4. U.S. ABROAD: Howard and Friedel play to stalemate

• by Soccer America , Aug 24, 2006

American goalies Brad Friedel and Tim Howard squared off for the fifth time in the English Premier League on Wednesday when Howard's Everton held Blackburn to a 1-1 tie.

Howard did well to hold Blackburn to only one goal scored by South African Benni McCarthy, who has been a nemesis for Howard. It was McCarthy's free kick for Porto that Howard failed to handle and that led to a late goal that knocked out Manchester United in the round of 16 of the 2004 Champions League. The error started a slow decline in form that resulted in Howard first losing his starting job at United and eventually being loaned to Everton this season.

The Toffees were lucky to equalize through Australian Tim Cahill with six minutes left in their game at Blackburn. Friedel and Howard had met four times in 2003-04 and 2004-05 when Howard was at Manchester United. They split the four games -- one win for Blackburn, one win for United and two ties.

Other Americans who started in midweek action on Day 2 of the 2000-07 EPL:
-- Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey (Reading) 1-2  at Aston Villa.
-- Jay DeMerit (Watford) 1-1 vs. West Ham
-- Brian McBride (Fulham) 1-1 vs. Bolton Wanderers.
-- Claudio Reyna (Man. City) 0-0 tie vs. Portsmouth.