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Americas Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Brad Guzan (Getty Images)

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

With a pair of World Cup qualifiers looming, several of the U.S. national team's players enjoyed solid performances with their club teams.

It took seven months but Brad Guzan finally got his first taste of Premiership soccer. The former Chivas USA goalkeeper was subbed into Aston Villa's 5-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday after fellow American netminder Brad Friedel was given a debatable red card for a foul on Fernando Torres. Guzan made one save in his 25 minutes on the field. Perhaps more importantly for Guzan, Friedel's red card means Guzan will likely earn his first EPL start vs. none other than Manchester United on April 5t

Heath Pearce had a promising weekend, enjoying a second consecutive start for Bundesliga 2-strugglers Hansa Rostock. Pearce, who played the game at left mid, went the full 90 minutes in the club's 1-1 tie with TUS Koblenz on Friday.

Another defender who had a solid showing this weekend was Jonathan Spector. The 23-year-old played every minute of West Ham's 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers. Spector, who has played in every league game since returning from a long injury lay-off, did not commit a foul in his sixth league appearance this season.

Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley also found playing time this weekend, earning the start in Rangers' league match with Heart of Midlothian. Beasley went 74 minutes in the 2-2 draw.

Here is how the rest of the Americans Abroad contingent faired this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton's 2-1 loss vs Portsmouth on Saturday.

  • Brad Friedel started, played 64 minutes, made one save and received a red card in Aston Villa's 5-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Sunday.

  • Brad Guzan came off the bench, played 25 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa's 5-0 loss vs. Liverpool on Sunday.

  • Clint Dempsey started, played 82 minutes and received a yellow card in Fulham's 2-0 win vs. Manchester United on Saturday.

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham's 1-1 draw vs. Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Jay DeMerit started and played 50 minutes in Watford's 0-0 draw vs. Ipswich Town on Saturday.

  • Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 14 minutes in Cardiff City's 3-0 loss vs. Sheffield United on Sunday.

  • Frank Simek dressed but did not play in Sheffield Wednesday's 0-0 draw vs. Swansea City on Saturday.

  • Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made eight saves in Reading's 0-0 draw vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday.

LEAGUE ONE

  • Jemal Johnson started and played 90 minutes in MK Dons' 0-0 draw vs. Yeovil Town on Saturday.

  • Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Millwall's 3-3 draw vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.

  • Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend United' 3-0 win vs. Carlisle United on Saturday.

  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Leeds United' 3-2 win vs. Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Scotland

  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 74 minutes in Ranger's 2-2 draw vs. Heart of Midlothian on Saturday.

  • Maurice Edu dressed but did not play in Rangers' 2-2 draw vs. Heart of Midlothian on Saturday.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

  • Michael Bradley started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-0 loss vs. VfL Bochum on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-2 draw vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-2 draw vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Heath Pearce started and played 90 minutes in Hansa Rostock's 1-1 draw vs. TUS Koblenz on Friday.
  • Gregg Berhalter did not dress in 1860 Munich's 1-0 loss vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Sunday.

  • Luis Robles did not dress in in Kaiserslautern's 1-0 win vs. Ahlen on Sunday.

  • Matt Taylor did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 1-1 draw vs. Hansa Rostock on Friday.

  • David Yelldellstarted, played 90 minutes and made three saves in TUS Koblenz's 1-1 draw vs. Hansa Rostock on Friday.

  • Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen's 1-0 loss vs. Kaiserslautern on Sunday.

Spain

  • Jozy Altidore did not dress in Xerez's 3-2 win vs. Las Palmas on Saturday.

Italy

  • Danny Szetela and Brescia play Salernitana on Monday.

France

LIGUE 1

  • Carlos Bocanegrastarted and played 90 minutes in Rennes' 0-0 draw vs. Valenciennes on Saturday.

  • Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in AS Monaco's 1-0 win vs. AS Nancy Lorraine on Saturday.

LIGUE 2

  • Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in Troyes' 1-1 draw vs. AC Ajaccio on Friday.

Belgium

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 1-0 loss vs. Royal Charleroi SC on Sunday.
  • Jared Jeffrey did not play in Club Brugge's 3-2 win vs. KV Kortrijk on Friday.

Denmark

  • Danny Califf and FC Midtjylland play Aalborg on Monday.
  • Jeremiah White started and played 86 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 1-0 loss vs. Esbjerg on Sunday.
  • Benny Feilhaber did not play in AGF Aarhus' 1-0 loss vs. Esbjerg on Sunday.

  • Michael Parkhurststarted and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 3-1 win vs. Sonderjyske on Sunday.
  • Marcus Tracyand Aalborg play FC Midtjylland on Monday.

Austria

  • Preston Zimmerman started and played 90 minutes in Kapfenberg SV's 4-1 win vs. LASK Linz on Saturday.

Norway

  • Troy Perkins started and played 90 minutes in Valarenga's 1-1 tie vs. Aalesunds on Saturday.

  • Clarence Goodson started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in IK Start's 1-1 tie vs. Lyn on Sunday.

  • Hunter Freeman started and played 90 minutes for IK Start.

