2006 FIFA World Cup Coverage

England, Spain coast in tuneups

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 4, 2006

BERLIN - England, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Portugal earned big wins Saturday, six days before the start of the World Cup.

Peter Crouch led England with three goals and Michael Owen added another in the team's 6-0 win over Jamaica.

The Czechs got two goals from Jan Koller in a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, which has also qualified for the World Cup. Alexander Frei and Marco Streller scored two goals each to lead Switzerland over China 4-1.

Portugal beat Luxembourg by getting two goals from Simao Sabrosa and one from Luis Figo.

Also, Poland beat Croatia 1-0 with Euzebiusz Smolarek heading in the lone goal. Both of those teams have also qualified for the World Cup, which opens Friday in Munich.

Later Saturday, Spain beat Egypt 2-0 as Raul Gonzalez ended a seven-month goal drought, striking from close range in the 14th minute after Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari fumbled a low shot by Antonio Lopez.

Substitute Jose Antonio Reyes added the second goal in a victory that extended Spain's undefeated run to 21 matches - 13 wins and eight draws - since coach Luis Aragones took charge after the team flopped in the European Championship two years ago.

At Old Trafford, Owen scored his first goal in 2006 in the 32nd minute, and Crouch completed his first hat trick for England when he took Owen's cross from the edge of the box in the 89th - six minutes after sending a penalty kick over the bar.

"Jamaica maybe aren't the best team in the world but six goals and a clean sheet - you should be happy," said England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led the team at home for the last time. "It was a good game, and I hope the fans liked it. I'm sure they did."

Moreno lifts United

Jaime Moreno scored his 101st career goal to continue closing on the league record and help host D.C. United to a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night.

United (7-1-3) got its first shutout in eight matches by allowing just three shots on goal. It has won three straight and is undefeated in its last five.

Moreno is tied for the league lead with seven goals this season and trails only Real Salt Lake's Jason Kreis for the career mark. Kreis entered Saturday with 103.

The Revolution (3-4-2) lost its second consecutive match and remained winless against Eastern Conference opponents.

After a pregame ceremony and film montage honoring Moreno's 100th goal, the 32-year-old Bolivian put United ahead in the 14th minute, beating New England goalkeeper Matt Reis.

New England players protested for offsides, but television replays showed a Revolution player likely held Moreno.

After generating few first-half chances, the Revolution had a game-tying goal disallowed for offsides in the 61st minute after Andy Dorman tapped in Taylor Twellman's flubbed first-time shot.

New England also had a dangerous free-kick opportunity just outside the penalty area in stoppage time, but Jose Cancela blasted directly at United goalkeeper Troy Perkins.

[Last modified June 21, 2006, 09:59:33]