by FRANCO PANIZO
The Americans Abroad must have known this was the final weekend before the U.S. national team's two European friendlies, because there was a plethora of positive performances and five different goal scorers in one of the most successful weekends in recent memory.
Clint Dempsey was one of those goal scorers, drawing and converting an equalizing penalty kick in Fulham's 1-1 draw vs. Wigan Athletic. Dempsey's goal marked the third straight game the midfielder has scored in.
A total of five Americans found the net this weekend, with Mike Grella and Jon-Paul Pittman scoring in FA Cup action and Marcus Tracy tallying one for Aalborg.
Perhaps the best goal of the bunch came from left back prospect Edgar Castillo. Castillo capped the scoring in Tigres UANL's 4-0 blanking over Atlante by beating four defenders before slotting home a perfect shot (video of the goal is after the jump).
The goals were just some of several highlights in a very good week for Americans Abroad. Here is a rundown of how the rest of the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:
England
PREMIERSHIP
- Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 2-1 win vs. West Ham United on Sunday.
- Jozy Altidore started and played 83 minutes in Hull City 's 2-1 win vs. Stoke City on Sunday.
- Clint Dempsey started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Fulham's 1-1 draw vs. Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
- Eddie Johnson did not dress in Fulham's 1-1 draw vs. Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
- Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham's 2-1 loss vs. Everton on Sunday.
- Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Aston Villa's 5-1 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
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Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 5-1 win vs. Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
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Marcus Hahnemann dressed but did not play in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 4-1 loss vs. Arsenal on Saturday.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Jay DeMerit did not dress in Watford's 2-0 win vs. Preston North End on Saturday. He is recovering from an eye injury.
- Frank Simek started and played 72 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 loss vs. Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
- Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend United's 3-0 loss vs. Gillingham in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- Zak Whitbread and Millwall play AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup on Monday.
- Mike Grella came off the bench, played 4 minutes and scored a GOAL in Leeds United's 2-0 win vs. Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- Jemal Johnson did not dress in Milton Keynes Dons' 1-0 win vs. Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- Jon-Paul Pittman started, played 81 minutes and scored a GOAL in Wycombe Wanderers' 4-4 draw vs. Brighton in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Scotland
- Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 2-1 win vs. St Mirren on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- DaMarcus Beasley came off the bench and played 45 minutes, helping set up the game-winning goal in Rangers' 2-1 win vs. St Mirren on Saturday.
- Dominic Cervi dressed but did not play in Celtic's 3-3 draw vs. Falkirk on Sunday.
Italy
- Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 2-1 win vs. Lazio on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
- Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 0-0 draw vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
- Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 2-2 draw vs. Hamburg SV on Sunday.
- Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-2 draw vs. Hamburg SV on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 1-1 draw vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- Kenny Cooper came off the bench and played 16 minutes in TSV 1860 Munich's 1-0 loss vs. Energie Cottbus on Sunday.
- Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 3-1 win vs. RW Oberhausen on Friday.
- Matt Taylor started and played 75 minutes in FSV Frankfurt's 0-0 draw vs. Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.
- David Yeldell started, played 90 minutes and made eight saves in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 loss vs. SC Paderborn 07 on Friday.
France
- Carlos Bocanegra started and played 66 minutes in Stade Rennes' 3-2 loss vs. Toulouse on Sunday.
Portugal
- Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in Belenenses' 3-0 loss vs. Pacos de Ferreira on Friday.
- Kamani Hill did not dress in Vitoria de Guimaraes' 1-0 win vs. Braga on Saturday.
Denmark
- Benny Feilhaber started and played 90 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 1-1 draw vs. Koge on Saturday.
- Jeremiah White started and played 75 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 1-1 draw vs. Koge on Saturday.
- Danny Califf did not play in FC Midtjylland's 2-1 win vs. Randers FC on Sunday.
- Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 1-0 win vs. Sonderjyske on Sunday.
- Marcus Tracy started, played 74 minutes and scored a GOAL in Aalborg's 1-0 win vs. FC Copenhagen on Sunday.
