By FRANCO PANIZO
If getting consistent playing time is a prerequisite for making the U.S. World Cup team, Jose Francisco Torres has one less thing to worry about.
Torres started his eighth consecutive match for Pachuca in the club's 2-1 win over Indios de Ciudad Juarez. Torres did not get on the scoresheet in Pachuca's second consecutive victory, but he did go the distance in a victory that saw the club get closer to post-season play in the Mexican League.
Far from playing for any hardware, Jonathan Spector and West Ham United took a positive step towards avoiding relegation by pulling out a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park. Despite having a penalty kick saved by Tim Howard, West Ham averted a seventh straight loss by fighting from behind twice to earn its result. Spector started and played 90 minutes at left back.
There was also a pair of goals scored this weekend. Maurice Edu netted his second goal of the season, scoring the game-winner vs. Hamilton Academical, and Herculez Gomez continued his tear over Mexican club's defenses with another goal in a 1-1 draw against Morelia.
Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:
England
PREMIERSHIP
- Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made three saves, including a penalty kick stop, in Everton's 2-2 draw vs. West Ham United on Sunday.
- Jozy Altidore came off the bench and played 25 minutes in Hull City 's 2-0 loss vs. Stoke City on Saturday.
- Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 2-1 win vs. Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
- Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham's 2-2 draw vs. Everton on Sunday.
- Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Aston Villa's 1-0 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
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Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 1-0 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
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Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made eight saves in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 1-0 loss vs. Arsenal on Saturday.
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Stuart Holden did not dress in Bolton Wanderers' 1-0 loss vs. Aston Villa on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Jay DeMerit did not dress in Watford's 1-1 draw vs. Preston North End on Saturday.
- Frank Simek dressed but did not play in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-1 draw vs. Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
- Kenny Cooper came off the bench and played 9 minutes in Plymouth Argyle's 2-1 win vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
- Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Leyton Orient's 3-1 loss vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.
- Jemal Johnson started and played 90 minutes in Stockport County's 1-0 win vs. Walsall on Saturday.
- Jon-Paul Pittman came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Wycombe Wanderers' 2-1 loss vs. Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
- Mike Grella started and played 75 minutes in Leeds United's 3-0 loss vs. Swindon Town on Saturday.
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Zak Whitbread dressed but did not play in Norwich City's 3-1 loss vs. Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
Scotland
- Maurice Edu started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday.
- DaMarcus Beasley dressed but did not play in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday.
- Dominic Cervi dressed but did not play in Celtic's 1-0 win vs. Hibernian on Sunday.
Italy
- Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 3-2 win vs. Cagliari on Saturday.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
- Michael Bradley started and played 88 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-1 loss vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
- Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 0-0 draw vs. Hamburg SV on Sunday.
- Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 0-0 draw vs. Hamburg SV on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 2-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
- Ricardo Clark dressed but did not play in Eintracht Frankfurt's 3-2 win vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
- Daniel Williams dressed but did not play in SC Freiburg's 1-1 draw vs. VfL Bochum on Saturday.
- Jared Jeffrey did not dress in Mainz 05's 2-0 loss vs. Nurnberg on Saturday.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 2-1 loss vs. RW Oberhausen on Sunday.
- Matt Taylor did not dress in FSV Frankfurt's 2-1 loss vs. Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.
- David Yeldell started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 win vs. SC Paderborn 07 on Sunday.
France
- Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Stade Rennes' 2-1 loss vs. Lyon on Saturday.
- Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 0-0 draw vs. Nice on Saturday.
Portugal
- Gale Agbossoumonde did not dress in Sporting Braga's 3-2 win vs. Guimaraes on Friday.
Greece
- Freddy Adu and Aris Salonika did not play this weekend.
- Eddie Johnson and Aris Salonika did not play this weekend.
Denmark
- Benny Feilhaber came off the bench and played 74 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 0-0 draw vs. Randers FC on Sunday.
- Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 1-0 loss vs. FC Midtjylland on Thursday. Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Copenhagen on Monday.
- Marcus Tracy did not dress in Aalborg BK's 1-1 draw vs. Sonderjsyke on Friday. He is recovering from a knee injury. Tracy and Aalborg BK play Silkeborg IF on Monday.
- Chris Rolfe came off the bench and played 20 minutes in Aalborg BK's 1-1 draw vs. Sonderjyske on Friday. Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Silkeborg IF on Monday.
Sweden
- Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro BK play AIK on Monday.
Norway
- Clarence Goodson and IK Start play Valerenga on Monday.
- Hunter Freeman and IK Start play Valerenga on Monday.
- Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek play Tromso on Monday.
Mexico
- Jose Francisco Torres started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Pachuca's 2-1 win vs. Indios de Ciudad Juarez on Saturday.
- Edgar Castillo did not dress in Tigres UANL's 3-0 win vs. San Luis on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Marco Vidal started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 2-1 loss vs. Pachuca on Saturday.
