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England beat Austria despite Beckham red card
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-09 09:00
MANCHESTER, England, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Ten-man England ground out a precious
1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Austria on Saturday despite a red card for
captain David Beckham.
England's captain
David Beckham (R) is shown the red card by Spanish referee Luis Medina
Cantalejo (4th L in black) during their World Cup 2006, Group Six
qualifying soccer match against Austria at Old Trafford in Manchester,
northern England, October 8, 2005.
[Reuters] |
Frank Lampard converted a 25th
minute penalty to put England's Group Six campaign back on track after last
month's humiliating 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland, but there was controversy on
the hour-mark.
Beckham, famously red-carded at the 1998 World Cup against Argentina, became
the first England player to be sent off twice with a second yellow at Old
Trafford after what looked like a dive by Andreas Ibertsberger following a
booking for elbowing the same Austrian midfielder minutes earlier.
England held on for a victory which means they can top the group by beating
leaders Poland in Wednesday's final qualifier.
They would also qualify later on Saturday as one of the two best runners-up
if the Netherlands beat the Czech Republic away in Group One.
Though Beckham's absence through suspension on Wednesday will be a blow,
England will have striker Wayne Rooney back from suspension and can count on
Shaun Wright-Phillips as a livewire midfield replacement.
Changes will also be expected in central defence, where John Terry put in an
impressive performance.
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