Mexico
- Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 3-0 loss vs. Toluca on Sunday.
- Michael Orozco dressed but did not play in San Luis' 4-2 win vs. Santos on Saturday.
- Edgar Castillo started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Tigres UANL's 4-0 win vs. Atlante on Saturday.
- Marco Vidal started, played 70 minutes and received a yellow card in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 1-0 loss vs. Chiapas on Saturday.
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What do you think of these performances? Have Dempsey's goal-scoring ways convinced you he should play up top for the national team? Impressed by Castillo's run-and-finish? Happy to see so many Americans Abroad score? Think Beasley is ready to find his form?
Share your thoughts below.
Altidore will also wind up to be worthless. He cannot andwill not take the Us to the next level. he doesnt have the technique nor soccer IQ. You can see it. He is very limited. Anyone who attended MLS games could see this. Eddie Johnson is apparently an american; but what has he done? His last few season in the MLS were pathetic- an insult to those of us who big money to attend and sponsor the MLS. a million per year? Really? this is the big joke and scam. And what has he done since? Nothing Nothing for MLS, US, or Fulham. The main question is: why did he get massive disproportionate attention, resources, coaching, funding? Yet a player like Chris Rolfe has had to go begging for his 35k/year. who for years made less tthan 20k/year? It is down-right sickening and disturbing that this happens. Adu? could that word please never be mentioned again here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwQ-wj2kLpw
Video of Tracy’s goal…
One of the best days in a while for Americans Abroad.
Enough with your sh*t. I mean seriously you’re complaining about Eddie Johnson? The man was born in the USA.
Especially considering if he did, he’d be one of the best players on the team.
Agreed. I don’t understand why people act like they hope he doesn’t regain his form.
Yeah, he’s just being a racist ass, as usual.
No, apparently he had a wicked free kick that Kirkland saved.
i am ready to see Castillo play with the US! hope he is the fit at LB that we need.
also could JP get a call in, maybe he is on a tare this year with goals. worth a shot.
Since its going to be two games next week i expect an extra roster spot or two. I know at least the Fowards are gonna be…. Altidore,Casey,Cooper,EJ. Dempsey will probaly play RM with Holdens absence with White as his backup. And we will see Cunningham in Juanuary.
So I guess Altidore, Adu, Holden, Howard, and all the other players who couldve played for another country should be excluded too? Ur pathetic, go play in traffic.
After Heydudes pathetic performance against RSL he never deserves to play for the nats again. period. Id be ok with Rogers.
Edgar Castillo would add another element of speed to the U.S. National Team. Add anothers speedy foward like findley and you have a promising team for south africa.
Bradley puts Dempsey in a reserved-forward role, or an attacking center midfield role, and Duece will thrive. He is very dangerous around the goal and ALWAYS puts himself in a scoring chance position for Fulham. Once Bradley figures out how to fit him in, maybe employing a 4-3-3 with Dempsey and the attacking midfielder roaming in front of the back line, similar to how Xavi finds space in front of the back line of the defense, the MNT will be a threat to opposing defenses.
These friendlies coming up are more about fixing our problems than showing off our strengths.
Nice weekend for the AA’s. Can’t wait to see the MNT roster selection. I hope there are more European based players picked than MLS, considering the lack of European fringe players that have been called in. Wonder why Boca was called off in the 66th minute. Very strange for a defender to be subbed out.
Very happy to see a fantastic weekend for our AA’s. Lots of starting and scoring.
Hey SBI, when is Bradley gonna release the roster for the upcoming friendlies…..i suppose he waited for the LA Galaxy/Chivas game before he will release the roster…..probably by midnight or so…..waiting and i guess he’ll have to play those games without Landycakes
Nice pic of Clint doing the Shaka.
Really…Never?? Wow some of the stupid things people on this board will say. Right now he doesn’t deserve it, but if he hits on his old stride you damn well better believe he desereves a call up. Seriously some of the stuff people will spew out.
thank you madmax, beasley has played about 83 minutes this season but remember one time he used to be fast.
