Soccer-Late Cole goal earns England draw with Czechs

                                
 By Mike Collett
                                
 LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - England were lucky to escape with
a 2-2 draw against Czech Republic thanks to a stoppage-time
equaliser from Joe Cole in a friendly at Wembley on Wednesday.
                                
 The Czechs were one minute away from a well-deserved win in
new coach Petr Rada's first match in charge when Cole scrambled
the ball home from close range.
                                
 The evening proved eventful on and off the field with news
emerging during the game that Brian Barwick, the chief executive
of the English Football Association, would be leaving his job at
the end of the year. 
                                
 The Czechs dominated the game for long periods on a wet
night and deservedly took the lead after 22 minutes when Milan
Baros collected a pass from Radek Sirl in the centre of the
penalty area.
                                
 Baros turned England captain John Terry before powering a
shot that took a deflection off Ashley Cole and flew past the
outstretched arm of goalkeeper David James for his 32nd goal on
his 66th appearance.
                                
 
                                
 WORLD CUP
                                
 Fabio Capello's England, like the Czechs, were playing their
last warmup before the start of the World Cup qualifiers next
month but created little up front until they levelled a minute
before halftime.
                                
 David Beckham, winning his 103rd cap, swung in a perfect
ball from the right and defender Wes Brown headed firmly home
for his first England goal in his 18th international.
                                
 Three minutes into the second half the Czechs regained the
lead with an excellent strike after Beckham conceded a free kick
on the edge of his own penalty area, Marek Jankulovski's set
piece flying over the wall and under the bar with James
stranded.
                                
 The Czechs, whose first touch and technique were far
superior to England's, had a good chance to make it 3-1 after an
hour when substitute Vaclav Sverkos raced clear and rounded
James before shooting wide of an empty net from a narrow angle.
                                
 (Editing by Tony Jimenez)