Miami: An experimental England side gave a decent performance in a 2-2 draw with Ecuador who equalised through a superb strike by substitute Michael Arroyo before both sides were reduced to 10 men in an incident-packed World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday. Arroyo had not been on the pitch long when he unleashed a fierce right-foot drive from 20 metres in the 70th minute that gave goalkeeper Ben Foster no chance after Rickie Lambert had put England 2-1 in front following a mazy run by Ross Barkley.
But tempers frayed nine minutes later when England’s Raheem Sterling, who replaced Wayne Rooney just past the hour, flew into a tackle on Antonio Valencia. Ecuador’s captain retaliated by grabbing Sterling around the neck and both were sent off. “It (Sterling’s red card) was harsh. It was a rash tackle but I thought Raheem was unlucky because of the way Valencia reacted like he did,” England coach Roy Hodgson said.
There were also concerns over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who suffered a knee injury and is set to have a scan on Thursday with Hodgson saying he may have suffered ligament damage. Rooney, the only England player retained from the 3-0 win over Peru on Friday, had equalised from close range just before the half-hour after Ecuador had taken an eighth-minute lead when Enner Valencia powered home a close-range header to grab an early lead.
Messi kept scoreless in Argentina win
In Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi, looking to score his first World Cup goals since 2006, went scoreless as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. Messi missed several chances in the first half, was repeatedly fouled and hit the post with a free kick from which midfielder Javier Mascherano tapped in Argentina’s second goal. Striker Rodrigo Palacio, replacing the injured Gonzalo Higuain, headed the opener in the first half and substitute Maxi Rodriguez completed the win in the 64th minute.
In Amsterdam, Robin van Persie has handed the Netherlands a fitness worry ahead of the Cup after the Man U striker picked up a groin problem in 2-0 friendly win over Wales. Van Persie appeared to be in pain and held his groin when he left the pitch at half-time and Dutch coach Louis van Gaal took no risks over the fitness of his star striker as the 30-year-old was immediately replaced by Jeremain Lens.
In Perugia, Italy were stunned by a late goal from minnows Luxembourg as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. In Frisco, Texas, goals from Gervinho and Didier Drogba gave Ivory Coast a comfortable 2-1 win over El Salvador. In Montevideo, striker Edinson Cavani and substitute Christian Stuani scored to fire Uruguay to a 2-0 win over Slovenia.