- Herculez Gomez came off the bench, played 45 minutes and scored a GOAL in Puebla's 1-1 draw vs. Morelia on Saturday.
Argentina
- Michael Hoyos did not dress in Estudiantes La Plata's 1-1 draw vs. Banfield on Sunday.
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What do you think of these performances? Impressed by Torres' performance/season? Do you see Spector and West Ham's draw against Everton as the result they needed to gain confidence? Which goal did you like better, Edu's or Gomez's?
Share your thoughts below
Wow Castillo?
Spector is fast too. He ran down Arashavin when they played Arsenal.
His name is Der Amerikanische Kaiser, which literally means the American Emperor…
As it sounds like he lives in Germany, it is quite possible that he was already in bed when Franco Panzio posted the weekend in review, which would explain why he hasn’t commented yet.
Bro, that was a very nice assessment of Edu’s skills. In some ways, I wish Gooch had a little more Edu or DeMerit in his ability to avoid clumsy tackles.
I’m glad to see edu get a start for rangers.he has been very impressive lately.
if he keeps this up.there is a good chance he might be one of the U.S. best performers come world cup time.
I agree! and what is it with ESPN bringing british commentators for the world cup??? DOn’t tell me there are not American commentators with plenty knowledge of soccer that they feel they have to bring foreign people. It sucks!!
I will always have a special place in my heart for Clark because of his stomp on Ruiz a few years ago, but I think Edu’s been the logical choice to play along MB ever since getting fit. Both guys seem to have good range and the temperament for defensive midfield, but as much as he’s improved, Edu’s not come close to his footballing ceiling, while Clark’s closer to his max. Maybe it’s partly the intimidation and smoothness factor. Edu looks to be stronger in the air and more effortless, too.
Ah hell, what do I know.
handegg…clever.
Oops, I meant Torres…
Que partido tan spectacular jugando ahorrita por Guadalajara El Gran SuperClasico!
Arriva Andres Cantor! Todovia lo tiene el voz del el mundo.
Cheers
Devann Yao?
Brad — Castillo won’t even make the team.
Its not just the articles they can’t even get the starting lineups up on the game casts until well into the match. Its gone down hill fast.
…Fail…
*…*
Bocanegra—Spector—Onyewu—Cherundolo
*
Bocanegra—-Spector—-Onyewu—-Cherundolo
I feel that a backline like this might be succeed.
Bocanegra—–Spector—Onyewu—–Cherundolo
I know that Spector is a great crosser of the ball, but Cherundolo’s crossing, while not as good as Spector’s, is also very good. Spector has more to his game than just crossing; he is also an extremely smart marker, distributes well out of the back, and still delivers the size, strength, aerial ability, and hard tackling DeMerit does. I think this also gives the back line some different elements. Cherundolo can get up the flanks and provide crosses, Spector and Bocanegra are very good passers out of the back if the USA wants to keep possession, and Bocanegra and Onyewu’s long balls are always a danger if the USA wants to be more direct. It’s a backline that knows how to manage the game different ways and deal with different styles of attack. DeMerit is a good defender of course, and I do feel the backline we saw for the last part of the Confederations Cup is most likely, but I wonder how this would work too.
I competely agree. Since ESPN is covering the World Cup, you would think that they would have half way decent coverage of the USMNT. I love all the major sports, but it seems like their US soccer coverage has been seriously lacking.
I’ll agree on the coverage being supbar, and i also think its because of people like Ives and Chang and Davis jumping ship. The problem is, there aren’t a lot of PROVEN, accomplished writers in the field of soccer so replacing them isnt easy. ONe of the best, Grant Wahl, doesn’t even do it full time!! They should go after Goff, I bet he’d love to do soccer full time. I do know that their USMNT blog (behind espn insider firewall) is updated rather frequently and I bet that as they find writers to replace them, content will be more frequent.
no, he’s a semi regular commenter here, he’s got a german type name, and he’s a pretty regular follower of the bundesliga (might be an american military personnel). I think, more likely, is he was trying to nail a ridiculous prediction and failed.
ahm,
i remember that discussion, and he most certainly does. Didnt he say that bradley would have hard time getting ANY more starts this year?
It’s great to see Mo starting to live up to his potential. What I like about him is that he’s fast, strong, and just like Clark, but he’s got the technical ability and tactical awareness to fully maximize that. Defensively, he knows when/how to step into the oppositions plays and break them up before they turn dangerous, he’s a good tackler, and he positions himself well. Offensively, he’s apt with both feet, he has good touch, a nice passing eye, is composed on the ball, and knows where to be and what runs to make, as is clearly shown in the video. I remember on his first cap that he set up Danny Szetela for his cross on the goal against Switzerland, and on his second cap when he set up Steve Cherundolo with that beautiful through ball on the winner against South Africa.
