Soccer: Beckham goal brings revenge over Argentina

5.00am

SAPPORO, Japan - Captain David Beckham wreaked his revenge on Argentina with the first-half penalty that gave England a pulsating 1-0 victory over the World Cup favourites on Friday (early Sat NZT).

Famously sent off when England lost on penalties to Argentina in the second round of the 1998 finals, Beckham sent keeper Pablo Cavallero the wrong way with a driven spot-kick on 44 minutes after Michael Owen was brought down by Mauricio Pochettino.

Asked how it felt Beckham said: "Better than it did four years ago. It's just unbelievable. This just tops it all off."

In the highlight match of the first round between two of soccer's greatest rivals England just about deserved their victory and could have scored more, especially when striker Owen hit the post from a tight angle midway through the first half.

But Argentina dominated after the break, laying siege to the England goal but couldn't avoid suffering their first defeat in a competitive match since they lost 3-1 to Brazil in a qualifier in Sao Paulo in July 2000.

It was England's first win over Argentina in the World Cup since the brutal 1966 quarter-final when their captain Antonio Rattin was sent off. Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal helped end England's World Cup hopes in the quarter-finals in 1986.

England have four points, the same as Sweden who beat Nigeria 2-1 earlier on Friday and top group F on goals scored. Argentina have three points and Nigeria have already been eliminated.

Argentina must beat Sweden in their final match on Wednesday in the aptly-named 'Group of Death' to guarantee reaching the last 16. England play Nigeria the same day.

Beckham played the full 90 minutes for the first time since he broke his foot in a Champions League game just over two months ago in a tackle with Argentine midfielder Aldo Duscher.

The midfielder said it was terrifying when he stepped up to take the penalty which won the match because of the Argentine "antics".

"We battled really hard for the whole 92 minutes, it was not just about my penalty," he added.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said: "I think we deserved to win the game We played very good football for 70 to 75 minutes. We played with a big, big heart.

"It pleased me that we played football for more than 45 minutes," he added, in reference to a poor second-half performance in their opening 1-1 draw with Sweden.

"In the second half we created some good chances. The last 15 minutes was very difficult but the players worked extremely hard."

But Eriksson said England still needed to work hard to reach the second round.

"This win was very important of course after the first game but we have to work very, very hard and try to go further on."

"When we are focused, a little bit fit, we can do wonderful things."

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa said the defeat makes things difficult, but they must now focus on their final group game.

"It was obviously a very important match. We did not get the three points we needed so it makes it difficult," he said.

"This was a very tightly fought match. There were some opportunities on both sides and unfortunately we were unable to take advantage of some of the chances we had."

"The next match will decide who qualifies (for the second round). We will need to focus on the task in front of us and try to put the sadness of this defeat behind us."

Argentina made the better start, though any rhythm was continually checked by a string of fouls which brought yellow cards for Gabriel Batistuta and Ashley Cole.

England midfielder Owen Hargreaves injured his knee in an early tackle and had to be substituted by Trevor Sinclair after 20 minutes.

But the clash sparked into life in the 24th minute when Owen scampered onto Nicky Butt's long upfield ball and smacked a shot through defender Walter Samuel's legs which beat Cavallero -- only to rebound off the post.

A minute later, Argentina should have been in front when striker Gabriel Batistuta failed to beat David Seaman with a point-blank range header from a Kily Gonzalez cross.

England's growing confidence was rewarded though just before the break, when Argentina defender Mauricio Pochettino tripped Owen in full stride and Beckham smacked home the penalty.

The disappointing Juan Sebastian Veron, who had one of his quieter games for Argentina, was replaced at halftime by Pablo Aimar and Diego Simeone took over as captain.

But, sensing their chance, England kept creating openings after the re-start.

A breakaway by Owen, two booming shots from Emile Heskey and Paul Scholes, a spectacular volley by substitute Teddy Sheringham after a flowing 17-pass move, plus a Beckham flick into the side netting, all battered Argentina's defence in the opening minutes.

However, the South Americans soon recovered their composure and laid siege to the England goal, especially after Hernan Crespo and Claudio Lopez replaced Gabriel Batistuta and the largely ineffectual Kily Gonzalez around the hour mark.

Thirteen minutes from time Pochettino nearly made amends for his trip on Owen with a powerful header straight at Seaman that the England keeper somehow parried and their chance had gone.

A tiring Owen was replaced by defender Wayne Bridge as Eriksson decided to tighten up his defence for the last 10 minutes and England held on to record a famous victory.

In 1998, Alan Shearer had scored from the spot to equalise after a Gabriel Batistuta penalty had given Argentina the lead. Owen then seared past the defence to score a wonder goal to put England ahead with little more than 15 minutes on the clock.

Argentina equalised through Javier Zanetti on the stroke of halftime. Minutes into the second half Beckham was sent off for a petulant foul on Simeone and although England held on until the end of extra time, they lost the penalty shoot-out.

This time the script was different and, ironically, both players captained their countries after Veron was taken off at halftime.

- REUTERS

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