NEW YORK, 2 June 2005 — Michael Owen grabbed a hat trick as England completed their two-match tour of the US with a 3-2 victory over Colombia in a friendly on Tuesday.
Real Madrid striker Owen took his international goal tally to 32 with strikes in the 36th, 44th and 58th minutes as he plundered the second international hat trick of his career.
Colombia replied with a first-half header from Mario Yepes and a left-foot shot by Aldo Leao Ramirez in the 78th minute.
But Owen’s deadly finishing stole the show and moved him into fourth place in the list of all-time goalscorers for England ahead of Alan Shearer, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney.
Bobby Charlton holds the record with 49, followed by Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves, and at just 25 years old, Owen is still young enough to overtake them all.
His previous hat trick had come in September 2001 during England’s famous 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich.
In New Jersey’s Giants Stadium, Owen opened the scoring when he ran on to a through ball from midfielder Joe Cole and lifted it past Farid Mondragon in the Colombia goal.
The in-form striker made it 2-0 seven minutes later when a quick freekick from Peter Crouch on his debut put Owen clear to score with a low shot.
The former Liverpool forward completed his hat trick in the 58th minute by volleying home at close range from Real Madrid teammate David Beckham’s cross.
Colombia scored through Yepes’ header shortly before halftime and Ramirez’s shot late in the second half but England held on to complete a 3-2 victory.
It was the second win of their short tour after they began with a 2-1 victory over the US in Chicago on Saturday.
Juventus Beat Japan’s Yokohama 1-0 in Friendly
In Yokohama, Alessandro del Piero gave Italian champions Juventus a 1-0 win over Yokohama F-Marinos 1-0 in a tempestuous friendly yesterday.
The Juventus captain struck just before halftime to secure victory for the Turin giants in the first of two close season games in Japan. A minor earthquake rocked the stadium late in the game but there were no injuries and no reports of damage. The visitors, who won their 28th Serie A title 12 days ago, take on FC Tokyo on Tuesday.
Pavel Nedved looked lively from the start against J-League champions Yokohama and shaved the crossbar with a right-foot drive after just two minutes.
The Czech playmaker then brought a sharp stop from Yokohama goalkeeper Tatsuya Enomoto in the 18th minute following a clever touch from striker David Trezeguet.
Trezeguet himself went close soon afterwards and the France striker squandered another gilt-edged chance when put through by Nedved in the 41st minute. But Del Piero finally forced the breakthrough two minutes before halftime, stabbing home from close range after a Gianluca Pessotto cross caused panic in Yokohama’s defense.
Bayern Beat Germany XI to Set New Stadium Aglow
Bayern Munich set their new World Cup stadium aglow inside and out with a blazing 4-2 victory over a Germany XI on Tuesday.
Sebastian Deisler, one of five Bayern players representing club rather than country, opened the scoring in the fifth minute and a Robert Huth own goal made it 2-0 just before the break. A Tim Borowski penalty brought Juergen Klinsmann’s side back into the game at the start of the second half but Willy Sagnol and Hasan Salihamidzic scored either side of a Miroslav Klose blast to clinch a Bayern win. The result sealed an ideal housewarming for the breathtaking new Allianz Arena, the 280 million euro ($345.1 million) venue that will stage the opening ceremony and the inaugural match at the 2006 World Cup.
The stadium was designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and built in 2-1/2 years.
By day, the greyish-white oval Arena could be described as looking like a rubber dinghy afloat on a motorway junction.
France Tame Hungary to Clinch Rare Home Win
In Metz, France clinched their first home victory under coach Raymond Domenech by edging Hungary 2-1 in a friendly on Tuesday.
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse opened the scoring for Les Bleus from close range following a strong run by Sylvain Wiltord in the 10th minute.
Olympique Lyon midfielder Florent Malouda made it 2-0 before Zsombor Kerekes replied for Hungary with 11 minutes to go. The win was a big boost for Domenech, who had been criticized after France were held to six consecutive home draws since he took over from Jacques Santini in July 2004.
Eager to finish the season on a high note, the home side sparkled from the start. Cisse, making his international comeback after breaking his leg in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers in October, put France in front. Wiltord, captaining France in the absence of Patrick Vieira, outsprinted two defenders before setting up Cisse.
France dominated the midfield battle against coach Lothar Matthaeus’ Hungary side, which failed to create a single chance in the opening half.
The hosts extended their lead after 35 minutes when Malouda outsprinted two defenders before beating goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.
