By FRANCO PANIZO
Herculez Gomez has picked up right where left off last season.
The U.S. men's national team striker started his Apertura season with Santos Laguna by scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis. Gomez opened his season account after he made a good run in behind the defense, brought the ball down well and rifled home a well-placed, right-footed effort in the second half.
Gomez was not the only forward who enjoyed a degree of success this weekend. Charlie Davies made his first appearance for Danish side Randers in their 1-0 win over Odense BK by coming off the bench in the second half. And Terrence Boyd had a dream professional debut, scoring twice and setting up another tally in Rapid Vienna's 4-0 season-opening win against Wacker Innsbruck.
The other American to find the back of the net this weekend was Josh Gatt. The 20-year-old made an immediate impact after coming off the bench at halftime, scoring a simple goal a minute into his cameo that trimmed the deficit in Molde FK's 2-1 loss to Viking. Unfortunately for Gatt, he suffered an injury shortly thereafter that he could not play through and Molde were unable to replace him as they had used all their substitutions at the intermission.
Here's how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:
BELGIUM
- Sacha Kljestan came off the bench and played 3 minutes in RSC Anderlecht's 3-2 win vs. Lokeren in the Super Cup final on Sunday.
RUSSIA
- Eugene Starikov did not dress in Zenit St. Petersburg's 2-0 win vs. FK Amkar Perm' on Sunday.
AUSTRIA
- Terrence Boyd started, play 73 minutes, scored TWO goals and had one ASSIST in Rapid Vienna's 4-0 win vs. Wacker Innsbruck on Saturday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvZ475IUXKo?feature=player_detailpage]
DENMARK
- Michael Parkhurst did not dress in FC Nordsjaelland's 3-1 loss vs. FC Midtjylland on Saturday. He is recovering from a toe injury.
- Clarence Goodson started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Brondby IF's 2-1 loss vs. Aalborg BK on Sunday.
- Conor O'Brien started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in SonderjyskE's 1-1 draw vs. FC Copenhagen on Sunday.
- Charlie Davies came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Randers' 1-0 win vs. Odense BK on Sunday.
SWEDEN
- Samuel Petrone did not dress in Mjallby AIF's 3-1 loss vs. GIF Sundsvall on Saturday.
- Brian Span and Djurgardens IF play Norrkoping on Monday.
NORWAY
- Josh Gatt came off the bench, played 23 minutes before being unable to continue due to an injury and scored a GOAL in Molde FK's 2-1 loss vs. Viking on Saturday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbD8kyRukvQ?feature=player_detailpage]
- Steve Clark started and played 90 minutes in Honefoss BK's 2-0 win vs. Fredrikstad on Sunday.
- Sean Cunningham started and played 90 minutes in Stabaek IF's 3-1 loss vs. Valerenga on Sunday.
- Ricardo Clark did not dress for Stabaek IF.
MEXICO
- Jose Torres started and played 79 minutes in Pachuca's 0-0 draw vs. Atlante on Sunday.
- Herculez Gomez started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Santos Laguna's 2-1 win vs. San Luis on Saturday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc9S0IgaQAM?feature=player_embedded]
- DaMarcus Beasley started and played 22 minutes before being substituted out with an injury in Puebla's 2-0 loss vs. Club Tijuana on Friday.
- Sonny Guadarrama did not dress in Atlante's 0-0 draw vs. Pachuca on Sunday.
- Jonathan Bornstein came off the bench and played 4 minutes in Tigres UANL's 4-0 win vs. Jagaures de Chiapas on Friday.
- Michael Orozco Fiscal started and played 90 minutes in San Luis' 2-1 loss vs. Santos Laguna on Saturday.
- Edgar Castillo started and played 62 minutes in Club Tijuana's 2-0 win vs. Puebla on Friday.
- Joe Corona started and played 56 minutes for Club Tijuana.
- Greg Garza came off the bench and played 28 minutes for Club Tijuana.
- Ventura Alvarado dressed but did not play for Club America's 0-0 draw vs. Monterrey on Saturday.
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What do you think of these performances? Expecting another big season from Gomez? Do you see Boyd lighting it up with Rapid Vienna? Expecting Davies to claim a starting role at Randers in the coming weeks?