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 3-0 win vs. Necaxa on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco started and played 83 minutes in San Luis' 4-1 win vs. Indios de Ciudad Juarez on Saturday.
  • Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 4-1 loss vs. San Luis on Saturday.

  • Daniel Hernandezdid not dress in Chiapas' 1-0 win vs. Monterrey on Saturday.

  • Jesus Padilla did not dress in Chivas de Guadalajara's 1-0 loss vs. UANL on Saturday.

American-born Players Playing for Other Countries

  • Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started and played 88 minutes in Villarreal's 2-0 win vs. Atletico Bilbao on Saturday.

  • Edgar Castillo (Mexico) started and played 90 minutes in America's 0-0 draw vs. UNAM on Sunday.

  • Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 2-0 win vs. Manchester United on Saturday.

  • Boaz Myhill (Wales) dressed but did not play in Hull City's 1-0 loss vs. Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

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What do you think of these performances? Think Friedel's red card was a terrible call? Content that it gave Guzan some playing time? Relieved to finally see Heath Pearce racking up minutes, even if it is at midfield? Are you hoping that Spector gets the start at left back vs. El Salvador? Do you see Beasley earning more playing time with Rangers?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think Orozco was left off the roster for the next 2 MNT games.. but arent Spector and Orozco the most in form and likely to play in 10? Outside of gooch, boca and cherendolo.

    Reply
  2. wwhat a time for guzan to show he can play. he is most likely gonna start next week for United States vs El Salvador, and then the following week vs Man Utd.

    Reply
  3. Beckster-

    Spector deserves the outside back spot over any other player for sure. He was groomed in the Man U camp. Has played multiple games for them. I don’t know any other players on our MNT who have played for Ferguson?

    As for our 3rd string goalie: who cares.

    We will never have to go that deep in a game, hopefully. But there are SO many talented young goalies in college and MLS i.e. Stephen Frei that any of them could step in.

    Reply
  4. Hopefully Bradley starts Spector in the back 4 for the next 2 games, as he’s arguably a better option than anyone but Onyewu.

    Reply
  5. Agree with Issac – Hahnemann should start behind Howard – Guzan is the future. Would so like to see Spector start at either right or left back – think he is in better form than either Hejuk or Pearce.

    Reply
  6. I thought Friedel leaned into Torres, he didn’t try and take him down but he wanted to make sure he couldn’t easily get to the ball.

    Reply
  7. That was a HORRIBLE red card on Friedel. Aston Villa should request that it be reviewed. There was clearly no intent, and he was even trying to get out of Torres’ was as he was falling…shouldn’t have even been a yellow.

    Reply
  8. PCFCP- you need to root for the failure now. It’s probably the only way Jozy gets any playing time.

    Anyone know what’s going on with Dominic Cervi?

    Reply
  9. Tim Howard- obviously our no.1

    Brad Guzan and Hahnemann can vie for no.2

    Luis Robles is a long term option. Should be in consideration for 2014.

    Tim Perkins is at most a temporary no.3 option. I doubt he will move up in the pecking order unless he can make it to the Bundesliga and that will be some years.

    Reply
  10. Beasley is heading to Schalke over the summer. Solid play from Rangers and for the NT can only help.

    Now what clubs are Cooper, Kljestan, Davies and Gooch heading to in the summer?

    Reply
  11. The topic of who’s our number 2 goalkeeper for the World Cup is often overlooked. Marcus Hahnemann is a very able goalkeeper and is probably much more complete than Brad Guzan. Guzan is a future goalkeeper, make no mistake about that. But, he makes mistakes that show everyone he is still a work in progress, which is perfectly fine. Guzan is probably a better reactionary goalkeeper than Hahnemann, while Hahnemann brings steady handling, good positioning and great strength.

    Reply
  12. Sucks BMG lost when they played their heart out, but still 9games i believe left. Bradley and Marin can lead them out of relegation.

    Reply
  13. Wow, 1st EPL start for Guzan could be against Manchester United. What a great chance to prove himself and I guess it can only get easier after that! Good luck to him, I will be pulling for him.

    Reply
  14. Its so much cooler to have so many of our guys starting and playing then having to read “did not dress” on half of our players, especially the starters. There’s definitely more “starter and played . . ” than there were for a lot of weeks earlier this season.

    Reply
  15. GianFranco— Daniel Hernandez did in fact play this weekend, just not for Chaipas. You may have missed it but he was loaned to his former club Necaxa for the rest of the season.

    Reply
  16. DeliBelly–Cherundolo is still battling injury as for Robles he caught the flu bug floating around Kaiserslautern. Over the course of the week many of the FCK players missed training and two missed the match because of it. I feel sure Robles will get his place back even though Sipple, the former #1 and current German U-21 international player, is breathing down his neck for a place.

    Reply
  17. Good to see Parkhurst, Zimmerman, Beasley, Pearce starting for their teams. A positive to see Adu make the bench for Monaco, I see our A,B,C MNT teams stepping it up this summer for all tournamnets at hand.

    Reply
  18. I have a feeling Friedel might have his red card reduced. He just stood his ground, and ducked out of the way…no attempt to play the man, or intent, at all.

    Reply

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