Half-Time Report: Anthony Pilkington goal cancelled out by USA

Anthony Pilkington saw his first international goal cancelled out in the first half of the Republic of Ireland's friendly with the USA in Dublin this evening.

The Cardiff City winger was one of 11 changes made by Martin O'Neill for the fixture and marked his seventh cap with a goal, before Mix Diskerud made it 1-1.

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It was a perfectly-weighted through-ball from debutant David McGoldrick which supplied Pilkington with the chance to dink over American goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

The visitors had previously looked the stronger side and immediately got back on top as they searched for an equaliser which was inches away when Fabian Johnson struck the post from 25 yards.

McGoldrick nearly provided a second assist on his Ireland bow as he laid off for Ipswich Town teammate Daryl Murphy, but the striker's first-time shot from inside the box was well saved by Hamid.

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The US showed some neat interplay of their own to regain parity in the 40th minute, as Alejandro Bedoya knocked down a cross from Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore for Diskerud to poke home.

Jurgen Klinsmann's side were close to completing a first-half turnaround when Altidore fired Bedoya's cutback against the post, but the Boys in Green hung on to go into the break on level terms.