Beasley should never ever see a USMNT again.
This is excactly why I ask. I have never heard any harmful comment regarding his move to the USMNT. To me it seems more like Mexicans in general don’t care , not because he is a bad player but because he is not needed as he might be needed here.
I’m also curious to know their previous behaviors. I just never hear anyone criticizing the US.
To me, he is not even worth it. I can’t understand the hype about this guy. He is a defender who can’t defend. I dont think he would fit the systems the US implements.
damn, my original post was deleted :'(
I haven’t heard anything either, in fact, when they do criticize him its for his lack of discipline. It’s easy to generalize the tabloids as being the entire Mexican media.
No, that’s not what he means. Almost every remark is a jingoistic diatribe about how he wishes those “non-Americans” playing for the national team– almost always dark skinned, by the way– would not get recognition in favor of more “All-American talent.
I second the sentiment below, just go away. They’re putting on our shirt and playing hard when they do. That’s more than you can say.
Let me guess you wrote the CNBC piece about the American who won the New York Marathon as well.
Go away troll
Freddy Adu dressed
Isn’t it time for a Freddy call-up Bob?
Signed,
Friends of Beasley call-up.
Sooo, are there a lot of Russians watching league one?
I really wish theinclusion of Jermaine Jones, “American overseas” report. He hasnt proven he is an American in any way, shape or form. It is preposterous, ridiculous and insulting to the Americans really playing abroad.
By recruited do you mean college? Notre Dame wanted him but they didn’t offer enough money. I agree though, Clint is a beast. Sometimes its better when there underhyped. It makes them work harder to get noticed. All Adu has had to do is be in the limelight to get attention for no reason.
Deuce has been a phenomenonsince he was 15 years old. But why wasnt he heavily recruited? Why wasnt he the Adu of his time? Why did he have to prove himself over and over before national team selection? Why did Eddie Johnson and Adu making millions when Deuce was making crumbs? The answer is obvious.
are you talking about the goal? wasn’t it a PK?
i have no real examples, but based on their behavior in the past I can only imagine that they would try to salvage some sort of pride by claiming hes more dedicated to the tigres than the USMNT, thereby denigrating the USMNT. As Ives added, i think he’ll show up with gringo torres for the denmark game and will probably play 45 or so
considering how the goal was scored, that isn’t relevant at all
they were chasing the game so they took off boca and replaced him with bangoura, who is sick.
It must be pointed out that Castillo’s goal came with Tigres playing two men up.
What has the Mexican media done regarding castillo? I haven’t heard anything. Maybe i just dont watch enough tv.
why did Boco only go 66 minutes? Was he injured?
Ives,
Good to see such a busy weekend. When can we expect to see Jermaine Jones back on the field? Is he close??
No idea if this mean’s anything but Robbie Rogers twitter says
“Arrived… Long day getting some coffee with dukes”
Is this saying he and the Hey Dude are back in Cali, or in Bratislava. The Suspense is killing me haha.
best weekend i have ever read about the yanks that are abroad.
Heard Clint’s FK was sick. I’d like to see him take a few for the Nats.
texar,
would not surprise me to see him stay for pachuca then fly out, per bradley’s decision/permission. I can guarantee you the mexican media is playing up the “id rather play mexican club than US natl team” angle. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to decline a call up after he just got his papers switched.
(SBI-This does look to be the more likely scenario at this point. I’ve been told that he was, in fact, called in. Whether that changed for some reason remains to be seen, but I find it difficult to believe that Castillo would flat-out snub a call-up. The Mexican media has really done a real number on Castillo, which is part of the reason he wound up not doing The SBI Questions (hopefully that changes). I would expect Castillo and Jose Torres to miss the Slovakia match, but join the team ahead of the Denmark match.)
Wow, pretty good weekend.
Nice to see Castillo score that way, could be good to have that for the US national team. Also Pittman needs to be called in to be looked at.
Way to go Pittman! 6 goals this season. Wycombe’s top goal scorer. Shame the defense/keeper suck.