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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Alejandro Bedoya Nantes 1 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Alejandro Bedoya seems to really get up for matches against AS Monaco.

After delivering a strong performance at right wingback against the French heavyweights back in the fall, Bedoya found the back of the net playing in a central role in a 3-1 loss on Sunday. Bedoya scored a late consolation goal in the 78th minute, heading home a cross from the left. The goal was Bedoya’s fourth in league, fifth across all competitions and first since Dec. 6, 2013.

Two other U.S. Men’s National Team players got on the scoresheets in their respective clubs’ games this weekend. Danny Williams netted a spectacular game-winning strike in Reading’s 1-0 triumph over Charlton Athletic, a result that put the Royals five points clear of Nottingham Forest in the race for the final promotion playoff spot. Aron Johannsson scored and also had an assist in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-2 draw with Roda JC Kerkrade, but his performance was marred by a late miss in front of an open goal that surely wouldv have given AZ all three points.

Tim Howard had reason to celebrate, as he and Everton moved one step closer to competing in next season’s UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday. Howard made five saves in the game for the Toffees, who are now just one point shy of the Gunners’ fourth-place position and still have a game in hand.

It was not all good news this weekend, especially not for defenders. Oguchi Onyewu and Michael Orozco both suffered first-half knocks and were removed before halftime. Onyewu sustained a back muscle problem and was taken off during the break in Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 loss versus Leicester City. Orozco lasted just 22 minutes before being replaced in Puebla’s 0-0 draw with Atlas because of an apparent hamstring knock.

Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

ENGLAND

Premiership

  • Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Everton’s 3-0 win vs. Arsenal on Sunday.
  • Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
  • Geoff Cameron started and played 45 minutes in Stoke City’s 3-0 loss vs. Chelsea on Saturday.
  • Brek Shea did not dress for Stoke City.
  • Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made six saves in Aston Villa’s 2-1 loss vs. Fulham on Saturday.
  • Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Sunderland on Monday.
  • Cody Cropper dressed but did not play in Southampton’s 4-1 loss vs. Manchester City on Saturday.
  • Sebastian Lletget did not dress in West Ham United’s 2-1 loss vs. Liverpool on Sunday.

CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Oguchi Onyewu started and played 45 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 loss vs. Leicester City on Friday.
  • Danny Williams started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and scored a GOAL in Reading’s 1-0 win vs. Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-aASwBSzBc?feature=player_embedded]

  • Duane Holmes came off the bench and played 14 minutes in Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 loss vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
  • Jonathan Spector started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Birmingham City’s 3-1 win vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
  • Will Packwood dressed but did not play for Birmingham City.
  • Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers’ 1-0 win vs. Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
  • Stuart Holden did not dress for Bolton. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Eric Lichaj did not dress in Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 loss vs. Millwall on Saturday. He is recovering from a groin injury.
  • Zak Whitbread dressed but did not play in Derby County’s 1-0 loss vs. Middlesbrough on Saturday.

League One

  • Gboly Ariyibi dressed but did not play in Tranmere Rovers’ 2-1 win vs. Colchester United on Saturday.

GERMANY

Bundesliga

  • Fabian Johnson started and played 90 minutes in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 1-1 draw vs. Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
  • John Brooks started, played 62 minutes and received a yellow card in Hertha Berlin’s 1-1 draw vs. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday.
  • Timmy Chandler did not dress in FC Nurberg’s 2-0 loss vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • David Yelldell did not dress in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 loss vs. Hamburg SV on Friday.

Bundesliga 2

  • Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play SpVgg Greuther Furth on Monday.
  • Bobby Wood dressed but did not play in TSV 1860 Munich’s 3-0 loss vs. Karlsruhe on Sunday.
  • Andrew Wooten started and played 90 minutes in FSV Frankfurt’s 2-1 loss vs. VfR Aalen on Friday.

FRANCE

  • Alejandro Bedoya started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in FC Nantes’ 3-1 loss vs. AS Monaco on Sunday.

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NETHERLANDS

  • Aron Johannsson started, played 90 minutes, had an ASSIST and scored a GOAL in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-2 draw vs. Roda JC Kerkrade on Sunday.



  • Juan Agudelo came off the bench and played 45 minutes in FC Utrecht’s 4-1 loss vs. ADO Den Haag on Sunday.

TURKEY

  • Jermaine Jones started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Besiktas’ 2-1 win vs. Kayserispor on Saturday.

BELGIUM

  • Sacha Kljestan came off the bench and played 13 minutes in RSC Anderlecht’s 3-0 win vs. Club Brugge in the Pro League playoff.

DENMARK

  • Conor O’Brien dressed but did not play in Odense BK’s 2-2 draw vs. Viborg FF on Sunday.
  • Babajide Ogunbiyi dressed but did not play in Viborg FF’s 2-2 draw vs. Odense BK on Sunday.

NORWAY

  • Mix Diskerud dressed but did not play in Rosenborg BK’s 1-1 draw vs. Aalesund on Saturday.
  • Ethan Horvath dressed but did not play in Molde FK’s 2-1 loss vs. Odd on Saturday.
  • Josh Gatt did not dress for Molde FK. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Zarek Valentin started and played 90 minutes in FK Bodo/Glimt’s 3-1 loss vs. Valerenga on Sunday.
  • Michael Stephens started, played 71 minutes and received a yellow card in Stabaek IF’s 2-1 win vs. SK Brann on Sunday.

