Top Stories

Americans Abroad: A Look Ahead

Sacha Kljestan (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Fresh off of winning the Belgian Super Cup, Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht have set their sights towards their next mission: defending their Pro League title.

Kljestan and Anderlecht will kick off their quest for a 32nd league title this Saturday when they visit Kortrijk. Along with helping his club try and start the campaign with three points, Kljestan will also be aiming to put forth a solid performance with the hope that a string of successive strong outings will earn him a call to the U.S. men's national team friendly against Mexico next month.

Mexico will be the site of another interesting match this weekend, as Club Tijuana takes on Leon. Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo and Greg Garza all saw time on the field last week, and they will be looking to do the same as they pay a visit to Leon in their second match of the year.

Wondering what other intriguing matches are on tap? Look no further than Charlie Davies and Randers FC's battle with AGF Aarhus on Sunday. Davies made his debut for Randers in their win last week, and he could earn his first start with them in their first home game of the season.

Here is who the Americans Abroad face off against this weekend:

FRIDAY

Joe CoronaEdgar CastilloGreg Garza and Tijuana play Leon.

SATURDAY

Eugene Starikov and Zenit St. Petersburg play Dinamo Moscow.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Kortrijk.

Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Magna Wr. Neustadt.

Conor O'Brien and Sonderjyske play Esbjerg.

Josh Gatt and Molde play Lillestrom.

Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Jaguares de Chiapas.

Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca play Atlas.

Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante.

Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis play Cruz Azul.

SUNDAY

Charlie Davies and Randers FC play AGF Aarhus.

Michael Parkhurst and Nordsjaelland play Odense BK.

Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play AIK.

Brian Span and Djurgardens IF play Elfsborg.

Ricardo ClarkSean Cunningham and Stabaek play Aalesund.

Steve Clark and Honefoss play Haugesund.

DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Toluca.

Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna play Chivas de Guadalajara.

MONDAY

Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Silkeborg IF.

—–

Which of these games are you looking most forward to? Do you see Kljestan putting forth a strong outing in an Anderlecht win? Do you see all three of Tijuana's Americans seeing the field?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Why? Did you think it was easy?

    Most every player in the entire world wants to have the kind of shot EJ got at Fulham and in Europe. Just getting there is an achievement and staying for any length of time an even bigger one.

    The one thing most people completely overlook is that making it in Europe is not strictly down to talent or ability.

    Every player is different.

    Look at Holden, very talented but also is brought in by a guy, Coyle who loves him, and has a team all set up for a guy with Stu’s talents. Not only that, having been born there and having tired out for Sunderland before, Stu is very comfortable with the culture.

    Look at MB90. He quickly picks up the language of every country he plays in, and moves right away to elimnate all off field distractions. But even his adaptability did not help him in Villa where it seems no one ever really wanted him in the first place.
    Houllier may have wanted him but by the time MB90 got there Houllier had one foot out the door.

    EJ has his issues but I’ve seen bigger head cases than him find the right “situation” and then become successful.

    EJ was never that lucky.

    I’m amazed that US fans can’t seem to get it into their heads that making it in Europe is really,really difficult and rarely down to just talent levels.

    Reply
  2. Davies maybe disappointed but that is temporary.

    He will either get over it or he still has a chance to win back some glory. He still has a chance to make the 2014 World Cup. He is still whole and healthy and still able to make a living doing what most of us can only dream about. He has just gotten married and now has a chance to raise a family.

    That other person in the car the night of the accident on the other hand?

    They ran out of chances.

    So pardon me if I do not shed one tear for Mr. Davies.

    Reply
  3. I think Davies just needs to get match fit and he should do well. Randers was just promoted. If they can maintain themselves, with a few goals from Davies, they may stay in the SUPERLIGA.

    But I doubt he will return with the Nats aside from a few caps here and there. Shame

    Reply
  4. He’s playing against pretty poor competition in MLS. It’s a fourth-tier league at best, maybe on par with leagues in Ukraine, Switzerland, Denmark et al, and that’s pushing it.

    Eddie’s “Achilles heel” has always been his focus and work ethic. You can’t coach passion and sometimes it seems to fall away from Eddie. When things go well for him he plays with confidence and makes things happen. Against top-level competition you have to play that way even when you are being dominated by superior talent and organization. Eddie tends to check out when things don’t go his way. He’s just poorly suited to the demands of bigger levels of competition. We saw it in the international setup and we saw it in England.

    Reply
  5. MLS is a weaker league than the PL and arguably at the same level as the Championship. I believe despite the hardship over the past 4 years, he has matured and changed his habits. Hope he takes another chance to go abroad, like Mexico

    why did he cancel the move to Benfica back in 2005?

    Reply
  6. actually, now that I re-read tom’s comment, it is a little dramatic.

    davies still has it good; it’s just disappointing how a career could come unhinged because of one night.

    Reply
  7. everything’s relative, GW. just because other people have suffered worse doesn’t mean that something less can’t be ‘cruel’.

    I don’t really know Davies’ background, but I’d imagine going from rising superstar (for USMNT fans, at least) to struggling for minutes because of doing something that millions of people around the world have done could be hard on a guy.

    Reply
  8. Cruel?

    He’s still alive and whole while others died in that accident.

    He’s still getting paid a decent amount of money to play soccer.

    He’s got people like you writing about him.

    Why do you feel sorry for him?

    Reply
  9. I didn’t know that. Hope he gets a fair shake; not as though Adnerlecht suffered at all, having SK in the midfield.

    Reply
  10. How is Davies doing in Denmark? Does anyone believe he will ever fully recover from one stupid decision?

    Life can be so bloody cruel……

    Reply
  11. AS Roma are lucky to have Bradley, great work ethic, good touches, great vision….scoring against liverpool, he is developing into the star player we need on the USMNT. When Roma played rapid vienna OH MY LORD Terrance Boyd was A BEAST….2 bicycle spectacular shots on goal, on frame….Two!!!….one hits under the crossbar to the left, keeper nowhere, and score with a second. Then he tops that by scoring a brace in his season opener. Then is that doesn’t not enough Herc scores….Gatt scores…Matt taylor scores….wooten scores…ok what the hell is going on!!!!

    Reply
  12. Kljestan has new manager, John van den Brom, at Anderlecht and he hasn’t featured very much in the preseason matches. It has yet to be determined but Kljestan may not be in his plans. It’s something to keep an eye on.

    Reply

Leave a Comment