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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Clint Dempsey 10 (AP)

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

There are few American players enjoying better seasons than Clint Dempsey. Dempsey added to his impressive campaign in the English Premier League with an assist in Fulham's 3-1 victoy over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. The assist, which came three minutes prior to the end of the game, sealed the victory for the Cottagers. Dempsey now has two assists to go along with his five goals this season.

Another American with five goals in his respective league is Michael Bradley. Bradley scored twice in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 4-2 victory over FC Cologne on Saturday, boosting the U.S. national team midfielder's season total to five. Bradley netted the opener and the final goal as Moenchengladbach rose to 16th place, one spot away from safety.

Heath Pearce also enjoyed a solid weekend in Germany, earning the start in Hansa Rostock's game against FC Ingolstadt 04. The start, which came at left mid, was Pearce's first since December 14. Pearce played 57 minutes in the 1-1 draw.

Pearce was not the only American whose recent struggles for playing time were given a life-line this weekend. Benny Feilhaber made a late cameo in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss to Brondby IF on Sunday. Feilhaber replaced fellow American, Jeremiah White, in the 85th minute.

Here is how the rest of the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Everton's 3-1 win vs. Stoke City on Saturday.

  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Aston Villa's 2-1 loss vs. Tottenham on Sunday.

  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 2-1 loss vs. Tottenham on Sunday.

  • Clint Dempsey started, played 90 minutes and recorded an assist in Fulham's 3-1 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

  • Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Jay DeMerit did not dress in Watford's 2-2 draw vs. Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

  • Eddie Johnson came off the bench, played 21 minutes in Cardiff City's 1-1 draw vs. Bristol City on Sunday.

  • Frank Simek came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-2 draw vs. Watford on Saturday.

  • Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Reading's 1-0 loss vs. Ipswich Town on Saturday.

LEAGUE ONE

  • Jemal Johnson came off the bench and played 19 minutes in MK Dons' 6-2 win vs. Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

  • Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Millwall's 1-0 loss vs. Leicester City on Saturday.

  • Ian Joyce started, played 90 minutes and made seven saves in Southend United' 1-0 win vs. Hereford United on Saturday.

  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played 6 minutesin Leeds United'1-0 win Swindon Town on Saturday.

Scotland

  • DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Ranger's 2-0 loss vs. Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish CIS Insurance Cup.

  • Maurice Edu dressed but did not play in Rangers' 2-0 win vs. Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish CIS Insurance Cup.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

  • Michael Bradley started, played 90 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 4-2 win vs. FC Cologne on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96's 4-4 draw vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 4-4 draw vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Heath Pearce started and played 57 minutes in Hansa Rostock's 1-1 draw vs. FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.
  • Gregg Berhalter did not dress in 1860 Munich's 3-2 win vs. FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.

  • Luis Robles started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Kaiserslautern's 2-1 win vs. TUS Koblenz on Friday.

  • Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 8 minutes in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 loss vs. Kaisreslautern on Friday.

  • David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes and made one saves in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 loss vs. Kaiserslautern on Friday.

  • Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen's 4-0 loss vs. Nurnberg on Friday. 

Spain

  • Jozy Altidore did not dress in Xerez's 3-1 loss vs. Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Italy

  • Danny Szetela came off the bench and played 18 minutes in Brescia's 2-1 win vs. Triestina on Saturday.

France

LIGUE 1

  • Carlos Bocanegra started and played 67 minutes in Rennes' 2-2 draw vs. Le Mans on Saturday.

  • Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in AS Monaco's 3-2 win vs. Toulouse on Saturday.

LIGUE 2

  • Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in Troyes' 2-1 loss vs. Angers on Friday.

Belgium

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 2-0 win vs. Racing Genk on Sunday.
  • Jared Jeffrey did not play in Club Brugge's 4-1 loss to KAA Gent on Sunday. Jeffrey is with the U.S. Under-20 national team at the CONCACAF Championships.

Denmark

  • Danny Califf did not dress in FC Midtjylland's 2-1 loss vs. Odense BK on Saturday.
  • Jeremiah White started and played 85 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.
  • Benny Feilhaber came off the bench and played 5 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.

  • Michael Parkhurst started, played 45 minutes and drew a yellow card in FC Nordsjaelland's 2-1 loss to AC Horsens on Sunday.
  • Marcus Tracy did not play in Aalborg's 1-1 draw vs. Sonderjyske on Sunday.

Austria

  • Preston Zimmerman started and played 45 minutes in Kapfenberg SV's 6-0 loss vs. Rapid Vienna on Saturday. 

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 2-0 loss vs. Monterrey on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in San Luis' 2-1 loss vs. Puebla on Sunday.
  • Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 2-2 draw vs. UANL on Sunday.

  • Daniel Hernandez did not dress in Chiapas' 0-0 draw vs. U.A. de G on Friday..

