LONDON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- England B lost 2-1 to 10-man Belaruson Thursday
in their first World Cup warm-up game overshadowed by an injury that will rule
out Robert Green for the finals.
In the second half Green ruptured his groin making a save and when he took
a goal-kick he collapsed, allowing Vitaly Kutuzov to sidefoot an equalizer.
Sergey Omelianchuk was sent off but Sergey Kornilenko fired in the winner.
Michael Owen had helped set up Jermaine Jenas' goal to give England the
lead before he was replaced by Theo Walcott.
Walcott came on in the 61st minute and made an immediate impact,
embarrassing the Belarus defence with his pace before he was unceremoniously
upended.
The Arsenal striker also troubled Yuri Zhevnov with a powerful volley.
Green, who came on at the start of the second half for David James, had had
a nervy introduction when he spilled a Maksim Romashchenko free-kick after only
two minutes.
In making that save Green ruptured his groin and when he tried to take a
goal-kick he collapsed in a heap, allowing Kutuzov to guide the ball into the
empty net.
The game was delayed for several minutes as Green was treated by England
physio Gary Lewin before the Norwich keeper was carried off.
Green was replaced by Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson, who is now set to
go to Germany.
England never recovered from the bizarre nature of Belarus' equaliser.
Even when Omelianchuk was sent off for picking up a second yellow card,
England were unable to capitalise on their one-man advantage.
Kornilenko capitalized on England's uncertainty, weaving his way into the
box before angling a shot past Carson.
Before the game the focus had been on Owen's return to action, with the
Newcastle striker continuing his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
Owen might have given England an early lead but his shot was beaten away by
Belarus goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov.
While Owen was keen to prove his fitness, the likes of Aaron Lennon,
Stewart Downing, Michael Carrick and Jenas were also hoping to impress, with the
start of the World Cup only two weeks away.
Downing delivered the free-kick that set up Jenas' goal and frequently
linked well with Ashley Cole down the England left.
On the other wing, Lennon's turn of speed was too much for Belarus defender
Alexander Yurevich.
Owen looked offside when Downing sent in the free-kick that led to
England's goal but the infringement was missed by the match officials.
And when the ball rebounded off the crossbar, Jenas was on handto head the
ball home.
Belarus had barely troubled the England in those opening 45 minutes but in
the closing seconds of the half the visitors came close to equalizing when
Kutuzov hit the woodwork with a header. Enditem