Share your thoughts below.
Its just a thigh strain.. He might miss the midweek CHampions league 2nd leg playoff..but should be back to league action next week.
Oddly enough, Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya both scored in friendly for Rangers. Also, Carlos Bocanegra started and went the distance.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-two/rangers-5-1-albion-rovers-strong-rangers-side-crush-albion-rovers-1-2426957
Boyd’s coach said he earned his spot in the game against Roman. After the game against Wacker he said (translated by me, I lived 2 years in Germany, but I’m no professional translator)
“Actually, I wanted to leave in on the bench to start off, but he forced me to reconsider with his performance [against Roma]” so Boyd earned his spot.
Ives, What no love for Michael Bradley’s start and solid play for AS Roma?
Zak Whitbread to Leicester City. He will probably start and help them near the top of the table and then get injured shortly before the fall qualifiers.
So did Joe Gyau!
100% bring him to Azteca. A few years from now we’ll need him to turn up big there. Get him experience in that atmosphere.
I would start Gomez at Azteca. No fear!
Boyd will have been with Rapid for a good chunk of the summer and at least 3 matches by the time the Azteca friendly rolls around.
He should ABSOLUTELY be with the national team to experience a game in that environment. He will get PT against El Tri because substitution rules will be relaxed.
Plus, the Mexico game is on a FIFA date.
When in doubt, try reading the article.
Wondolowski.
Also watch out for Andrew Wooten this year.
The answer to any “How did Davies look?” question is “Like a guy who will never play for our national team again, so stop asking.”
Tony Taylor scored in a friendly this weekend as well!!!
Azteca is unreal. Heat, pollution, huge hostile crowd, etc. It would be a great experience for Boyd if he could make that squad.
Wasn’t Gomez, Gomez is #16 and he was not the one who won the header off the corner
So our striking options at the moment are
1) Jozy 2) Gomez 3) Boyd
Interesting huh
ROFL BORNSTEIN
yea. The guy looks really promising, but he seems to get hurt an awful lot.
Gonna be a tough call for JK. Seems both sides are reasonable.
I’d say leave him with his club b/c he’s rated behind Jozy and Gomez at the moment. However, if he keeps playing like this, those ratings may change in a hurry.
Glad to see such a good start for the Yanks Abroad.
Anyone know how Davies looked in his 21 min of action?
Gatt hurt again???
Conor O’Brien had an assist in the draw vs. Copenhagen
Is it just me or did it look like Gomez was the one who had the header on the first goal?
2 goals and an assist is plenty settled. Boyd is not trying to hold down a spot at Bayern. He should take a rare opportunity to a get a taste of the Azteca atmosphere.
Bornstein working his way back into the US player pool, I see.
I saw Gatt come off at the 51st minute? Anyway i wonder why they subbed him out so early into the game.
Also last weekend he scored for Molde as well.
Really glad Charlie can get a start, but with the emergence of Boyd, idk if he could ever get back to the NATS, i’ve always been one of his biggest fans and i will never ever lose hope in him until it’s FOR REALS that he isn’t coming back, if Gomez and Wondolowski can start getting looks at their ages, then why can’t Davies get a chance later on as well? Idk thats what i think atleast
Classic Gomez run, control and finish. Perfectly timed run (Orozo Fiscal keep him onside?), touch a bit too long, steady composure to a clinical finish.
I’m really hoping he and Jozy and start at the Azteca in 4-3-1-2 with Dempsey just behind them. While everyone wants Boyd to get settled, I hope he gets a call-up to experience the rivalry first hand. His passion for being a big player has to be infectious among his teammates. One goal in MC could also lead to a career of hate from El Tri fans…
Ricardo Clark could be signed by a beer league team and it would still say “did not dress” next to his name
Gatt with his 5th league goal of the season. His team is 2nd in the league with 3more months to go. This dude might be the real deal. I can tell you by season’s end he should be leaving for Holland
Don’t call up Boyd anytime soon. Let him get settled at his club just like Bradley.
But if Boyd can keep scoring, he will be on that roster for the WC
Beasley injured? Say it ain’t so!
and he sure loves to go for the bicycle kick whenever possible
Wow Boyd!!!
Got a great tap in and then returned the favor to another team mate