SOCCER: David Beckham's right hand claimed the attention last night when the England captain left the pitch early in the second half of England's friendly and headed for the x-ray department of the nearest hospital, where it revealed that he had fractured his scaphoid bone.
The arm had been injured in the opening half-hour, when Beckham went down under a challenge for which Thabang Molebe, the South Africa left-back, was cautioned.
The England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Tuesday that he would rather lose this game than lose a player to injury before the Euro 2004 qualifying match against Slovakia in two weeks' time.
Beckham is suspended for that fixture and the manager will take more comfort from England's performance, in which Gareth Southgate claimed the second fastest goal ever scored by an England player.
Danny Mills' hand-ball offence gave Benni McCarthy an early opportunity to level the scores, and Emile Heskey restored England's lead with half-an-hour to play.
The night had started brightly for the English and Southgate rose to glance home Beckham's free-kick with the match only 35 seconds old.
England were nevertheless far from in control. When Paul Scholes conceded possession, the home side pounced, with Shaun Bartlett going down the left wing before Mills handled his ensuing cross.
Referee Lim Kee Chong pointed to the spot, from where McCarthy just managed to beat David James low down to his right.
The introduction of Frank Lampard provided some much needed impetus to the England midfield. Indeed, with 63 minutes gone, he delivered a stinging long-range shot which Brian Baloyi was unable to hold and Heskey was on hand to convert the rebound.
SOUTH AFRICA: Baloyi, Mabizela, Aaron Mokoena, Radebe, Molefe, Tebeho Mokoena (Mendu 69), Macbeth Sibaya, Fredericks (Mazibuko 77), Buckley, McCarthy (Manyathela 67), Bartlett. Booked: Mabizela, Molefe. Goals: McCarthy 18 pen.
ENGLAND: James (Robinson 46), Mills, Phil Neville, Ferdinand (Upson 46), Southgate, Gerrard (Barry 82), Beckham (Jenas 51), Scholes (Cole 75), Sinclair (Lampard 58), Heskey (Vassell 65), Owen. Booked: Mills. Goals: Southgate 1, Heskey 64. Referee: Lim-Kee Chong (Mauritius).
