by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
The Mexican national team is going to have a tough time beating Tim Howard if the U.S. goalkeeper's recent hot form is any indication.
Howard delivered one of the best performances of the weekend by posting an eight-save effort in Everton's 1-1 tie vs. Liverpool in FA Cup action on Sunday.
While Howard was stopping shots, Jay DeMerit was busy making one. His 17th-minute volley helped Watford post a 4-3 victory Crystal Palace. DeMerit chested the ball before volleying it through traffic for the lone goal scored by Americans in Europe last weekend.
In Mexico, Jose Francisco Torres' Pachuca defeated Michaelo Orozco's San Luis, but it was Orozco who played the bigger role in the match, going 90 minutes while Torres came off the bench and played 12 minutes for Pachuca.
Here's how the rest of the Americans Abroad did this weekend:
England
PREMIER LEAGUE
-
Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made eight saves in Everton's 1-1 draw vs. Liverpool on Sunday in the FA Cup.
-
Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday in the FA Cup.
-
Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday in the FA Cup.
-
Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 4-2 win vs. Kettering Town on Saturday in the FA Cup.
-
Jonathan Spector dressed but did not play in West Ham's 2-0 win vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday in the FA Cup.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Frank Simek and Sheffield Wednesday did not play this weekend.
- Jay DeMerit started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Watford's 4-3 win vs. Crystal Palace on Saturday in the FA Cup.
- Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 1 minute in Cardiff City's 0-0 draw vs. Arsenal on Sunday in the FA Cup.
- Marcus Hahnemann and Reading did not play this weekend.
- Bobby Convey and Reading did not play this weekend.
Scotland
-
DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 0-0 draw vs. Aberdeen on Saturday.
-
Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 0-0 draw vs. Aberdeen on Saturday.
Germany
Bundesliga 1 and Bundesliga 2 are both on winter break.
Spain
- Jozy Altidore did not dress in Villarreal's 1-1 draw vs. Osasuna on Saturday.
Italy
- Danny Szetela dressed but did not play in Brescia's 2-0 win vs. Empoli on Saturday.
France
LIGUE 1
-
Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Rennes' 2-0 win vs. St Etienne on Saturday in the Coupe de France.
-
Freddy Adu did not dress in AS Monaco's 1-0 win vs. Nice on Sunday in the Coupe de France. He is recovering from an injury.
LIGUE 2
- Quentin Westberg started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Troyes' 2-1 loss vs. Rodez Aveyron on Saturday in the Coupe de France.
Belgium
- Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 1-0 win vs. KVC Westerlo on Sunday.
Denmark
The Danish First Division is on winter break until March.
Mexico
- Jose Francisco Torres came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Pachuca's 2-1 win vs. San Luis on Saturday.
- Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes in San Luis' 2-1 loss vs. Pachuca on Saturday.
-
Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 1-1 draw vs. Monterrey on Sunday.
-
Daniel Hernandez did not dress in Chiapas' 3-0 win vs. U.A.N.L. on Saturday.
-
Jesus Padilla did not dress in Guadalajara's 1-0 win vs. U.A. de G on Saturday.
American-born Players Playing for Other Countries
-
Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Villarreal's 1-1 draw vs. Osasuna on Satuday.
-
Brede Hangeland (Norway) started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Fulham's 4-2 win vs. Kettering Town on Saturday in the FA Cup.
-
Boaz Myhill (Wales) did not dress in Hull City's 2-0 win vs. Millwall on Saturday in the FA Cup.
-
Edgar Castillo (Mexico) started and played 90 minutes in America's 2-2 vs. Toluca on Sunday.
———————————
What do you think of these performances? What did you think of Howard's eight-save performance? Think Jay DeMerit's was impressive? Think it will earn him a call-up for U.S.-Mexico? Did you watch Michael Orozco's San Luis take on Pachuca and Jose Francisco Torres?
Share your thoughts below.
Why is Zak Whitbread never on these updates is he considered English or something?
Please review not only who played BUT HOW THEY PERFORMED.
I can ESPN match stats to see who played and who did not.
EJ’s career is practically over. He should just sign for a club in Scandinavia and enjoy that.
^LOL at the jesus padilla comment.
Brede Hangeland spent <2 yrs. in the US while his parents worked in Houston for a Norwegian oil company. I guess that technically counts for "American born" but it's not like there is anything "American" about him.
