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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Joe Gyau’s latest outing is a sign of things to come, the youngster better be ready for a heavy dose of playing time.

Gyau started and went the distance in a league game for the first time in his blossoming career on Sunday, helping St Pauli defeat VfR Aalen, 1-0. The win was the 20-year-old Gyau and St Pauli’s second consecutive and it helped to further distance them away from the 2. Bundesliga’s relegation zone.

Two other players who enjoyed some success were Herculez Gomez and Jozy Altidore. Gomez scored two goals and had an assist in a Man-of-the-Match-worthy performance in Santos Laguna’s 3-1 win over Jaguares de Chiapas on Friday night. Altidore, meanwhile, broke the record for goals scored in a single season by an American playing overseas when he netted his 24th goal across all competition in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 loss to RKC Waalwijk on Sunday.

It was not all good news this weekend. Tim Howard saw his consecutive start streak in the Premiership come to a close on Saturday, as he missed Everton’s 3-1 win over Reading with a back injury. Howard was two games shy of matching Neville Southall’s club record of 212 consecutive league starts.

Here’s how the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Brek Shea came off the bench and played 23 minutes in Stoke City’s 1-0 loss vs. West Ham United on Saturday.
  • Geoff Cameron dressed but did not play for Stoke City.
  • Sebastian Lletget did not dress West Ham United’s 1-0 win vs. Stoke City on Saturday.
  • Brad Friedel dressed but did not play in Tottenham’s 2-1 win vs. Arsenal on Sunday.
  • Clint Dempsey did not dress for Tottenham. He is recovering from an injury.
  • Tim Howard did not dress in Everton’s 3-1 win vs. Everton on Saturday. He is recovering from an injury.
  • Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Manchester City on Monday.
  • Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Manchester City on Monday.

Championship

  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City’s 5-2 loss vs. Hull City on Saturday.
  • Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.
  • Conor Doyle dressed but did not played in Derby County’s 1-0 loss vs. Crystal Palace on Friday.
  • Zak Whitbread dressed but did not play in Leceister City’s 1-0 loss vs. Ipswich Town on Saturday.
  • Stuart Holden dressed but did not play in Bolton Wanderers’ 3-2 win vs. Barnsley on Saturday.
  • Tim Ream did not dress for Bolton Wanderers.

League One

  • Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle United’s 1-0 loss vs. Notts County on Saturday.
  • Mike Grella came off the bench and played 10 minutes in Scunthorpe United’s 1-0 loss vs. Brentford on Saturday.

SPAIN

La Liga

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in Malaga CF’s 0-0 draw vs. Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Segunda Division

  • Carlos Bocanega dressed but did not play in Racing Santander’s 2-0 loss vs. Numancia on Sunday.

ITALY

  • Michael Bradley came off the bench and played 51 minutes in AS Roma’s 3-1 win vs. Genoa on Sunday.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Jermaine Jones started, played 90 minutes, and received a yellow card in Schalke 04’s 4-1 win vs. VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.
  • Fabian Johnson started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 1-0 loss vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday.
  • Danny Williams started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
  • Timmy Chandler did not dress in FC Nurnberg’s 1-1 draw vs. SC Freiberg on Saturday. He was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
  • Michael Parkhurst did not dress in FC Augsburg’s 1-0 win vs. Werder Bremen on Saturday.
  • David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 win vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96’s 3-1 loss vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

2. Bundesliga

  • Joe Gyau started and played 90 minutes in St Pauli’s 1-0 win vs. VfR Aalen on Sunday.
  • John Anthony Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 1-0 loss vs. Dynamo Dresden on Saturday.
  • Alfredo Morales came off the bench and played 12 minutes for Hertha Berlin.
  • Andrew Wooten started, played 73 minutes and received a yellow card in SV Sandhausen’s 3-1 win vs. SSV Jahn Regensburg on Friday.
  • Bobby Wood came off the bench and played 45 minutes in TSV 1860 Munich’s 1-1 draw vs. FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.

NETHERLANDS

  • Jozy Altidore started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 loss vs. RKC Waalwijk on Sunday.

PORTUGAL

  • Tony Taylor came off the bench and played three minutes in G.D. Estoril Praia’s 2-0 win vs. Rio Ave on Sunday.
  • Caleb Patterson-Sewell dressed but did not play in Vitoria Setubal’s 2-0 loss vs. Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday.

TURKEY

  • Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Bursaspor’s 1-0 win vs. Sivasspor on Sunday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan did not dress n RSC Anderlecht’s 7-6 loss on penalty kicks after a 1-0 loss in regulation vs. Genk in the second leg of their Cofidis Cup semifinals series on Saturday. He was serving a suspension.

DENMARK

  • Conor O’Brien started and played 84 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland’s 1-0 win vs. AC Horsens on Sunday.
  • Clarence Goodson came off the bench and played 80 minutes in Brondby IF’s 2-0 loss vs. Randers FC on Sunday.
  • Charlie Davies came off the bench and played two minutes in Randers FC’s 2-0 win vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.

AUSTRIA

  • Terrence Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Rapid Vienna’s 2-1 loss vs. Wolfsberger AC on Sunday.

