak left footed, 25-yard effort to pass straight through him just five minutes before half time, undoing all of the good work that England had done after Gerrard gave them the advantage.
The skipper latched onto a superb reverse ball from Emile Heskey before coolly finishing past Tim Howard with the outside of his right foot. It was a dream start to the campaign for Fabio Capello's men, and a typical Gerrard goal. The midfielder burst through the US defence to emphatically give his side the advantage.
But the US rallied, and Jozy Altidore should have done a lot better when picked out by Landon Donovan's right wing cross, but the striker - who had lost marker Ledley King - could only meekly head wide.
Back at the other end, Aaron Lennon chose to try and square the ball to Frank Lampard when he could have gone for goal himself. After the US defence had half cleared the danger, Lampard's overhead kick was easily saved by Howard, who later sustained a heavy knock following a collision with the impressive Heskey.
Capello chose to replace the yellow carded James Milner - who has been suffering with a virus this week - with Shaun Wright-Phillips on the half hour mark, and the Manchester City man saw a long range effort swerve well wide of Howard's goal.
Closer to goal was Donovan though, as his right footed effort flew just past Green's right hand post, before the West Ham keeper's awful mistake allowed Fulham's Dempsey to equalise in the most bizarre manner.
There was still time for Glen Johnson to draw a good save from Howard in what has been an entertaining first half.
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