McBride Gives Struggling Fulham 1-0 Victory Over Everton

Brian McBride beat former U.S. teammate Tim Howard with a 67th-minute header Sunday, and Fulham

used all five of its American players in a game for the first time in defeating visiting Everton 1-0 in the English Premier League.
It most likely was the first time five Americans played for one team in a Premier League match and six appeared in one game.

McBride, Fulham’s captain, started along with goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Eddie Johnson. Defender Carlos Bocanegra

entered in the 74th minute and Clint Dempsey replaced McBride in the 88th.Simon Davies crossed the ball into the box after a run down the left side. Joseph Yobo failed to clear and the ball fell to

McBride. It was McBride’s second goal of the season and Fulham’s first league victory in more than a month.“I came across and happened to be in the right spot,” McBride said.

McBride played only three games in August before hurting his knee during a game. He returned to the team in February.“The goal was vital,” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. “For us the difference between one and three points in the match was

everything.”

Johnson came close to doubling the lead in the 88th when he sent a powerful shot just over the bar.The win was Fulham’s first since a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Feb. 3. The team is in 19th place with 23 points.“The back four were so strong right from the beginning, and we need to continue that every game,” McBride said.

Everton is trying to keep up with crosstown rival Liverpool in the race for fourth place and the final Champions League spot.

Everton has 56 points in fifth place, while Liverpool has 59 in fourth.Manchester City rallied past Tottenham 2-1 with goals from Nedum Onuoh and Stephen Ireland, and 10-man Wigan beat

Bolton 1-0.