Halftime: Green goof gives US 1-1 tie against England

Goalie goof gives US 1-1 tie with England

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 at halftime.

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.

Jozy Altidore squandered a chance to score in the 19th minute when he made a poor connection with his head after rising above Ledley King to meet Landon Donovan’s cross.

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.