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Americans Abroad: Mid-Week Rewind

Fabian Johnson 1 (Getty Images)


By FRANCO PANIZO

Fabian Johnson did something on Wednesday that he has not done much of in his career: He scored a goal.

The U.S. men's national team midfielder/defender contributed to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's lopsided victory over Hamburg SV on Wednesday, scoring the third goal in a 4-0 win. The goal was Johnson's third this season and eighth in his career, and it came from the left back position.

Johnson was not the only American to make an impact during the midweek games. Jozy Altidore scored twice in AZ Alkmaar's 2-2 draw with FC Twente, Timmy Chandler delivered an assist in FC Nurnberg's 4-1 victory over Schalke 04 and Sacha Kljestan set up a goal in RSC Anderlecht's 4-1 triumph over KAA Gent.

Here is how the Americans Abroad performed in mid-week action:

ENGLAND

  • Adam Henley did not dress in Blackburn Rovers' 3-2 loss vs. Liverpool on Tuesday.

ITALY

  • Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Chievo Verona's 1-0 loss vs. AC Milan on Tuesday.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 2-0 win vs. VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
  • Jermaine Jones started, played 64 minutes and received a yellow card in Schalke 04's 4-1 loss vs. FC Nurnberg on Wednesday.
  • Timmy Chandler started, played 90 minutes and had an ASSIST in FC Nurnberg's 4-1 win vs. Schalke 04 on Wednesday.

https://dailymotion.com/video/xq29r8_www-todayfoot-com-nu-3-0-sc-11-04-2012_sport

  • Fabian Johnson started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's 4-0 win vs. Hamburg SV on Wednesday.

https://dailymotion.com/video/xq2a0r_www-todayfoot-com-ho-3-0-ha-11-04-2012_sport

  • Danny Williams came off the bench and played 5 minutes for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
  • Joe Gyau did not dress for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
  • Terrence Boyd did not dress in Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win vs. Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
  • Alfredo Morales dressed but did not play in Hertha Berlin's 2-1 loss vs. SC Freiburg on Tuesday.
  • David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen's 3-1 win vs. Kaiserslautern on Wednesday.
  • Andrew Wooten came off the bench and played 22 minutes in Kaiserslautern's 3-1 loss vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

2. Bundesliga

  • Luis Robles did not dress in Karlsruher SC's 2-0 win vs. Dynamo Dresden on Wednesday.
  • Bobby Wood did not dress in TSV 1860 Munich's 2-1 win vs. MSV Duisburg on Wednesday.
  • Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 1 minute in SC Paderborn 07's 2-0 win vs. FC Erzgebirge Aue on Wednesday.
  • Villyan Bijev did not dress in Fortuna Dusseldorf's 1-0 win vs. FSV Frankfurt on Tuesdayday.

NETHERLANDS

  • Jozy Altidore started, played 80 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in AZ Alkmaar's 2-2 draw vs. FC Twente on Wednesday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and had an ASSIST in RSC Anderlecht's 4-1 win vs. KAA Gent in the Pro League playoffs on Wednesday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GZ1yPCeC9c?feature=player_embedded] 

  • Mikkel Diskerud started and played 76 minutes in KAA Gent's 4-1 loss vs. RSC Anderlecht in the Pro League playoffs on Wednesday.

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What do you think of these performances?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I like what you’re saying and I see how good he could be going forward at the LM spot but maybe this will give guys like Adu or even Gyau and Corona a shot with the Senior team, and there’s always Feilhaber as well…

    REALLY want to see Gyau play, hope he gets regular time and bench appearances ALL the time next season or gets loaned to a German club where he’ll get playing time and be seasoned enough to return to Hoffenheim and contribute towards European qualification

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  2. THAT with Dempsey right behind the 2 up top sounds VERY scary and we have Josh Gatt in the pipes waiting to be needed as a sub for when Dolo starts get closer to international retirement not to mention Spector always a serviceable Right Back back up….

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  3. I like him at LB, but we clearly need to use him at LM. Who else do we have that can do that on the left flank? At LB we can use Lichaj or Chandler.

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  4. I wouldn’t say it’s opinion, but more factual. Williams is athletic and responsible defensively, but Fabian COMPLETELY outclasses him technically. Fabian is very, very skilled.

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  5. Uhm the starter has been benched in favor of Johnson at LB. Braafheid is not injured anymore.ohnson is very much a LWB now. Not a LW.

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  6. Johnson has performed better for us than Williams, he’s just a slightly better player than him right now.
    But Williams has been used as a right midfielder by Klinsmann, even though he’s normally a defensive midfielder.
    Also remember that Williams was age eligible for our U-23 team, whereas Johnson is a few years older than that.

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  7. That second goal was great, and addresses just what detractors complain about Jozy…that’s not lax defending, that’s a very smart run and a great touch (and a perfect pass from his teammate, of course).

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  8. Wow, johnson’s goal was nasty. So was jozys second. Great cross from chandler. Wooten with another 20ish minutes. Same with Mix getting another solid outing. Sacha with an assist, great stuff this week!

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  9. LOVE the reindeer mascot!! hilarious. I wish there were more plush mascots in European soccer. Can you imagine a giant smiling cannon for Arsenal, or a Red Devil for Man U? Bring em on i say.

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  10. Fabian Johnson has been considered more effective in his appearances for the USMNT, if I understand your question correctly. Danny Williams has been played out of position and has not thrived for the USMNT.

    Those are, of course, my own opinions, nothing more.

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  11. I know the names aren’t at all the same but help me out – is it Fabian or Danny who generally has been considered to be more effective in appearances. I remember Ives was ragging on one of them (Danny I think) for poor play yet he was very complimentary of Danny in his column for FSN.

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  12. Is Fabian playing his natural wing position, or is he still filling in at left back for their injured starter? I like him at left wing and would love to see Chandler (also a natural winger)on the right wing with Cherundolo at RB and Lihaj at LB. I’d place Donovan in a free midfield role behind Altidore and Dempsey as forwards with Bradley playing the D-mid role. I’d kill the 4-3-3. Our best moments have been in a 4-4-2 and our worst in a 4-3-3 dating all the way back to Honduras’ 3-2 win at RFK during WC 2002 qualifying and on display most recently in the Olympic qualifying disaster. Sorry for getting off topic.

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  13. Weird… that’s the first time I’ve seen a costumed mascot outside of American sports.

    Suddenly Dynamo Diesel is a lot more legit!

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  14. wow Fabian Johnson and Timmy Chandler with top plays! those 2 were HUGE pick ups for USMNT.

    p.s. i hope the Hoffenheim mascot was given a card for participating in that celebration.

    Reply
  15. There was an interesting moment in the Chievo game yesterday when Bradley went shoulder-to-shoulder with Seedorf, and rode him off the ball in midfield. A little changing of the guard. Seedorf has always been one of my favorite MF players, but he looked old at times in this game. MB had a few poor passes and was dispossessed a few times, but he’s looking improved.

    Reply

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