Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

By FRANCO PANIZO

It appears age is nothing but a number for Brad Friedel.

The 38-year-old Friedel posted his eighth shutout in Aston Villa's last ten league games by making five saves in the Villans' scoreless draw with Tottenham. Averaging less than a goal against per game, Friedel now has 11 cleansheets on the season.

Carlos Bocanegra did not help Stade Rennes record a shutout, but he was a part of the club's impressive and surprising 4-2 victory over league leaders Bordeaux. Having fallen out of favor in December, Bocanegra has now started five out of Rennes' last six matches at left back, which should put U.S. fans worried about his playing time at ease.

U.S. fans are also probably smiling about Jozy Altidore's latest showing. Altidore continued his fine run of form in Hull City's game with Manchester City, contributing with his first Premiership goal while also drawing yellow cards on both of the Citizens' centerbacks in Hull's 2-1 upset victory.

Altidore wasn't the only one to find the back of the net this weekend. In just his third appearance for Puebla, Herculez Gomez scored his first goal for the club, nodding home a free kick in the 1-1 draw vs. Atlante.

Here is how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:

England

PREMIERSHIP

• Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

• Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 2-1 loss vs. Birmingham on Sunday.

• Stuart Holden did not dress in Bolton Wanderers' 0-0 draw vs. Fulham on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

• Frank Simek started and played 90 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 loss vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

• Kenny Cooper came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Plymouth Argyle's 1-0 loss vs. West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

LEAGUE ONE

• Ian Joyce and Southend United play Colchester United on Monday.

• Zak Whitbread came off the bench and played 13 minutes in Norwich City's 2-1 loss vs. Millwall on Saturday.

• Mike Grella dressed but did not play in Leeds United's 2-2 draw vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.

• Jemal Johnson did not dress in Stockport County's 3-1 loss vs. Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.

• Jon-Paul Pittman dressed but did not play in Wycombe Wanderers' 4-1 loss vs. Yeovil Town on Saturday.

Scotland

• Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 0-0 draw vs. St Mirren in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.

• DaMarcus Beasley did not dress in Rangers' 0-0 draw vs. St Mirren in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury. 

• Dominic Cervi did not dress in Celtic's 4-2 win vs. Dunfermline Athletic in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Sunday.

Italy

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

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

• Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-0 loss vs. Mainz on Sunday.

• Steve Cherundolo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-1 loss vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday. He is recovering from a shoulder injury.

• Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 2-1 loss vs. TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

• Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 0-0 draw vs. SC Freiburg on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.

• Ricardo Clark did not dress in Eintracht Frankfurt's 3-2 win vs. Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

BUNDESLIGA 2 

• Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 3-0 win vs. SC Paderborn 07 on Sunday.

• Matt Taylor did not dress in FSV Frankfurt's 1-1 draw vs. Alemania Aachen on Sunday.

• David Yeldell did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 1-1 draw vs. Energie Cottbus on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.

France

• Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Stade Rennes' 4-2 win vs. Bordeaux on Saturday.

• Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 1-1 draw vs. AS Nancy Lorraine on Saturday. He is recovering from multiple injuries. 

Greece

• Freddy Adu and Aris Salonika were losing 1-0 vs. Panthrakikos on Saturday before the match was abandoned at halftime due to a waterlogged pitch.

• Eddie Johnson and Aris Salonika were losing 1-0 vs. Panthrakikos on Saturday before the match was abandoned at halftime due to a waterlogged pitch.

Mexico

• Jose Francisco Torres did not dress in Pachuca's 2-2 draw vs. San Luis on Saturday. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.

• Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL's 2-2 draw vs. Pumas UNAM on Saturday.

• Marco Vidal started and played 90 minutes in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 1-0 loss vs. Morelia on Sunday.

• Herculez Gomez started, played 61 minutes, received a yellow card and scored a GOAL in Puebla's 1-1 draw vs. Atlante on Sunday.

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What do you think of these performances? Do you wish Friedel was still playing for the U.S. national team? Are you done worrying over Bocanegra's playing time with Rennes? Think Altidore will continue the run of form he is currently enjoying until the end of the season? Impressed by Gomez's goal?

Share your thoughts below.