by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
Landon Donovan opened up a solid weekend for the Americans Abroad contingent as he played in his first Bundesliga match with Bayern Munich. The American attacker came off the bench in the second half and was active in his 13-minute performance. Donovan's efforts were not enough though as he and Bayern Munich fell to Hamburg SV 1-0 on Friday.
Clint Dempsey enjoyed a better weekend, setting up the opening goal in Fulham's 3-1 win vs. Portsmouth on Saturday. Dempsey slid a perfectly-timed through-pass to Andy Johnson, who finished it off to help start the Cottagers off on the winning foot.
Another American who enjoyed an exceptional weekend was Jemal Johnson. Johnson, who plays for League One club MK Dons, hit a brace on Saturday in a game that saw eight goals scored. Johnson, who was born in New Jersey before moving to England at age five, scored the first goal and final goal in his team's victory.
Not all was positive for the Americans though. Freddy Adu, Heath Pearce, DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu failed to see time on the pitch once again. The quartet of American internationals have not played in weeks and with the U.S.-Mexico qualifier looming, this doesn't bode well for the United States.
Here is how the rest of the Americans Abroad faired this weekend:
England
PREMIER LEAGUE
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Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made seven saves in Everton's 1-0 loss vs. Manchester United on Saturday.
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Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
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Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
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Clint Dempsey started, played 90 minutes and recorded an assist in Fulham's 3-1 win vs. Portsmouth on Saturday.
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Jonathan Spector dressed but did not play in West Ham's 0-0 draw vs. Arsenal on Saturday.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Frank Simek did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-1 draw vs. Birmingham on Saturday. He is recovering from an injury.
- Jay DeMerit dressed but did not play in Watford's 3-1 loss vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
- Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 1 minute in Cardiff City's 2-0 win vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
- Marcus Hahnemann did not dress in Reading's 0-0 draw vs. Queen Park Rangers on Saturday. He is recovering from an injury.
- Bobby Convey did not dress in Reading's 0-0 draw vs. Queen Park Rangers on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
- Jemal Johnson started, played 90 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in MK Don's 5-3 win vs. Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
- Zac Whitbread came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Millwall's 2-1 loss to Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Scotland
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DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 2-0 win vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
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Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 2-0 win vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
- Landon Donovan came off the bench and played 13 minutes in Bayern Munich's 1-0 loss vs. Hamburg SV on Friday.
- Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96's 1-0 win vs. Schalke 04 on Saturday. He is recovering from an injury.
- Sal Zizzo dressed but did not play in Hannover 96's 1-0 win vs. Schalke 04 on Saturday.
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Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-0 loss to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- Heath Pearce did not dress in Hansa Rostock's 1-0 loss vs. MSV Duisburg on Sunday.
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Gregg Berhalter started and played 90 minutes in 1860 Munich's 2-0 loss vs. SC Freiburg on Sunday.
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Luis Robles and Kaiserslautern play Mainz on Monday.
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Matt Taylor dressed but did not play in TUS Koblenz's 0-0 draw vs. RW Oberhausen on Friday.
- David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in TUS Koblenz's 0-0 draw vs. RW Oberhausen on Friday.
- Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen's 4-0 loss vs. FSV Frankfurt on Sunday.
Spain
- Jozy Altidore did not dress in Xerez's 2-0 win vs. Alicante on Sunday. Altidore joined the Liga 2 leaders on loan on Friday.
Italy
- Danny Szetela started and played 90 minutes in Brescia's 3-2 loss to Treviso on Saturday.
France
LIGUE 1
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Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Rennes' 0-0 draw vs. Toulouse on Saturday.
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Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in AS Monaco's 1-0 win vs. Grenoble on Saturday.
LIGUE 2
- Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in Troyes' 4-1 loss vs. Brest on Friday.
Belgium
- Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 3-0 win vs. Roeselare on Saturday.
- Jared Jeffrey dressed but did not play in Club Brugge's 3-1 win vs. AFC Tubize on Saturday.
Denmark
The Danish First Division is on winter break until March.
Austria
The Austrian Bundesliga is on break.
Mexico
- Jose Francisco Torres came off the bench and played 38 minutes in Pachuca's 1-1 tie vs. Atlante on Sunday.
- Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes in San Luis' 2-1 win vs. Chiapas on Saturday.