MEXICO

  • Herculez Gomez started, played 74 minutes, scored TWO GOALS and had an ASSIST in Santos Laguna’s 3-1 win vs. Jaguares de Chiapas on Saturday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS3ctEttKrU?feature=player_embedded]

  • Hector Joya did not dress for Santos Laguna. He is currently with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.
  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 90 minutes in Puebla’s 1-0 win vs. Leon on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco Fiscal did not dress for Puebla. He was serving a one-game suspension for the red card he received last weekend.
  • Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana’s 1-0 loss vs. Atlas on Saturday.
  • Joe Corona came off the bench and played 16 minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Greg Garza did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Jose Torres started and played 73 minutes in Tigres UANL’s 1-1 draw vs. Morelia on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein did not dress for Tigres UANL.
  • Ventura Alvarado did not dress in Club America’s 3-0 win vs. Cruz Azul on Saturday.

—–

What do you think of these performances? Think Gyau will continue to earn starts for St Pauli? Do you see Altidore scoring for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. After the game, Cameron himself tweeted “Confused.” Something is going on there and even he does not know why he lost his starting role.

    Reply
    • He lost it because he was rubbish last game and he has been at a respectable level the last few before that. In the PL, you can’t die on “so-so”, you have to be playing at 100% every game. Stoke aren’t a great team, but they do have depth in defense. He’ll work his way back in, but for him to be “confused” is a bit odd. It’s also dangerous to kind of put your dirty laundry out on social media. We have seen a bunch of players get in trouble for that lately.

      Reply
  2. Two additional comments:

    William Yarbrough made his first appearance as starting GK for Leon.

    Edgar Castillo got his cheekbone broken. He’ll need surgery and several weeks recovery.

    Reply
  3. 3 Step Plan To US Soccer Domination

    1) Force Verbeek to sign all young US prospects

    2) Wait a couple years

    3) Profit!

    Reply
  4. Jozy set the record at 24. Maybe he moves to a mid table club in Italy or Germany and continues to break and set the record. Say he scores 15 in the league, 5 in the cup competion and 5 in European play. Then you can’t say his goals are weaker than Jozy’s/

    Reply
    • This is what Herc had to say on the topic recently in Houston leading up to the match Tuesday night…

      “Houston is a quality team, it’s a quality city. I love Texas. If something (playing for Dynamo) right came along, I’d be excited, I’d be ecstatic.

      Right now, I don’t want to get a head of myself. It’d be so great to come back to where it all started and go from there. I’m definitely in a different stage of my life. I’m not the same player as I was when I left MLS. I’m looking forward to seeing what type of player I could be in MLS when I get back.”

      Reply
    • Jozy’s already been at a top four league club. Granted, he was young and has improved a lot since his days at Villareal, but personally I think he’s in a perfect spot to develop confidence and continue learning. The Dutch league is a great place for strikers. I wouldn’t be disappointed at all if he stayed another year. Does anyone know when his contract ends? I’m sure AZ will be looking to cash in, even though they got him on the relative-cheap.

      Reply
      • I think he signed a four year deal with them, but it may have only been a three year one. He has indicated that he’d love to stay with AZ for the duration of his contract, but if AZ is offered the right amount of money, and Jozy wants to go, he’s gone. Two other things that may affect his stay – 1)In a post-match interview, Verbeek was asked about moving to Twente. While I don’t speak Dutch, going by the tone of his voice and body language, he seemed to dismiss this, but somebody has linked him with that opening. If Verbeek leaves AZ, I think Jozy will, too. 2)While AZ should be able to avoid relegation, if it were to happen, I’d bet Jozy has an escape clause.

      • I doubt he makes a move to another team in the dutch league. i doubt any of the teams could afford to buy him and I think he has out grown this league and should move to a more challenging one.

      • Oh, he won’t go anywhere else in Holland. If I gave the impression that he goes where Verbeek goes, I apologize. My point was if Verbeek leaves AZ for Twente, Jozy will want to leave AZ, as well.

      • I don’t believe he ever said he wanted to stay to the end of his contract, just that he was happy there and in no hurry to leave. I’d be surprised if he isn’t in a top 5 league by the end of the summer.

      • Jozy’s time in the Netherlands has been great for him as a player. That was the perfect move for him. I think the time has come for him to move on though in order to continue his development. He needs to be challenged by better defenders/defenses to keep growing as a player. Not saying he can’t get better by staying put, but I think he has proven himself in the Netherlands. Bigger things lie ahead for him

  5. Is anyone else getting a little worried about the USMNT’s Defense. With both Boca, Chandler Cherundolo, Parkhurst, and Cameron Not Playing this weekend I’m a little concerned.

    Boca & Dolo have both been out for a while….Parkhurst has missed the last 2 matches.

    Hope things turn around soon for Cameron, Chandler, and even Parkhurst as we need them in top form SOON.

    Reply
    • Chandler simply was suspended….he should play the next 2 weekends before the call up….. Cameron on the other hand is a bit of a worry if he’s not playing as he’s been playing as a starter since the beginning of the season….hopefully it was a simple knock or something…I hope both Beisler and Omar who will have 2 CCL games to help him get ready are up for the task come March 22nd

      Reply
    • Because no-one in Europe wants Wondo, and Gomez is playing in Mex where he feels comfortable. Neither are attractive targets at 30+ yr old having never played in Europe before.

      Reply
  6. With Bocanegra, Parkurst, and Cameron is there a story behind them not playing or was it a coaching decision based on form?

    Reply
    • Cameron is based on form. Parkhurst was sick last week so I will guess he is still recovering. Boca has to earn his spot back.

      Reply
    • Shea looked like a newly acquired player who isn’t quite match fit. A step slow. He gave up the ball easily at points, but also flashed some ability. Not really encouraging or discouraging. It’s good to see the coach sees him as one of the first off the bench when his team needs a spark, though.

      Reply

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