Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

There are few American players enjoying better seasons than Clint Dempsey. Dempsey added to his impressive campaign in the English Premier League with an assist in Fulham's 3-1 victoy over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. The assist, which came three minutes prior to the end of the game, sealed the victory for the Cottagers. Dempsey now has two assists to go along with his five goals this season.

Another American with five goals in his respective league is Michael Bradley. Bradley scored twice in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 4-2 victory over FC Cologne on Saturday, boosting the U.S. national team midfielder's season total to five. Bradley netted the opener and the final goal as Moenchengladbach rose to 16th place, one spot away from safety.

Heath Pearce also enjoyed a solid weekend in Germany, earning the start in Hansa Rostock's game against FC Ingolstadt 04. The start, which came at left mid, was Pearce's first since December 14. Pearce played 57 minutes in the 1-1 draw.

Pearce was not the only American whose recent struggles for playing time were given a life-line this weekend. Benny Feilhaber made a late cameo in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss to Brondby IF on Sunday. Feilhaber replaced fellow American, Jeremiah White, in the 85th minute.

Here is how the rest of the Americans Abroad did this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

LEAGUE ONE

• Jemal Johnson came off the bench and played 19 minutes in MK Dons' 6-2 win vs. Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

• Zak Whitbread started and played 90 minutes in Millwall's 1-0 loss vs. Leicester City on Saturday.

• Ian Joyce started, played 90 minutes and made seven saves in Southend United' 1-0 win vs. Hereford United on Saturday.

• Mike Grella came off the bench and played 6 minutesin Leeds United'1-0 win Swindon Town on Saturday.

Scotland

• DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Ranger's 2-0 loss vs. Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish CIS Insurance Cup.

• Maurice Edu dressed but did not play in Rangers' 2-0 win vs. Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish CIS Insurance Cup.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

• Michael Bradley started, played 90 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 4-2 win vs. FC Cologne on Saturday.

• Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96's 4-4 draw vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

• Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 4-4 draw vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2

• Heath Pearce started and played 57 minutes in Hansa Rostock's 1-1 draw vs. FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.

• Gregg Berhalter did not dress in 1860 Munich's 3-2 win vs. FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.

• Luis Robles started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Kaiserslautern's 2-1 win vs. TUS Koblenz on Friday.

• Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 8 minutes in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 loss vs. Kaisreslautern on Friday.

• David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes and made one saves in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 loss vs. Kaiserslautern on Friday.

• Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen's 4-0 loss vs. Nurnberg on Friday. 

Spain

• Jozy Altidore did not dress in Xerez's 3-1 loss vs. Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Italy

• Danny Szetela came off the bench and played 18 minutes in Brescia's 2-1 win vs. Triestina on Saturday.

France

LIGUE 1

• Carlos Bocanegra started and played 67 minutes in Rennes' 2-2 draw vs. Le Mans on Saturday.

• Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in AS Monaco's 3-2 win vs. Toulouse on Saturday.

LIGUE 2

• Quentin Westberg dressed but did not play in Troyes' 2-1 loss vs. Angers on Friday.

Belgium

• Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 2-0 win vs. Racing Genk on Sunday.

• Jared Jeffrey did not play in Club Brugge's 4-1 loss to KAA Gent on Sunday. Jeffrey is with the U.S. Under-20 national team at the CONCACAF Championships.

Denmark

• Danny Califf did not dress in FC Midtjylland's 2-1 loss vs. Odense BK on Saturday.

• Jeremiah White started and played 85 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.

• Benny Feilhaber came off the bench and played 5 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.

• Michael Parkhurst started, played 45 minutes and drew a yellow card in FC Nordsjaelland's 2-1 loss to AC Horsens on Sunday.

• Marcus Tracy did not play in Aalborg's 1-1 draw vs. Sonderjyske on Sunday.

Austria

• Preston Zimmerman started and played 45 minutes in Kapfenberg SV's 6-0 loss vs. Rapid Vienna on Saturday. 

Mexico

• Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 2-0 loss vs. Monterrey on Saturday.

• Michael Orozco started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in San Luis' 2-1 loss vs. Puebla on Sunday.

• Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 2-2 draw vs. UANL on Sunday.

• Daniel Hernandez did not dress in Chiapas' 0-0 draw vs. U.A. de G on Friday..

• Jesus Padilla and Chivas de Guadalajara play Atlas on Sunday evening.

American-born Players Playing for Other Countries

• Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started and played 67 minutes in Villarreal's 3-2 loss vs. Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

• Edgar Castillo (Mexico) started and played 90 minutes in America's 3-1 win vs. Cruz Azul on Saturday.

• Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 3-1 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

• Boaz Myhill (Wales) dressed but did not play in Hull City's 1-1 draw vs. Newcastle United on Saturday.

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What do you think of these performances? Think Dempsey is the best American plying his trade abroad? Hoping that Bradley is going to continue his scoring streak against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago? Is he the best American Abroad? Happy to see Pearce start even though it was at midfield? Glad to see Benny Feilhaber back in the mix?

Share your thoughts below.