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Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 2-2 draw vs. Necaxa on Saturday.
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Daniel Hernandez did not dress in Chiapas' 2-1 loss vs. San Luis on Saturday.
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Jesus Padilla did not dress in Guadalajara's 2-1 win vs. Monterrey on Saturday.
American-born Players Playing for Other Countries
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Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) did not dress in Villarreal's 3-0 loss vs. Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
- Edgar Castillo (Mexico) started and played 90 minutes in America's 1-0 loss vs. Morelia on Saturday.
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Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 3-1 win vs. Portsmouth on Saturday.
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Boaz Myhill (Wales) dressed but did not play in Hull City's 2-2 draw vs. West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
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What do you think of these performances? Think any of Adu, Beasley, Edu or Pearce will get called up for the U.S.-Mexico match? Think any will start? Excited to see Jemal Johnson represent with a pair of goals? Impressed with Donovan's 13-minute performance? Happy that Bocanegra's form is at a high? What about Tim Howard's eight-save showing against Manchester United?
Share your thoughts below.
Did I miss something? Was there any serious interest in moving Onyewu from Belgium to a bigger league?
does anyone know the reasoning behind villa not loaning out guzan?
Can we get some snow in Columbus?
We will crush Mexico. Go USA.
warming trend in Columbus, rain everyday leading up to match, and on Wednesday, Feb. 11:
AM clouds/PM sun
Hi: 41F
Lo: 26F
chance of precip 10%
Prediction: USA 0 : 0 El Tri
What’s Cherundolo’s injury? Is he expected for Mexico? If not, are we going to see Wynne at that spot?
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=526591&root=americansabroad&cc=5901
According to this article Johnson would probably accept a USMNT invite. I would love to see him play for us at some point. Mexico is highly unlikely, but why not call him up for a game such as the one we just had vs. Sweden? He’s fast as hell and he’s got a cannon of a shot from outside the 18 (accurate too). He’s a good crosser and he can play striker or on the left. I’ve been big on Johnson for a while, I hope he gets a call from Bradley soon.
I would sit out Adu, Edu, Pearce and Beasley. Period. Maybe Beasley can come in as a substitute but we need players that are currently active against Mexico. Seems like they’ve done the same. I say drop Donovan back to the midfield and attack with Ching and Altidore/Davies/Cooper.
I believe J.Johnson was on the U20 squad heading to Canada with Adu and Altidore but had to back out due to injury. He was one of those yongsters a few years back that showed promise but then dipped under the radar for a while.. Remember Ferrari..(sp?)
that’s pretty encouraging that jared jeffrey made the bench at brugge. hes real young!
by position, it appears 6 of our likely starters are ‘game fit’ getting regular minutes every week:
————LD——_____————
_____—–Bradley—–_____—-Dempsey
_____—–Boca——-Gooch——______
—————Howard—————
Ching very likely gets the 2nd forward spot, and Sacha the 2nd CM spot. you could make arguments like game fit/current form vs Hex experience all day, but it’s these other spots i’m really not sure what BB is thinking and maybe what he’s gonna keep secret until the last minute.
Szetela is a strong possibility for the World Cup. He’s had a few caps but nothing worthwhile and he’s further down then Bradley, Kljestan and Edu but if he works and improves and if Brescia moves on up to Serie A, i can see him making the team for 2010.
I agree. Casillas, Buffon, Reina, Van Der Sar, Dida, Cech, Friedel, Howard. Seriously Howard and Friedel are among the best goalkeepers in the world but are seriously underestimated cause they’re American. And shame they are unknow back home.
Mexico wins 2-1
Jemal Johnson was set for a U-20 Call-up a years back Schmid as the coach, but he was told not go because he was close to breaking into the Blackburn first team.
Tim Howard is the second or third best goalkeeper in the world. The only keeper I would take ahead of him is Casillas. He single handedly kept Everton in the game against United, and he’ll keep us in the game with Mexico and any other team out there. Absolutely extraordinary
Jamal is blazing fast, can you ever have enough speed. He has also gone through some tough times in finding playing time and seems to finally be coming out on the positive side. I hope he keeps it up, he could be a great asset.
Danny Szetela has quietly become one of the most consistent American players abroad.
