AP

Goals by John Terry and Steven Gerrard eased England to a 2-0 victory over the United States on Wednesday at London’s Wembley Stadium to give coach Fabio Capello his first shutout.

Terry converted David Beckham’s free kick with a powerful 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.

“I am very happy for him and very happy for the England team,” Capello said. “He’s a leader, he is a normal leader for Chelsea, a normal leader when he plays captain for the national team. It was important for him to score a goal.”

Gerrard made it 2-0 from Gareth Barry’s 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.