AUSTRIA

  • Terrence Boyd did not dress in Rapid Vienna’s 1-0 win vs. Austria Vienna on Sunday. He was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

MEXICO

  • DaMarcus Beasley started and played 90 minutes in Puebla’s 0-0 draw vs. Atlas on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozco started and played 22 minutes for Puebla.
  • Jose Torres started, played 87 minutes and received a RED CARD in Tigres UANL’s 2-0 win vs. Atlante on Sunday.
  • Jonathan Bornstein dressed but did not play in Atlante’s 2-0 loss vs. Tigres UANL on Sunday.
  • Edgar Castillo started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Club Tijuana’s 3-1 win vs. Toluca on Friday.
  • Joe Corona started and played 83 minutes for Club Tijuana.
  • Greg Garza came off the bench and played one minute card for Club Tijuana.
  • Herculez Gomez dressed but did not play for Club Tijuana.
  • Paul Arriola did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Alejandro Guido did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Fernando Arce Jr did not dress for Club Tijuana.
  • Joaquin Alonso Hernandez did not dress in Monterrey’s 2-2 draw vs. Santos Laguna on Saturday.
  • Gabriel Farfan did not dress in Jaguares de Chiapas’ 2-1 loss vs. Pumas UNAM on Sunday.
  • Michael Farfan did not dress in Cruz Azul’s 2-1 win vs. Club America on Saturday.

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What do you think of these performances? Like Bedoya’s chances of making it to Brazil this summer? Impressed with Howard and Everton’s win over Arsenal?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Gotta wonder … was Orozco’s hammy just bound to have an issue, or would he have been fine IF he’d been with the USMNT on Wed.? That said, wish the guy the best and hope it just tightened up a bit and he needs only a little rest for him to get back.

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  2. Would be nice to also mention US coaches abroad here. Bob Bradley’s Stabaek is the only team in Norway with the 100% record after two games.

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  3. Did anyone see Jose Francisco Torres get in a kerfluffle? Gringo clipped a player towards the end of the match, and that player got all prissy about it AS IF el Gringo single-handedly ruined what was going to be the single best attacking move of the then entire game. Some words were said and another Atlanta player ran over and shoved gringo. He might have also thrown a quick punch at Jose, while Gringo was pushing him back. It all happened too fast & I can’t advance frame-by-frame with DirectTV playback. Ives, could you get a frame by frame playback and post who struck first, please?

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  4. Holland and France are 2 leagues

    that our young attacking planet should go to. It’s a shame most clubs in that league don’t have the funds to compete with say PL or Bundesliga clubs that traditionally go after American/MLS talent

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  5. Man, I am very happy with Bedoya. Turned out to be a great player for us. He’s not the next Donovan, but he had some good consistently quality.

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  6. With Aron’s two big wiffs this week, one in the Europa League and one in league play we must surely conceded Altidore is the better, in form striker 🙂

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    • Aron’s played almost twice as many minutes as he ever has in his career, I think it’s starting to show and needs a bit of a break. It might actually be a good thing if AZ are knocked out of Europa for US fans.

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  7. Nice goal by Williams, and judging by the highlight reel, he’s an important part of the team: every attack seemed to go through him.

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    • Williams is making a late run for that precious backup #6 position. What a battle between Edu, Beckerman and Williams. Would JK take 2 backups when he already has JJ and possibly, Cameron and Bradley? That is going to be a tough call.

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      • I had a discussion at length about a week ago with someone, and I’m convinced he’s bringing 2 backup holding mids. I think he’s only gonna bring 7 in the back due to the versatility so he can carry an extra midfielder.
        – I think he wants the option of pushing MB further up the field if needed
        – I think with 3 very different opponents he wants options
        – There’s a very good chance we will not win the possession battle, and fresh legs late will be vital
        – Especially if we get into a situation needing to protect a lead I could see him bringing on a 3rd CM late in a game to sit in front of the back line like he did at the end of the gold cup
        – And there’s the card factor

      • I feel like Beckerman is the only true 6 out of those. I haven’t seen much Reading but on the forums they were saying Williams plays more of a box to box role there. I feel like Edu is doing the same in Philly.

  8. That would be a huge problem for us if so – We have only suffered one loss when Diskerud is on the field. He’s worth a WC roster spot, in my opinion.

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    • We’ll be fine if without Mix, we have too many people lining up to take his spot Jose Torres, Joe Corona, Danny Williams, Beckerman, Edu, Kljestan. We aren’t lacking in that department. I’m worried that our defenders are dropping like flies.

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  9. Nice AJ goal, but did we really need to see the “assist” which was a lucky bounce off AJ into the path of the shooter?

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  10. “Aron Johannsson started, played 90 minutes, had an ASSIST, scored a GOAL, and had his scrotum FONDLED in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-2 draw vs. Roda JC Kerkrade on Sunday.”

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  11. Diskerud coming off the bench last week (tho he scored) and not getting the field Saturday could be a problem. I’m not sure Klinsmann is really sure where he wants to use him anyway.

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  12. So excited for Everton and Timmy. The last time a team outside of the “big” clubs in England (Man City, Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham) made the Champions League was almost 10 years ago, when Everton made it. League could desperately use some new blood.

    Reply

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