JOHN Terry finally had a smile back on his face last night.
After the week from hell when his missed penalty cost Chelsea the European Cup, he was celebrating instead of crying at Wembley.
His moment of salvation was not that far from the penalty spot, but this time he buried his header from a pinpoint David Beckham cross to give England the lead against the USA.
Fabio Capello showed faith in the Chelsea defender by handing him an audition to become his full-time skipper. And when the chips were down, Terry responded in the only way he knows how.
He might wear his heart on his sleeve, but he bleeds the blue of Chelsea and the red and white of England.
When Beckham swung in his 38th- minute free-kick there was only one person who was going to be on the end of it.
Terry made the point of apologising to Chelsea fans for letting them down in Moscow, but the 26-year-old does not need to say sorry to his club or his country.
Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 when he slotted home from second-half substitute Gareth Barry’s pass in the 59th minute.
And with 12 minutes left Terry’s team-mate Joe Cole had something to shout about when he came on for his 50th cap.
Capello is in danger of becoming England’s very own tinkerman.
The amount of changes he has made to his starting England side in the last three games would make both Claudio Ranieri and Rafael Benitez proud.
For example, last night against the Americans, Gerrard was played on the left of midfield.
It was his third different starting role for England under Capello in three games.
Against Switzerland he was in the centre of midfield, and in the defeat by France he was played as second striker behind Rooney.
He must have been pulling his hair out last night as he is used to being shoved around the Liverpool team by Benitez, but perhaps expected some consistency from Capello.
The Italian boss talked before the game about finding a place in the team for Gerrard, but that is hardly the way to treat a dynamic star who this country considers one of their very best.
But the bottom line is that wherever he plays Gerrard knows how to score goals. Jermain Defoe laid a Owen Hargreaves ball into the path of Barry,
The Aston Villa skipper had just replaced the impressive Frank Lampard as sub and virtually with his first touch he swept the ball into the path of Gerrard.
With only substitute keeper Brad Guzan to beat, the Anfield ace scored easily as his accurate strike eased its way inside the far post.
Becks was given a special golden cap before the game, presented by one of his Manchester United heroes, Sir Bobby Charlton.
He won his 100th cap against France in March, which made him only the fifth England player to pass the century mark — with Sir Bobby one of the others.
The USA have had a great record recently, having won four of their last five games, with their last victory a 3-0 win over Poland, who by the way will be at Euro 2008 unlike England.
But the Americans’ football was poor as England slowly but surely took control of this game.
England’s opening efforts were tentative with Beckham shooting over high and wide from a Gerrard cross.
Then, from a set-piece, the two swapped roles as Becks provided for the Liverpool skipper and his on-target strike was only headed away almost on the line by Fulham’s Clint Dempsey.
Defoe should have got on the scoresheet before Terry scored.
The Spurs striker’s inclusion was a bit of a surprise given that it was widely expected that Dean Ashton would be given his debut.
But Defoe’s end to the season at Portsmouth was impressive, and he has the pace to sit in front of Rooney, who was just tucked in behind him.
But in the 34th minute he did not have the accuracy. Gerrard pounced on a loose ball on the left, and crossed deliciously for Defoe, who had got in front of his marker, but with the goal at his mercy he wastefully guided the ball wide.
Terry’s goal was a magnificent lift and sent the players in at half-time in the right mood.
The only change Capello made was to swap David Bentley for Beckham as he clearly wanted to take another look at the Blackburn man.
But it was the USA who nearly scored at the start of the second-half. Heath Pearce found space on the left and he crossed smartly for Fulham’s Eddie Johnson.
The striker hit his effort first time and it whistled just past the post with James stranded.
Defoe then had two great chances only to be denied by Tim Howard.
The Everton goalkeeper easily held a long-range shot by the Pompey man. Then when Defoe turned the defence his scissor kick was straight down Howard’s throat.
Terry climbed above the USA defence, and, just like he had in the first England game against Brazil at the new Wembley, he headed home perfectly to hand the Three Lions the lead.
It was exactly the response that Capello was looking for from a floored hero.
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