I think our central midfield should be the two guys who are most comfortable on both sides of the ball( if possible). Bradley and Edu can defend very well, but are also accomplished on the ball and in the attacking third. I also kind of wonder how a Bradley-Feilhaber or Bradley-Holden central tandem because those are two tandems that have guys who can be good on both sides of the ball.
Thank you kindly.
guy was probably just trolling, think its pretty accepted by now that he can and will play well enough to start
ya i’ve been looking for him. he owes me his paycheck…
i felt like rather than commit to making an improvement they just conceded defeat. the coverage is truly laughable and the “headlines” posted every 2 days always involve the words, “fumes,” “lauds,” or hails.” none of which provide any real insight. I’ve been amazed at the steps BACKWARD they took when they’ve invested so heavily into the WC and have started putting the Premier League and even a La Liga game or two on their network. for a network that seems intent on global domination most of the time, they’ve been the equivalent of a lower level Scottish Premier League match. good for ives for leaving
I too think the quality of ESPN.com’s soccer coverage has seriously gone downhill with the losses of Ives, Steve Davis, and Jen Chang. I didn’t realize until today that Davis and Chang had jumped ship to SI. It makes no sense given how much ESPN is (apparently) doing to promote the World Cup.
funny,
there was a guy here last week who lives in germany and was running his mouth about M bradley and how he was going to have a tough time reclaiming his starting spot, that the team played so well without him that he might not get a start for a couple games. I wonder where he is now with bradley playing 88 min after breaking his nose and having surgery.
Ricardo Clark better get some PT soon or Edu is going to be the logical choice along side of Bradley…
Seems to me that it’s neck-and-neck between Feilhaber and Castillo for 1st offensive substitute…
Big move up for Cooper, finally got 9 minutes of PT…
The joke on the Hull’s board is that Jozy is 1″ shorter than C Folan so he wouldn’t defend as well against Delap’s throw.
We know he can play on the left but his crossing ability will be lost.
dude everyday i hear about baseball or Handegg (i refuse to call THAT football)
i really wish i didnt have to pay for a channel that plays the worlds most popular sport
I wonder about espn as well, when Ives goes off to Fox Soccer and Steve Davis and Jen Chang go off to si.com…like a club selling off their 3 best players.
He’s not a left back. He may be the best option West Ham has there, but he’s completely out of his element. West Ham’s defense has been in shambles.
Meanwhile, Bocanegra’s starting at left back for one of the better sides in France, and is in good form, and isn’t leaking goals.
not a stupid question at all, it should be a bigger deal, but the United States already has a lot of great Goalkeepers, if Cervi was a field player (especially a forward) most American fans would be more excited
i posted this on the Clint Dempsey story on espn soccernet page. it has been there forever. am i simply a hater or do they just suck over there?
Espn Soccernet’s coverage of the U.S. Mens National Team is an absolute disgrace. Considering the World Cup is one of the biggest events in the world (not just in the field of sports but in general) you would figure the good folks at ESPN would actually make some effort to cover the U.S. Mens National Team. This story has been the top article for over a week. Do the writers who cover the Nats get paid or is this charity work. Are they too busy writing about the ars end of the NBA season (Yawn) or the beginning of the MLB season (Yawn) or maybe Hockey (Give me a break). If Im the only American annoyed by this someone please tell me because this ridiculous. Anyone who actually cares about developments with the Nats go to Soccer by IVES. I really just dont get it!! P.S. I love baseball, basketball and Hockey.
According to ESPN Beasley did not play again. Another soccer site quotes Beasley saying, he’ll use the WC to increase his value.
He’s out for the rest of the season. Per his twitter he is rehabbing in Hamburg.
HGH! like biggie “and another one”
IVES!!
Any word on the endless knee injury to Sal Zizzo? It has to have been years since he’s played.
Spector consistantly starts for his club at left back in one of the best leagues in the world, (granted he plays for one of the worst teams, but experience is invaluable), but cant get the nod for the same position with his country?
dowie and phil brown are what people now adays call ignorant when it comes to starting the correct 11
Back injury, I think.
Someone mentioned yesterday that Dowie is trying out all the CF’s. Maybe true, maybe not. Who knows?
He did lok dangerous a few times, particularly when he first came on the field.
Pittman got an assist. Are those not counted
Glad to see Spector getting time, but he should have done better on the clearance preceding the first Everton goal. Does anyone know why Altidore goes from terrorizing Fulham last week to coming off the bench for 25 minutes this week? Unless he is injured or being disciplined, then I don’t get it.
stupid question, but is it a big deal that cervi made the bench?
Cooper got NINE minutes! I think we have our 23rd ticket!
Again, nice to see Cooper triple his plaing time from last week. what’s up with no Jay? He’s the captain.
Glad the boys are bulging the NET! Keep at ya YANKS!
Put Edu at forward for the U.S.! Kidding. Well sort of.