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Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

Jozy Altidore AZ (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

The last time AZ Alkmaar met Ajax, Jozy Altidore inspired his club to a big 3-0 win in cup play.

AZ will be hoping that history repeats itself this weekend.

In dire need of three points to distance themselves from the drop zone, AZ will attempt to snap their six-game winless streak when they host Ajax on Sunday. AZ will not be favored against the league leaders, but if Altidore can muster up another masterful performance – he scored twice and had an assist in their last meeting on Feb. 27 – the Cheese Farmers will have a good chance at pulling of the upset again.

Josh Gatt is also slated to be in action this weekend, as the 2013 Norwegian Tippeligaen season gets underway. Molde will attempt to go for their third straight league title when they visit Viking on Friday and Gatt should resume his place in the club’s starting lineup.

If you’re wondering what is the biggest match-up involving Americans Abroad, look no further than Timmy Chandler and Nurnberg’s clash against Jermaine Jones and Schalke. Both teams have gone unbeaten in league play in recent weeks and they will each be looking for a win before heading into the international break.

Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:

FRIDAY

Joe Gyau and St Pauli play FC Union Berlin.

Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Trabzonspor.

Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Viking.

SATURDAY

Tim Howard and Everton play Manchester City. (Howard is out injured.)

Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Queens Park Rangers.

Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play West Bromwich Albion.

Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Ipswich Town.

Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Middlesbrough. (Packwood is out injured.)

Conor Doyle and Derby County play Zak Whitbread and Leicester City.

Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Leyton Orient.

Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United play Notts County.

Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Hamburg SV.

Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04.

Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Mainz.

David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Bayern Munich.

Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin.

Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Sporting Lisbon.

Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KAA Gent.

Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Trenkwalder Admira.

Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play Aalborg BK.

Ventura Alvarado and Club America play San Luis.

DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Puebla play Pachuca.

Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Chivas da Guadalajara.

Herculez Gomez, Benji Joya and Santos Laguna play Atlas.

Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Monterrey.

SUNDAY

Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Fulham. (Dempsey is out injured.)

Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United play Chelsea.

Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Espanyol.

Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Xerez.

Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Parma.

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play VfR Aalen.

Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Ajax.

Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Academica de Coimbra.

Charlie Davies and Randers FC play Silkeborg IF.

Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Midtjylland.

Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play IK Start.

Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Odd.

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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Think Altidore will help AZ top Ajax? How do you see Gatt doing this season with Molde?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Jozy may finish the season with 30 goals in all competions with say 20-21 goals in the league. Not bad considering AZ doesn’t give him so many chances to score.

    Reply
  2. Jozy has 7 goals in Dutch cup play with the final in May. If they win they get a much needed trophy and a place in the Europa League for FALL

    Reply
  3. Any recent news on Dempsey? Klinsman said he was back in training and would be available for the WCQ’s, but he was not on Spurs roster for today’s match and is listed above as out injured…getting a little nervous…

    Reply
  4. After last match, Ajax will likely engineer their whole game plan towards blanketing Jozy and forcing others to beat them. I’d imagine he won’t see much of the ball this weekend.

    Reply
    • If Ajaz puts Jozy in a defensive diamond, AZ will rip them a new one. He may be the one with most of their goals, but they have other people who can score.

      Reply
      • They will probably put a defensive diamond around Adam Maher who assisted almost every goal Jozy Altidore has scored.

  5. such a shame AZ are so inconsistent otherwise Jozy would probably be at the top of the scoring charts alongside Wilfred Bony. Jozy has 17 to Bony’s 23 I believe and most of the time is so close to scoring or assisting but let down by his teammates or BS calls by refs.

    Reply
    • I just asked for what you already said. Somehow I missed your post and only saw argh’s post. got my question answered anyway. yeah, it’s hard to be a scoring leader on an offensively anemic team (and Jozy does not appear to be the source of their anemia)

      Reply

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