USA beats Mexico 3-1 on the 11th. With goals from Altidore, Donovan and Bocanegra.
21, 23… still young still 3 world cups, but yeah… i guess there is some difference in development
Jemal Johnson is a pretty good striker for League 1 and probably would be really good in MLS but doesnt need a call up. Maybe to the winter games against Sweden but nothing else. We have Donovan/Altidore and Ching who is still in things plus Davies/Cooper in the wings.
Zamora despite starting 17 of 20games for Fulham only has 1 goal and maybe a few assists. He is just a failure. hell, even Kamara is a better striker than him and he’s pure Championship quality. Nevland who has maybe 5mins per game scored a brace in just under 15minutes.
So McBride would be a gift from heaven. And AJ has only 5 goals in 19games, so basically the same stats as McBride. Their partenership would keep Fulham around 9/10 spot. No doubt.
You never know maybe McBride is itching for a return to the EPL. There are 14 games remaining, i could see him scoring 4/5goals in that time and getting precious assists. Wouldn’t be a bad thing though Chicago would be payed handsomely for it.
If he goes to Fulham, his legend will grow even more than the cult status he has obtained thus far.
Anyone know Jemal Johnson’s foot and side preference on the field?
“I also wonder about Jemal Johnson. Has he ever played in the US system? Has he ever expressed desire to play for the US? ”
Get a grip, he’s playing in League 1.
I honestly think we should call in John Thorrington for a bigger role. He brings some bite to the midfield and is an all round good dependable player.
baloosh….he’s 23…..
JJ is 21… that’s at least 3 world cups he has a chance to get that call up i wouldn’t worry, he’ll get his call-up soon
Ives,
….No Super Bowl running commentary?
Jemal Johnson (JJ) has always expressed an interest in playing for the USA. Bob really needs to invite him to camp. He is very good.
In other news according to sky sports the mcbride deal fell threw because they didn’t think they could finish it before the transfer window closed.
Posted by: Tim | February 01, 2009 at 07:00 PM
I know for a fact that this is BullS..t from Sky. He was NEVA, EVA, planning on returning to the EPL. There was never a McBride deal, @ least not from his end, on the table.
Rangers is pissing me off more than the Hun bastards normally would by not playing DMB to help him get the hell outta there. It’s all about them trying to save a buck in screwing him over with playing time – they were doing the same the D’archeville and as far as I’m concerned American players should boycott the idea of playing for them in the future.
U.S.A. v. MEXICO IS MY SUPER BOWL WEEK!!!
I thinks Johnson would be a nice consideration for a winger in the future. Wonder how Dempsey would do on the left winger. Dempsey/Johnson wing combination? Maybe… Theres also Jeremiah White, Stuart Holden…..so many that we have barely even scratched the surface with.
DEUCE!!!
Beas and Pearce will start, Edu will sub or ride the pine, & Adu won’t get the call.
As far as their playing time is concerned, its still the best team we have every fielded in modern American soccer. Not every one in the starting eleven is a super star, so we aren’t Brazil!! So what. We have a very strong core, and the quartet are still good players who will only get better. They just need to find their niche.
I can’t wait to watch Dempsey, Donovan, Bradley, Beasley, Ching, and Sacha play offensively together!! Super excited. Also excited about seeing Pearce, Gooch, Boca, and Dolo back together. And of course, extremely pumped about Howard after this week!!!
We are going to crush Mexico, No Mercy! Don’t Tread..
Any chance Berhalter gets called for Mexico? Might be a really good option, all things considered.
Match fit.
Getting minutes.
Experience.
Leadership.
I also wonder about Jemal Johnson. Has he ever played in the US system? Has he ever expressed desire to play for the US?
In other news according to sky sports the mcbride deal fell threw because they didn’t think they could finish it before the transfer window closed.
do you think Jemal Johnson will ever get national team consideration?
Scarry that DB and Pearce are not playing especially Pearce. Jozy
‘s move to Xerez is unfortunate but a solid decission. Landon’s debut vs Hamburg was pretty good, I say it was the best game of the weekend, rough Bundesliga matches are never disappointing! But most importantly the ticker is now down to 10 days!!! GO USA!!!
Can’t Adu get a few minutes? Poor Adu… No time to shine.