Kieron Richardson scores twice on his England debut as England beat the United States 2-1 in Chicago. He becomes the first England player to score more than once on his debut for about 70 years. - which was also against the USA.
From AOL News -
USA 1-2 England
Kieran Richardson made a dream start to his England career with a double strike that paved the way for a 2-1 friendly win over the USA in Chicago.
Debut Dazzlers
Kieran Richardson netted on his debut for England tonight joining an exclusive group of players who have scored in their first senior appearance for their country.
Jack Cock The Huddersfield and Chelsea striker only played twice for England but he scored in the first, a 1-1 draw against Ireland in Belfast in 1919.
Bill Nicholson In for Billy Wright, Nicholson marked his only appearance in an England shirt with a goal with his first kick of the ball in a 5-2 win over Portugal in 1951.
Kieron Richardson celebrates after scoring
Bobby Charlton Netted in a 4-0 win against Scotland in 1958 with a typically thunderous volley from Tom Finney's cross.
Jimmy Greaves Greaves scored on his debut with every club he played for. And he was no different with England, netting in a 4-1 defeat of Peru in Lima in 1959.
Glenn Hoddle Steered the ball home from 20 yards in a 1979 2-0 win over Bulgaria which had been postponed by 24 hours because of fog at Wembley.
The 20-year-old Manchester United midfielder, handed an England debut by Sven-Goran Eriksson on the back of his impressive form during a loan spell with West Brom, fired England ahead with a fourth-minute free-kick and grabbed a second just before half-time.
England showed promise going forward but their defending became increasingly suspect as the game wore on and they were forced to hang on after Clint Dempsey pulled a goal back for the USA with 11 minutes remaining.
Richardson's international career took off in spectacular fashion when England were handed a fourth-minute free-kick just outside the USA penalty area for an Eddie Pope foul on Andrew Johnson. Richardson stepped up to curl a left-foot chip over the wall and into the roof of the net beyond Kasey Keller's despairing dive.
A David James blunder almost gifted the USA an equaliser. Landon Donovan's free-kick seemed harmless enough but James, attempting to punch clear, missed the ball and was fortunate when it rebounded to safety off the post.
England responded with Joe Cole cutting inside from the right before unleashing a curling left footer which forced Keller into a full length save.
Richardson's night to remember stepped up a gear two minutes before the break when Andrew Johnson turned neatly to release Joe Cole and his square pass found Richardson racing into the area to fire low past Keller.
Zat Knight appeared for the second half in place of Sol Campbell and four minutes into it he did well to cut out a Ralston cross at full stretch.
Richardson's dazzling debut ended in the 59th minute when he limped off clutching a tight hamstring to be replaced by Phil Neville.
Johnson forced Keller to save low at his near post and the USA keeper then had to be alert to prevent Pope scoring an own goal with a misdirected header from an England corner.
Ashley Cole, another England player suffering a tight hamstring, was replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 63rd minute.
England survived a scare when Dempsey's pass played Wolff in behind Glen Johnson but, from a narrow angle, he opted to cut the ball back instead of going for goal.
Andrew Johnson's night ended in the 75th minute when Eriksson gave Luke Young his England debut.
USA got the goal their persistence deserved in the 79th minute through Clint Dempsey. Bocanegra stole in unmarked to meet Donovan's free-kick with a toepoke and although James instinctively stuck out a right foot to deny him the rebound fell to Dempsey who reacted quickly to beat the Manchester City keeper with a downward header.
Substitute Conor Casey had a sniff of an equaliser three minutes later when slack England defending gifted him the ball in the box but a poor touch enabled Knight to stab behind for a corner.
