David Beckham was sent off as England beat Austria 1-0 but again
failed to shine at Old Trafford in Saturday's World Cup
qualification match.
The England captain was dismissed for two over-zealous bookings in
two minutes, but Sven Goran Eriksson's side managed to hold onto
their narrow lead courtesy of Frank Lampard's first half
penalty.
Austria had hit the bar just before Beckham's dismissal, and soon
after being reduced to ten-men injury was added to England's insult
with Sol Campbell limping off to be replaced by Rio
Ferdinand.
Shorn of the suspended Wayne Rooney, England had showed intent but
little incision in a pacey throughout, even before being reduced to
ten men.
Jurgen Macho had made a hash of an early David Beckham corner and
was grateful when Michael Owen's alert header was blocked.
At the other end Markus Kiesenebner had an effort tipped over by
Paul Robinson, and Owen was denied a clear route to goal by Paul
Scharner's well-timed tackle after Peter Crouch's through
ball.
Crouch was denied his first England goal soon after when Gerrard's
astute through ball found Owen and his weak shot was parried into
the path of the tall striker only for Rene Aufhaser to dive in and
toe the ball away.
If England's fans were wondering where a goal would come form, they
were soon given an answer when an innocuous tug from Scharner on
Owen was adjudged to be a penalty, allowing new taker Lampard to
step up and slot confidently home.
It should have been a bigger lead; Crouch failing to get the power
into a header after Gerrard's cross and then a yard behind Joe
Cole's square ball after a fine run from the Chelsea man.
Kisenebner had Robinson scrambling across his goal with another
rising drive, this time off target, but England should have had a
second penalty.
Owen's reactions drove him onto a lose ball into the penalty area,
and as he was clumsily upended by Andreas Dober only for referee
Luis Cantalejo to wave away appeals.
The second half started with England failing to take another
opportunity, Macho out quickly to save from Owen after Lampard's
turn and incisive pass had put the England forward through.
Again, Austria took up the invitation to control the pace, and
Andreas Ivanschitz and Roland Linz looked dangerous.
Crouch drew a save from macho after a Beckham free-kick, but
England had an enormous let-off when Linz lobbed the ball over a
despairing Robinson, but watched the ball strike the face of the
bar.
Beckham then picked up a harsh booking for a raised arm on an
aerial challenge on Andreas Ibertsberger, and just a minute later
dived into a tackle on the same player that left Cantalejo holding
aloft a second yellow card that saw the captain sent off, even
though contact was minimal.
The first caution had already ensured that Beckham would miss the
Poland game and, as he trailed disconsolately off, Eriksson was
forced into a major reshuffle, bringing on Ledley King and Rio
Ferdinand as Campbell pulled up soon after holding his
hamstring.
Lampard nearly made it safe with a free-kick that Macho did well to
stop, but it was England that were put under increasing pressure by
the newly buoyant Austrians, although they largely restricted them
to shots from range.
Owen made way for Kieron Richardson and Gerrard took the burden of
responsibility and the armband.
Lampard tested Macho in injury time, but 2-0 would have not have
been a fair reflection that will be dominated by Beckham's
dismissal but also brought a fine performance by the visitors that
kept this misfiring England side looking far from the World Cup
contenders they would like to be.
BAsket the referee sibei kayu..luan luan lai one..Anyway England
was poor again..Crouch as usual quite threatening but not lethal..
