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Group Seven Roundup Fiery England claims top spot with 2-0 win over TurkeyPosted: Wednesday April 02, 2003 4:26 PMUpdated: Wednesday April 02, 2003 6:06 PM
SUNDERLAND, England (AP) -- Substitute Darius Vassell and captain David Beckham fired England to the top of its Euro 2004 qualifying group on Wednesday in a 2-0 victory over big rival and World Cup semifinalist Turkey. But the game boiled over during and after the game and also was marred by fan violence outside the stadium with 95 arrests. Vassell, who replaced Michael Owen early in the second half, capitalized on England's pressure by scoring in the 76th minute and Beckham drove home an injury time penalty. After the match, tempers flared as some of the Turkish players, who disputed the penalty, jostled with the English players and coaches as they left the field at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. According to TV reports, members of the England coaching team traded blows with Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan. There was trouble involving England fans before the game. Police said 95 were arrested for fighting among themselves and throwing bottles at the police and more England followers charged buses taking Turkish supporters to the stadium. According to the police one fan was injured and none of the arrests were Turkish followers. Police on horseback and baton wielding officers charged the fans to make sure the buses got through. England head coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson dismissed the post-match incident as the players left the field. "I don't know exactly what happened but I don't make anything of that," he said. "It happens in football. "Too much passion, too much feelings sometimes but I think it was a very important game for us and a very important game for Turkey because, if Turkey had won this game, they more or less thought they had won the group. "I think it was a small surprise for Turkey that we played football as we did today." Beckham, who said he had been insulted by media suggestions that England lacked "passion" under Eriksson, said the game proved that idea was wrong. "It was definitely a passionate game straight from the off," the Manchester United star said. "A few tackles sliding in, flying in. But it's great night for English football, a great night for the young players in the team. "We've played some excellent football, showed some courage and some passion and we're very happy." He was disappointed that his first half yellow card ruled him out of England's next game against Slovakia in June and suggested that the Turkish players had tried to influence the referee. "When you've got players running to the referees asking for things, sometimes he caves in," he said. The result gave England 10 points from four games as Eriksson's team jumped over Turkey which has nine. It was Turkey's first defeat in 17 qualifying games in either European Championship or World Cup qualifying games. Badly needed a big performance to shake off a mounting number of critics, England produced it when it mattered before 47,667 fans. Turkey's standout goalkeeper Rustu Recber saved a shot from Rio Ferdinand from a cross by Wayne Bridge. But Vassell was in the best position in front of goal to sidefoot the rebound home. It was 2-0 when Bulent Korkmaz pulled down substitute Kieron Dyer and Beckham drove the penalty low into the bottom corner. Although Turkey played the more composed, intricate soccer, England created better chances throughout a thrilling game and showed the passion that critics said had been drained from them by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. Making his first start at age 17, Everton striker Wayne Rooney made a standout contribution to the England attack, shrugging off defenders and setting up chances for Beckham and Owen. England captain for the 23rd time, Beckham was shown the yellow card in the ninth minute after a series of early fouls. But he had a golden chance to fire England ahead three minutes later. Rustu fumbled a cross and Rooney's shot was charged down. The ball dropped to Beckham who had the entire goal to shoot at but prodded it wide from eight yards (meters). The Turks almost made them pay with a swift counter attack in the 32nd minute. They broke with a series of interpasses from deep in their own half and Yiliray Basturk's 30-yard (meter) shot was pushed away by goalkeeper James, who then had to gathered the rebound at the feet of Ilhan Mansiz. The game boiled over in the 34th minute after England claimed a free kick for a trip on Owen on the edge of Turkey area. The ball was played upfield and Beckham, chasing back 50 yards (meters), was called for a foul. Players began pushing and shoving each other and Okan Buruk was shown the yellow card for making a comment to the England captain in front of Swiss referee Urs Meier. Rooney made a great swerving run and put Owen clear only for Rustu to race off his line and save at the striker's feet. England replaced Owen with Vassell 13 minutes into the second half and Scholes almost fired Eriksson's team ahead with a run and shot which Rustu pushed away, diving to his left. Rustu, one of top goalkeepers at the World Cup, than made a stunning save. Gary Neville cut inside and crossed from the right, Vassell hit the ball first time and the 'keeper pushed it over the top one handed. When Beckham was handed another free kick chance a minute later, the Fenerbahce 'keeper flung himself to his left to tip the ball round the near post. Aston Villa striker Vassell then came up with the goal that fired England ahead and almost raised the roof at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Turkey reacted by sending on top scorer and World Cup captain Hakan Sukur with 10 minutes to go and James preserved England's lead with a stunning one handed save. A well aimed header by Nihat Kahveci looked almost certain to produce Turkey's first ever goal in nine games against England but the West Ham 'keeper arched his back and finger tipped the ball round the post. Lineups: England -- David James, Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Bridge, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Nicky Butt, Michael Owen (sub: Darius Vassell 58th), Wayne Rooney (Kieron Dyer 89th). Turkey -- Rustu Recber, Fatih Akyel (Hakan Sukur 80th), Alpay Ozalan, Bulent Korkmaz, Ergun Penbe, Okan Buruk (Umit Davala 59th), Yildiray Basturk (Hasan Sas 70th), Tugay Kerimoglu, Asik Emre, Nihat Kahveci, Ilhan Mansiz. Referee -- Urs Meier, Switzerland. Slovakia beats Liechtenstein 4-0TRNAVA, Slovakia (AP) -- Szilard Nemeth scored a pair of goals in front of an empty stadium Wednesday as Slovakia trounced Liechtenstein 4-0 in a European Championship qualifier. After a slow and nervous start, the Slovaks took the initiative in the 19th minute when Lubomir Reiter converted a center cross from Vladimir Janocko. It was Reiter's sixth goal scored for the Slovak national team. Nemeth added Slovakia's second goal in the 51st minute when he scored with his first shot on goal several minutes after he came in. He added his second in the 64th minute, heading home a ball from Miroslav Karhan. Janocko closed the scoring for Slovakia in the 90th. The match was played in rainy weather behind closed doors in an empty stadium because Slovakia was disciplined by the UEFA for racist chanting and crowd trouble during an October match against England played in Bratislava, the country's capital. Only reporters and officials were in attendance. After Wednesday's match in Trnava, Slovakia was in third place with six points, behind Turkey with nine and England with seven. Macedonia has just two points and Liechtenstein has one. Lineups: Slovakia: Miroslav Konig, Miroslav Karhan, Martin Petras, Maros Klimpl, Peter Hlinka, Igor Demo (Branislav Labant, 68th), Vladimir Leitner, Jozef Kozlej (Szilard Nemeth, 46th), Rastislav Michalik (Marek Mintal, 81st), Vladimir Janocko, Lubomir Reiter. Liechtenstein: Peter Jehle, Daniel Hasler, Martin Telser, Fabio d'Elia, Michael Stocklasa, Martin Stocklasa, Franz Burgmeier, Thomas Beck, Mario Frick (Thomas Nigg, 60th), Andreas Gerster (Juergen Ospelt, 85th), Ronny Buechel (Frederic Gigon, 71st).
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