Beaz and Edu need to get out of that ROTTEN SPL. DUD of a league.
Andy in Atlanta- lol, im sure if Adu and Jozy broke down to the 2nd division they’d also make the squad, more likely to play, but at LEAST make the squad….
also, Szetela is getting regular minutes with Brescia… id advise not looking at the list above and assuming that is exactly what happens each and every week…
Jesus Padilla…the only time a Mexican who has a US birth certificate is deemed American…I got plenty of Mexican neighbors who are still deemed Mexican
ChrisM…Actually Eddie was going to come on in the 75th but a Cardiff player needed to come off right when the sub was about to happen and changed the tactics for them… EJ has been learning a lot from Cardiff and it will benefit him…atleast he is in the squad unlike Freddy Ady and Jozy, Szetela…etc…
Ken,
DeMerit has actually been pretty poor this season for Watford and is lucky to still have a regular place. He has also been plagued by injuries the past two seasons. Not saying he shouldn’t get a chance with the USNMT, but he is still a level below Gooch and Boca.
Sure, Howard should have probably saved it, but I think the mistake is over blown. Most GK would have expected Gerrard to make one his usual piledriving attempts and instead he went for placement on the ground completely catching Howard off guard.
In the end, despite giving up that goal, his other saves prevented Liverpool from winning a game they fully deserved to based on possession and shots on goal (a trend that has plagued Liverpool the last month).
HAHAHAAH
“Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 1 minute in Cardiff City’s 0-0 draw vs. Arsenal on Sunday in the FA Cup. ”
Torres did not play much, becasue the coach was playing with mainly reserves players. They have an importnat game on Wendsday v. a team from Chile to see if they can qualify for the COPA libertadoeres.
yes, i agree with most that Howard’s mistake was a costly one…. but for all the people bashing him for it, im assuming the remaining 8 saves probably saved them from losing the game as well….
what about the horrid defending?? Torres was able to juggle the ball around 3 everton defenders just to watch him pass it to an on running Gerrard… how come no one was marking him?? its easy to say Howard cost them the game, but its also apparent that 3 defenders cost them it as well…
I hope this will help super jay get a call up. Everyone talks about Califf, and Parkhurst, as back up CB’s but Jay has been starting for Watford in the Championship and Premier league the last 4 years and gets no attention.
What’s the deal on the Kljestan to Celtic move? I can’t find anything on the BBC or on Celtic’s website…anyone have the inside word?
For a keeper playing when you have a chance to beat a team like Liverpool (especially in a derby), one bad goal overshadows eight saves. Timmy had a bad game, unfortunately.
Yep…nice cross from Dempsey…also had a couple of nice goes at it on goal.
Disappointing to see so many “did not dress” notices there.
Did anyone actually see the goal Howard gave up?
It was horrible, he cost his team the game.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2009610/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTihLJb9WEk
I’ve made some videos including some Yanks abroad scoring goals and such. Here’s one if you guys would like to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWhBm31XnB8
what’s with all the Howard nut riders???
sure he’s good, but seriously,, that Gerrard goal makes me think of a certain Hope Solo quote that has been beaten into our collective skulls…
yours truly…
mighty!
Howard played great except for that one mistake against Gerrard; which admittedly was a big one.
Dempsey schooled that defender on his cross for the assist (though admittedly these were not top flight players).
Too many of our guys still watching the action instead of being on the field. Hopefully that will change soon as the weather thaws!
Great goal by DeMerit.
Sonny Guadarrama doesn’t play for the U.S., he plays for Mexico! If anything, you should put him in Americans playing for other national teams.
anyone got a link to dempsey’s assist?
Umm, where are you getting your FA Cup information?… Howard did have a great save but he also gave up a very bad goal to Gerrard. One of the worst goals I’ve seen Timmy give up in a long time. His play certainly wasn’t something to celebrate, if he was at his usual standard Everton win that game.
DEMPSEY!!
and Sacha and Ching ruled the Saturday for me!
Dempsey had a nice assist.
Who saw Dempsey’s assist to Simon Davies? Turnin dudes in circles.
Ives I think you can add Sacha to the Scotland American abroad section.
Love Timmy…… and he is really good…. but that Goal Gerrrard score on him…. that was his Ball!!!
but Good Job Howard!!! keep it up!!
I’m disappointed Myhill moved over the pond as a boy, not because we missed out on a good goalie, but because he’s got a freakin awesome name.