Long-range goal is high point of USA victory

A LONG-RANGE goal by Myles Stoddard was the highlight of the USA's fully deserved victory over the National League in an under…

A LONG-RANGE goal by Myles Stoddard was the highlight of the USA's fully deserved victory over the National League in an under-20 representative game at Tolka Park last night.

Stoddard met a defensive clearance to score with a terrific 35-yard right-foot drive into the top corner of the Irish net to give his side the lead for the first time in the game after 66 minutes.

A drab first-half only came to life with the award of a penalty to the National League seven minutes before the interval. Cork City's Noel Hartigan was pushed off the ball inside the penalty area by the US central-defender, Brian Dunseth. Hartigan's striking partner, Jason Sherlock, rolled the resultant penalty into the corner of the net having sent goalkeeper, Andy Kirke, the wrong way to give the Irish the lead.

The USA, who had enjoyed more possession, responded within a minute with their best first-half opportunity when Shawn Petroski had a shot deflected away for a corner after working a clever one-two with Esmund Rogriguez.

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National League goalkeeper, Michael Dempsey, made a diving, fingertip save from a 20-yard drive by Josh Wolff early in the second-half as the USA pressed for an equaliser which came in the 56th minute.

Brian West ran from deep to outpace the Irish defence. Jonathan Minnock and Dempsey should have cleared between them, but hesitated to allow West to toe-poke the ball into the unguarded net for a soft equaliser.

Stoddard's wonder strike gave the USA the lead 10 minutes later with Petroski tapping in a third goal five minutes from time after Stoddard and Rodriguez carved the opening.

West Ham manager Harry Redknapp was left counting the cost of England's low-key goalless draw with Switzerland in an under-21 friendly international at Swindon yesterday.

West Ham's highly-rated central defender Rio Ferdinand suffered strained ankle ligaments on his under-21 debut in front of his dismayed manager.