  • Jesus Padilla and Chivas de Guadalajara play Atlas on Sunday evening.

American-born Players Playing for Other Countries

  • Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started and played 67 minutes in Villarreal's 3-2 loss vs. Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

  • Edgar Castillo (Mexico) started and played 90 minutes in America's 3-1 win vs. Cruz Azul on Saturday.

  • Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 3-1 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
  • Boaz Myhill (Wales) dressed but did not play in Hull City's 1-1 draw vs. Newcastle United on Saturday.

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What do you think of these performances? Think Dempsey is the best American plying his trade abroad? Hoping that Bradley is going to continue his scoring streak against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago? Is he the best American Abroad? Happy to see Pearce start even though it was at midfield? Glad to see Benny Feilhaber back in the mix?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. r.benjamin,

    Interesting possibility. Would expect Fulham to sell EJ or extend his loan at Cardiff, where he is popular with fans and finally gaining the confidence of his coaches.

    But Fulamerica might be a good spot for LD to give Europe one last shot. Also think LD might be a good fit at promotion likely Birmingham city.

    Reply
  2. Any chance Freidel gets a call up for a match? I know he is in International retirement, but so were a lot of other players. We have A LOT of games to play this year. Three major competitions.

    Reply
  3. ISAF–

    First, why would you bring that up? There isn’t a surprise on that list, save for “Davies as a supersub.” How many games have you seen Davies play?

    Oh by the way, a World Cup roster has 23 men on it, not 18.

    Reply
  4. I haven’t given up on Feilhaber being right there with Klejstan for a spot on the field. Too good of a talent to give up on this early.

    Reply
  5. Clint didn’t just get an assist, he had a wonderful opportunity to shoot it himself but he instead opted to pass it to Diomnesy Kamara who has been injured ALL season and who was a late substitution. Clint handed him the score which not only boosts Fulham’s win but Kamara’s confidence and the team’s confidence in Kamara’s return…..It was a very political and very smart move for his club to pass to Kamara when he could have taken the glory for himself. Instead he opted to better the team and let Kamara get his first goal of the season. Dempsey rules….

    and even better, Unlike the USMNT, Fulham has 0 natural left wingers. In fact it is the exact opposite of the USMNT where they have, besides Clint, 0 natural right wingers. Well Clint, who is our only natural right winger, worked on his left foot skills ALL year, as anyone who has watched his recent form knows as he has hit the woodwork about 4 times in 3 weeks, all from the left foot. Anyway, he worked so hard at bettering his left side skills so that he could play left wing for his club team that now he looks like he prefers his left. WHAT an amazing footballer!!!
    LETS GO DEMPSEY!!!!!

    Bradley has also done an AMAZING job. I don’t want to slight him, he has been equally as impressive as Dempsey, It is just easier for me to keep up with Clint, so I must talk about him more. bradley is great too!!!!

    I LOVE USMNT!!!!

    Reply
  6. What strikers do we have for WC consideration? We need 4/5 for the roster.

    Jozy Altidore? Landon Donovan? Charlie Davies? Brian Ching? Eddie Johnson? Kenny Cooper? Jemal Johnson? Taylor Twellman?

    for me Altidore, Donovan, Davies and Cooper

    Reply
  7. Howard

    Spector Boca Gooch Cherundolo

    Kljestan Bradley

    Beasley Dempsey

    Donovan Altidore

    subs: Guzan, Califf, Wynne, Adu, Edu Torres, Davies

    that’s my World Cup roster. Charlie Davies being our supersub

    Reply
  8. Fernando Torres with his 9th goal in 16 PL games and 11th in 27 overall competitions.

    10games left. He should be able to knock in 5 or 6more in the league maybe 2 more in the CL. Liverpool sure need him to.

    Reply
  9. OT but appears alot of Scandinavian clubs are chasing American college players. Davies was 1 and same as upcoming star Marcus Tracy.

    Reply
  10. I’m banking right now for Bradley to score a goal next week against Bochum. Hell maybe a hat trick.

    If he keeps scoring at this pace he will have double digits for the season. 5goals in 18 ain’t bad for a young newbie midfielder in the Bundesliga. I can see him ´notch 4goals in the next 10games.

    Dempsey has 5goals in 22appearances i believe. Not bad. I can see him knock in 3more with 10matches remaining.

    Reply
  11. Andy Johnson and Dempsey seem to have a great partnership ala that of Torres and Gerrard. Well okay AJ doesnt score as much or consistent and Dempsey isnt a playmaker, but it’s sorta close. They both seem to fit 1 another alot more than say Zamora but then he’s GRADE A CRAP.

    Reply
  12. Michael Parkhurst will carve out a Danny Califf-like role in the Danish league. Become a star for his club and help them climb in the standings. Maybe win the league or at least qualify for the UEFA Cup.

    Danny Califf is a semi-star in the Danish league. Quite respected. They both should consider the Bundesliga in say 2 or 3 seasons.

