England's World Cup campaign began with an early Steven Gerrard goal against the USA but a Robert Green error meant the Three Lions had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Rustenburg. England: 1 USA: 1
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg Crowd: 44,026 Officials Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil) Assistants: Altemir Hausmann & Roberto Bratz (both Brazil) Fourth official: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles) Yellow cards:ENG - Carragher, Gerrard, Milner USA - Cherundolo, DeMerit, Findley
Red cards: None MATCH REPORT It is 60 years this month since the United States humiliated England with the most famous victory in their football history, and whilst that feat was not repeated England will feel this disappointing result was more self inflicted.
Leading by an early goal from Steven Gerrard after the impressive Emile Heskey had created the opening for the Three Lions skipper, a howler from keeper Robert Green handed the advantage back to the USA.
England had looked comfortable up to that point and spent much of the second half trying to make amends but Green's counterpart Tim Howard was more assured and kept the England forwards at bay with a string of fine saves.
The USA's main weapon was the quick break utilising the pace of Robbie Findley and Jozy Altidore.
In fact the latter enabled Green to make amends for his first half mistake when the former Hull striker skinned Jamie Carragher and saw his 64th minute effort deflected by the England stopper onto the upright and away to safety.
If only Green had been as alert just five minutes before the break when he allowed Clint Dempsey's speculative 20 yard strike to bounce off his gloves and over the line.
The USA defended doggedly and even when England did breach their rearguard, Howard was more than equal to efforts from Frank Lampard, Heskey, Wayne Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
A point puts more pressure on Fabio Capello's team to claim a win in their second game against Algeria on June 18th as well as reopening the debate on who is England's number one keeper. Starting Line-Ups
ENG
12. Robert Green 2. Glen Johnson 6. John Terry 20. Ledley King (Carragher, 46) 3. Ashley Cole 7. Aaron Lennon 8. Frank Lampard 4. Steven Gerrard 16. James Milner (Wright-Phillips, 30) 21. Emile Heskey (Crouch, 79) 10. Wayne Rooney SUBS
1. David James (GK) 14. Gareth Barry 18. Jamie Carragher 22. Michael Carrick 11. Joe Cole 9. Peter Crouch 5. Michael Dawson 19. Jermain Defoe 15. Matthew Upson 13. Stephen Warnock 17. Shaun Wright-Phillips 23. Joe Hart (GK) USA
1. Tim Howard 6. Steve Cherundolo 15. Jay DeMerit 5. Oguchi Onyewu 3. Carlos Bocanegra 8. Clinton Dempsey 4. Michael Bradley 13. Ricardo Clark 10. Landon Donovan 20. Robbie Findley (Buddle, 77) 17. Jozy Altidore (Holden, 86)
SUBS
18. Bradley Guzan (GK) 7. DaMarcus Beasley 12. Jonathan Bornstein 14. Edson Buddle 19. Maurice Edu 22. Benny Feilhaber 9. Herculez Gomez 21. Clarence Goodson 11. Stuart Holden 2. Jonathan Spector 16. Jose Torres 23. Marcus Hahnemann (GK)
