After 75: Green goof gives US 1-1 tie against England

After 75: Goalie goof leaves US-England tied 1-1

RUSTENBURG, South Africa — England goalkeeper Robert Green fumbled Clint Dempsey’s shot into his own goal to leave the World Cup game with the United States tied at 1-1 after 75 minutes.

Steven Gerrard had put England ahead after four minutes by flicking the ball past goalkeeper Tim Howard in the teams’ Group C opener on Saturday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

But Dempsey got a gift in the 40th minute when Green failed to get his body behind his low shot from the edge of the area. The ball slipped through Green’s hands and the game was tied.

Emile Heskey could have restored England’s lead at the start of the second half, but his shot after racing onto Aaron Lennon’s ball was easily saved by goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Green made amends for his blunder when he deflected Jozy Altidore’s shot off the post.