Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

 

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan made his home debut for Everton this weekend, and in it he helped Everton hand Manchester City something the Citizens had not received in a month: A loss.

Donovan enjoyed his second consecutive solid outing in the Toffees' 2-0 win, constantly threatening Manchester City's back line with his darting runs down the flank and deadly crosses, two of which almost resulted in goals.

Donovan even came close to scoring his first goal in the English Premier League when a chip (which may have been a cross) beat goalkeeper Shay Given, but curled just wide of the far post.

This weekend also saw several Americans make their debuts for their new clubs. Zak Whitbread made a late cameo for Norwich City, while Herculez Gomez got his first taste of Mexican League soccer in Puebla's 1-0 loss to Tigres UANL. Eddie Johnson also made his league debut in Aris Salonika's 1-0 victory.

Here is how the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

• Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 2-0 win vs. Manchester City on Saturday.

• Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. West Ham on Sunday.

• Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made seven saves, including a penalty kick stop, in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 2-0 loss vs. Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

• Frank Simek dressed but did not play in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 win vs. Barnsley on Saturday.

LEAGUE ONE

• Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend United's 2-1 loss vs. Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

• Zak Whitbread came off the bench and played 7 minutes in Norwich City's 5-0 win vs. Colchester United on Saturday.

• Mike Grella came off the bench and played 5 minutes in Leeds United's 2-0 loss vs. Exeter City on Saturday.

• Jemal Johnson stdid not dress in Milton Keynes Dons' 5-0 win vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.

• Jon-Paul Pittman started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Wycombe Wanderers' 2-1 loss vs. Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Scotland

• Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday.

• DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 1-0 win vs. Hamilton Academical on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury. 

• Dominic Cervi did not dress in Celtic's 1-1 draw vs. Falkirk on Saturday.

Italy

• Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 4-0 win vs. Siena on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

• Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-1 loss vs. VfL Bochum on Saturday.

• Steve Cherundolo started and played 54 minutes in Hannover 96's 3-0 loss vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

• Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 3-0 loss vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

• Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 1-0 win vs. Nurnberg on Sunday. He is recovering from a leg injury.

BUNDESLIGA 2

• Kenny Cooper did not dress in TSV 1860 Munich's 2-2 draw vs. TUS Koblenz on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury. 

• Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 3-0 loss vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Satuday.

• Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 34 minutes in FSV Frankfurt's 5-0 loss vs. MSV Duisburg on Sunday.

• David Yeldell did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw vs. TSV 1860 Munich on Sunday. He is recovering from a leg injury.

France

• Carlos Bocanegra dressed but did not play in Stade Rennes' 1-1 draw vs. Lens on Saturday.

Portugal

• Kamani Hill did not dress in Vitoria de Guimaraes' 2-2 draw vs. Vitoria Setubal on Saturday.

Greece

• Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in Aris Salonika's 1-0 win vs. Giannina on Sunday.

• Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Aris Salonika's 1-0 win vs. Giannina on Sunday.

Mexico

• Jose Francisco Torres came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Pachuca's 3-0 win vs. Estudiantes U.A. de G on Saturday.

• Michael Orozco did not dress in San Luis' 5-1 loss to Club America on Sunday. Orozco is linked to a move to MLS and the Philadelphia Union. 

• Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL's 1-0 win vs. Puebla on Sunday.

• Marco Vidal did not dress in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 4-0 loss vs. Monterrey on Saturday.

• Herculez Gomez came off the bench and played 38 minutes in Puebla's 1-0 loss vs. Tigres UANL on Sunday.

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What do you think of these performances? How happy are you to see Donovan thriving with Everton? Do you see Whitbread or Gomez having big seasons with their new clubs? Think Johnson will thrive with Aris?

Share your thoughts below.