England beat Austria despite Beckham red card (Reuters) Updated: 2005-10-09 09:00
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, initially dropped by manager Sven-Goran
Eriksson after some below-par performances, had to replace Sol Campbell
following a second-half injury.
England created plenty of chances but will need to be more clinical in their
finishing against the Poles, while their clean sheet was offset by a shot
against their cross bar which could have turned the game.
Austria, playing with a five-man midfield and Roland Linz as a lone striker,
were determined to make England work hard for their chances. But the balance of
power soon swung the hosts' way.
PENALTY AWARD
Michael Owen had a close-range header blocked from a corner and was only
denied a one-on-one with keeper Juergen Macho by a superb last-ditch tackle from
Paul Scharner.
The Austrian defender was less fortunate a few minutes later when towering
England striker Peter Crouch knocked the ball down and Scharner tugged Owen back
as he tried to swivel round.
Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointed to the spot and Lampard, who
has replaced Beckham as penalty-taker after three consecutive misses by the
captain, steered his shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
England had another penalty appeal turned down before the break after Owen
was felled by Andreas Dober's challenge.
Lampard skewed a stoppage-time shot wide in a strong finish to a half in
which Austria's sole chance was a stinging 30-metre shot from midfielder Markus
Kiesenebner, tipped over by Paul Robinson.
However, the visitors came out a lot sharper for the second half and suddenly
it was Luke Young and Campbell who were making the last-ditch interceptions.
Seconds after Macho caught a Crouch header, Linz hit the crossbar after Terry
missed a headed interception.
Worse was to come for England with Beckham's dismissal though, unlike his
exit in France, he walked off to a standing ovation from the 65,000 crowd.
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