Seaman at fault as England struggle

England 2 Macedonia 2

Seaman let Artim Sakiri's 11th minute corner float over his head into the far corner to give the lowly visitors a shock lead in the Euro 2004 qualifier at Southampton.

David Beckham equalised just three minutes later with a sublime lob but Vance Trajanov put the Group Seven minnows back in front after 25 minutes.

Steven Gerrard stretchered off in the second half got England back on level terms again with a fine volley 10 minutes later, but despite throwing on an extra striker in Darius Vassell the home side could not find a winner.

England's miserable evening was complete when Alan Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time.

The result leaves them with four points from two games, five behind group leaders Turkey who thumped Liechtenstein 5-0, and piled the pressure on England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. The visitors took a shock lead after 11 minutes.

Sakiri's left-footed corner from the right drifted straight over Seaman's outstretched hand with no Macedonian player in the six-yard box and nestled in the back of the net. Fortunately for Seaman England equalised just three minutes later.

Goce Sedloski was caught in possession by Scholes who played Beckham in behind the defence, the captain taking one touch on his chest before hitting an exquisite lob over Petar Milosevski.

However, the Macedonians proceeded it go in front again. Sakiri's speculative shot from long range fell to Vance Trajanov who stroked the ball into the far corner.

Gerrard struck home England's second equaliser on 35 minutes, thumping a superb volley home from 20 yards Eriksson resisted the temptation to make any changes at half-time but he was forced to just 10 minutes into the second period.

Gerrard stayed down after stretching to intercept a loose ball and was taken off to be replaced by Nicky Butt. Eriksson later brought on Darius Vassell for Bridge but the Aston Villa striker's first contribution was to get caught offside as Owen thought he had put England in front.

Smith was then booked for a needless foul before Leeds colleague Jonathan Woodgate saw his shot saved on the line by Robert Popov as England pressed for the winner. The Leeds man later picked up a needless second yellow card that reduced England to 10 men for the last frantic minutes.

ENGLAND: Seaman, Neville, Campbell, Woodgate, Cole, Beckham, Gerrard, Scholes, Bridge, Owen, Smith.

FYR MACEDONIA: Petar Milosevski, Popov, Petrov, Sedloski, Vasoski, Sumulikoski, Trajanov, Aleksander Mitrevski, Toleski, Sakiri, Grozdanovski.