    Reply
  13. Boca, Bradley and Dempsey are all having 1 hell of a season.

    Friedel and Howard are also having fantastic seasons.

    Gooch is for sure to help SL win the league again and than head off to PSG or Marseille.

    Reply
  14. How do we get Jozy OFF that horrible division 2 team that won’t even let him on the sub’s bench?

    They obviously do not want him – get him OUT!!

    Posted by: kahlva | March 15, 2009 at 07:09 PM

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    Altidore is on loan till 6/30/09 to Xeres

    Reply
  15. watched the brescia game and literally jumped when i saw szetela next to the 4th official… he played good one bad pass but fought back and tackled the guy and won it cleanly. got in some guys face towards the end for what really wasn’t a foul… took a shot but sort of mis-hit it and it went over … they look pretty good going into promotion playoffs

    Reply
  16. you’re missing jon-paul pittman of league 2’s wycombe wanderers. He was born in Oklahoma.

    Thank you MZ, another pittman follower. Good to see. BTW, I’ve been trying to get him included and it isn’t working. Hopefully he will be promoted with Wycombe. He is doing great there.

    Reply
  17. Dempsey’s stats don’t really ‘Wow!’ you unless you watch him play. His creativity is improving every match, and he’s been their most versatile attacker. He still doesn’t attack defenders, but if he keeps setting up other players, more chances will open up for himself. He could finish strong and find himself climbing to a better team.

    Everyone else is stagnant. Bradley isn’t doing anything he hasn’t done before, but it’s nice to see him adapting to a better league at such a young age. If Gladbach go down he probably moves on, but I think between him, Marin, and Baumjohan they have enough to stay up.

    Sad for the U20’s, but they got the WC spot. It’s all about the experience at this point and 2nd place is a good result.

    Reply
  18. U-20 being outshot 16-4 (9-2 on goal) and losing 1-0 to Costra Rica. Luck to only be losing by one. Can’t find a live stream unfortunately….

    Reply
  19. The thing about EJ’s last play was the movement before the shot. Running at, and past, defenders was impressive and not something I’ve seen from him.

    Reply
  20. Orozco should start getting some credit on here for LB. He’s looking solid. His yellow card was garbage and more of a dive than a foul.

    Reply
  21. Robles turned down the Sweden game this January to stay with his team as Sippel was out. glad to see Bob Bradley knows he exist.

    Reply
  22. Oh look, some genius in cyberspace figured out that popular blogs or journalists can actually -gasp- sway people’s opinion… Stop the Presses! He is ever-so-much smarter than the rest of us.

    How do you put a :rollseyes: smiley here? 🙂

    Reply
  23. Chase,

    Califf has been injured. Yanks Abroad reported that he could have played Saturday if necessary, but it sounded as though the club wanted to give him a bit more time.

    Reply
  24. How do we get Jozy OFF that horrible division 2 team that won’t even let him on the sub’s bench?

    They obviously do not want him – get him OUT!!

    Reply
  25. Feilhaber has been injured all season. Today was the first time he’s been available for the first team since October.

    Seriously, it wasn’t a “struggle for playing time”. It was injury, full stop. He’ll play in that league.

    Reply
  26. OT: Michigan made the tourney for the first time in 10 years and play on Friday! Going to be a great sports weekend…Sounders opener Thursday, Michigan Friday, Tourney & Soccer the rest of the weekend…

    Reply
  27. Parkhurst with a yellow?! The man barely wracks up 5 fouls during the course of an entire season. I’d like to hear more. Anybody know the story?

    Yellow is unheard of for Parkhurst.

    Reply
  28. Paul – he has been getting some tick recently and was making the bench fairly consistently. Not sure what the deal is this week.

    Reply
  29. Dempsey, Bradley, Edu… Heath and even EJ are making this Nat pool very very gritty… I like the nose-to-the-grindstone approach, a post-mcbride era?

    Ives, your report on Edu has Rangers winning, I too, wish.

    Reply
  30. Ives,

    Take a look at your Scotland section. There’s a typo. You have a different result for the game (one says win and the other says loss but Edu and Beasley play on the same team).

    Reply
  31. Ives – Gregg Berhalter’s 1860 Munich played Ingolstadt last weekend. This week, they played FSV Frankfurt on Friday, and tied 1-1. Berhalter again didn’t make the bench – apparently he’s recovering from a slight injury.

    Reply
  32. Is Califf injured? He hasn’t played for Midtjylland yet this season…

    Anyone think Whitbread will get a look in our B-team that will play in the Gold Cup?

    Reply
  33. EJ did well today. He had a very good header hit the post and he set up Cardiff’s equalizer. He ran down the left, went past 3 defenders, cut inside, shot the ball, keeper spilled it and McCormack followed it up to score.

    At the end of the game the crowd chanted Eddie,Eddie,Eddie.

    Reply

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