Soccer debut turns out extra special

LONDON — U.S. youth team player Charlie Kelman scored from inside his own half on his professional debut in England.

Playing for Southend in the third-tier League One, Kelman lobbed the Plymouth goalkeeper in the second minute of stoppage time. But it wasn’t enough to prevent Southend from losing 3-2 on Saturday.

Manager Chris Powell said Kelman “was a real live wire for us and obviously he’s scored a wonderful goal.”

It evoked memories of David Beckham’s strike for Manchester United from the halfway line at Crystal Palace in 1996.

The 17-year-old Kelman tweeted thanks to the club “for believing in me and giving me this opportunity at such a young age I couldn’t be more grateful I won’t stop here.”

Kelman, who was born in the county of Essex near London, played last year for the United States Under-18s.

After being called up by U.S. Soccer, Kelman said “my dad is an American citizen and I lived out there for six years so that’s how I qualify.”

ARSENAL: West Ham handed Arsenal a second loss in three English Premier League matches, damaging Unai Emery’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Youth team graduate Declan Rice scored his first West Ham goal in the 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Rice placed the ball into the top of the net after being set up by Samir Nasri on the former Arsenal midfielder’s league debut for West Ham.

It left Arsenal six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, which beat Newcastle 2-1.