ENGLAND were struck by the curse of the keepers as Robert Green's clanger handed the USA a point.
Skipper Steven Gerrard fired Fabio Capello's men into an early lead but Green threw away the advantage before the break when he failed to hold Clint Dempsey's bobbling drive.The Three Lions created a host of chances in the second half, only to be denied three priceless points in their opening Group C fixture by a lack of composure in front of goal.
England fans get in the mood before kick-off
American supporters whoop it up
Wayne Rooney bursts through early on
Emile Heskey gets the better of Oguchi Onyewu
Steven Gerrard slips the ball past Tim Howard
Steven Gerrard celebrates his opener
England got off to a dream start in Rustenburg when skipper Gerrard broke the deadlock after just four minutes.
Glen Johnson's throw-in found Frank Lampard and the Chelsea midfielder's pass ended up at Heskey's feet when strike partner Wayne Rooney failed to control it.
Heskey quickly turned the ball into the path of Gerrard and he took a touch before calmly slotting past Tim Howard with the outside of his right foot.
Aston Villa striker Heskey continued to prove why Capello has so much faith in him by being a constant thorn in the side of the American defenders.
But the USA gradually began to enjoy some possession and England were given a wake-up call when Jozy Altidore failed to head home Landon Donovan's pinpoint cross.
Capello's men responded in the 20th minute with Rooney setting Aaron Lennon clear on the right. The Tottenham winger raced into space but chose to cross instead of shooting and his low delivery was snuffed out.
James Milner became the first England player booked six minutes later as the USA stepped up their search for an equaliser.
Play was then held up just before the half-hour mark when Heskey clattered into Howard. The Villa ace slid in for a teasing cross from Johnson but was beaten to the ball by the keeper's brave dive.
Milner's game came to an abrupt end while Howard received treatment, with Shaun Wright-Phillips replacing him on the left wing.
England continued to look comfortable but disaster struck in the 40th minute when Green let Dempsey's harmless drive slip through his grasp into the net.
Capello made his second change at half-time with Jamie Carragher replacing the injury-prone Ledley King.
And with just three minutes of the second half played, England came agonisingly close to reclaiming the lead when Lennon's cross slipped just behind Rooney's right foot.
Rooney raced through on goal moments later but was pulled back after a late offside flag against Heskey, who then wasted a glorious chance by firing straight at Howard when Lennon released him.
Gerrard was the next England player to go into the book when he aired his feelings about the match official's decision to penalise him for a raised foot.
Donovan whipped in the resulting free-kick but Carlos Bocanegra failed to direct his header on target.
Capello urged his men forward and Lampard saw a long-range effort tipped over by Howard before Green went some way to redeeming himself by denying Altidore, who scuffed his effort goalwards after skinning Carragher.
Gerrard whipped in a searching cross in the 71st minute but Rooney's lack of height saw his header fail to trouble Howard.
The striker, however, was beginning to find his range and an audacious right-foot effort had the keeper scrambling across his goal before the ball drifted a whisker wide.
England continued to pour forward and Roo laid on a perfect ball for Wright-Phillips, only for the winger to fire tamely at Howard.
Capello made his last roll of the dice 11 minutes from time by throwing on Peter Crouch in place in of Heskey.
The change helped England find an extra gear but it was not enough to deliver the vital winning goal.
Emile Heskey throws himself into a challenge with Tim Howard
Jozy Altidore makes a mess of a header in front of goal
Robert Green gets his body position all wrong as he fields Clint Dempsey's shot
Robert Green tries to claw the ball back after his cock-up
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