Terry headed in David Beckham's free kick with a powerful eight-meter (yard) header inside the near post in the 38th minute at Wembley - a week after the Chelsea captain cried after missing what would have been a Champions League title-winning shootout penalty against Manchester United.

Gerrard made it 2-0 from Gareth Barry's well timed pass in the 59th but the game was watched by only 71,233 fans, the smallest England crowd since the stadium was rebuilt and reopened a year ago.

Capello was hired in January after England failed to qualify for next month's European Championship and his record is now two wins and one loss to France in March. United States coach Bob Bradley, whose team also faces Spain and Argentina in two more friendlies, is using these games as tough warmups for 2010 World Cup qualifying games against Barbados next month.

In a hugely experienced starting lineup, Capello fielded four of the United side that won the Champions League against Chelsea and two of the Blues lineup that lost.

Beckham was presented with a gold cap by another former Manchester United great Bobby Charlton before the game to celebrate his 100th appearance against France on March 26. But Landon Donovan, his Galaxy teammate currently on 99 for the U.S., must wait until next week's game against Spain for his century after he didn't even make the bench.

The England fans in the crowd thought they were cheering a goal in the 11th minute.

After Ricardo Clark had sent Gerrard sprawling with a trip, Beckham swung in a cross to the Liverpool midfielder who tapped the ball home. But Greek referee Kyros Vassaras had already blown to stop the free kick being taken.

Beckham finally made one of his crosses count in the 38th after Clark had fouled Wes Brown. The Los Angeles Galaxy star picked out Terry in a crowded area and he guided his powerful header inside the post.

Eddie Johnson, one of four American starters who play in English soccer, almost leveled in the opening minute of the second half. The Fulham striker met a leftwing cross from Heath Pearce with a first time left foot shot which flashed low past the near post.

Jermaine Defoe should have made it 2-0 in the 52nd when he met a long range free kick and turned Pearce only to shoot straight at substitute goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who replaced Tim Howard at halftime.

But it was 2-0 in the 59th when Defoe found Barry who slipped the ball through the center of the American defense. Gerrard timed his run perfectly to run clear of Oguchi Onyewu to side the ball past the exposed goalkeeper.

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At Wembley, England

United States 0 0-0

England 1 1-2

First half-1, England, Terry (Beckham), 38th minute.

Second half-2, England, Gerrard (Barry), 59th minute.

Yellow Cards-Cherundolo, US, 44th; Pearce, US, 71st; Rooney, Eng, 76th. Red Cards-None.

Referee-Kyros Vassaras, Greece. Linesmen-Dimitrios Bozaizides, Greece; Dimitrios Saraidaris, Greece.

A-71,233.

Lineups

England-David James; Wes Brown (Glen Johnson, 58th), Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole (Wayne Bridge, 83rd); David Beckham (David Bentley, 46th), Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard (Gareth Barry, 57th), Steven Gerrard; Jermaine Defoe (Peter Crouch, 68th), Wayne Rooney (Joe Cole, 79th)

United States-Tim Howard (Brad Guzan, 46th); Steve Cherundolo (Frankie Hejduk, 46th), Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Heath Pearce; Ricardo Clark (Maurice Edu, 78th), Michael Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley (Eddie Lewis, 68th), Clint Dempsey; Josh Wolff (Freddy Adu, 68th), Eddie Johnson (Nate Jaqua, 89th)