By FRANCO PANIZO
Avoid relegation.
That is the main priority for several Americans Abroad as their respective season finales draw near, and for a trio of players, that goal is closer to becoming a reality after posting some much-needed wins this weekend.
Perhaps the biggest shocker was Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96's victory over Schalke 04. A week after holding Hamburg to a scoreless draw, Hannover defeated second-place Schalke, 4-2, to bring itself within one point of safety. The result is likely to give Cherundolo – who started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card – and Hannover a big boost in confidence as they head into their final four games of the season.
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United posted a second successive result, defeating Sunderland, 1-0, a week after tying Everton. The result lifted the Hammers four points clear of the relegation zone, and was the club's eighth shutout of the season. Spector started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card at left back in the match.
Jay DeMerit and Watford improved their position with a shutout victory against Plymouth Argyle. The struggling Championship side won 1-0, and is now three points above the drop zone with a month left of action.
Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:
England
PREMIERSHIP
- Tim Howard and Everton did not play this weekend.
- Jozy Altidore started, played 90 minutes, received a yellow card and got an ASSIST in Hull City 's 4-1 loss vs. Burnley on Saturday.
- Clint Dempsey did not dress in Fulham's 0-0 draw vs. Liverpool on Saturday. He is recovering from a thigh injury.
- Jonathan Spector started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in West Ham's 1-0 win vs. Sunderland on Saturday.
- Brad Friedel started and played 90 minutes in Aston Villa's 3-0 loss vs. Chelsea in the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday.
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Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 3-0 loss vs. Chelsea in the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday.
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Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 0-0 draw vs. Stoke City on Saturday.
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Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers did not play this weekend.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes in Watford's 1-0 win vs. Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
- Frank Simek dressed but did not play in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-0 loss vs. Middlesbrough on Saturday.
- Kenny Cooper came off the bench and played 1 minute in Plymouth Argyle's 1-0 loss vs. Watford on Saturday.
LEAGUE ONE
- Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Leyton Orient's 0-0 draw vs. Exeter City on Saturday.
- Jemal Johnson did not dress in Stockport County's 3-1 loss vs. Yeovil Town on Saturday.
- Jon-Paul Pittman started, played 80 minutes and scored a GOAL in Wycombe Wanderers' 2-0 win vs. Hartlepool United on Saturday.
- Mike Grella dressed but did not play in Leeds United's 2-0 win vs. Southend United on Saturday.
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Zak Whitbread did not dress in Norwich City's 1-1 draw vs. Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.
Scotland
- Maurice Edu and Rangers did not play this weekend.
- DaMarcus Beasley and Rangers did not play this weekend.
- Dominic Cervi dressed but did not play in Celtic's 2-0 loss vs. Ross County in the semifinals of the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
Italy
- Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 2-2 draw vs. Catania on Sunday.
Germany
BUNDESLIGA
- Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-0 win vs. Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
- Steve Cherundolo started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Hannover 96's 4-2 win vs. Schalke 04 on Saturday.
- Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 4-2 win vs. Schalke 04 on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 4-2 loss vs. Schalke 04 on Saturday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
- Ricardo Clark dressed but did not play in Eintracht Frankfurt's 2-0 loss vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.
- Daniel Williams dressed but did not play in SC Freiburg's 4-0 loss vs. Werder Bremen on Saturday.
- Jared Jeffrey did not dress in Mainz 05's 1-0 win vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 1-1 draw vs. FC Union Berlin on Saturday.
- Matt Taylor did not dress in FSV Frankfurt's 1-0 win vs. RW Oberhausen on Sunday.
- David Yeldell started, played 55 minutes and made one save in TUS Koblenz's 1-1 draw vs. Alemania Aachen on Friday.
France
- Carlos Bocanegra did not dress in Stade Rennes' 1-1 draw vs. Lorient on Saturday. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.
- Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 2-0 loss vs. St. Etienne on Saturday.
Portugal
- Gale Agbossoumonde did not dress in Sporting Braga's 2-1 win vs. Uniao de Leiria on Saturday.
Greece
- Freddy Adu started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in Aris Salonika's 2-1 loss vs. Asteras Tripoli on Sunday.
- Eddie Johnson came off the bench and played 16 minutes in Aris Salonika's 2-1 loss vs. Asteras Tripoli on Sunday.
Denmark
- Benny Feilhaber came off the bench and played 33 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 2-0 loss vs. Aalborg BK on Saturday.
- Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Koge on Monday.
- Marcus Tracy did not dress in Aalborg BK's 2-0 win vs. AGF Aarhus on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Chris Rolfe started, played 77 minutes and had an ASSIST in Aalborg BK's 2-0 win vs. AGF Aarhus on Saturday.
Sweden
- Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro BK play GAIS on Monday.
Norway
- Clarence Goodson started and played 90 minutes in IK Start's 4-3 win vs. Brann on Sunday.
- Hunter Freeman started and played 90 minutes in IK Start's 4-3 win vs. Brann on Sunday.
- Mikkel Diskerud started, played 87 minutes and received a yellow card in Stabaek's 0-0 draw vs. Lillestrom on Saturday.
Mexico
- Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 2-0 loss vs. Atlas on Saturday.
- Edgar Castillo did not dress in Tigres UANL's 0-0 draw vs. Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. on Friday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Marco Vidal started and played 90 minutes in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 2-1 win vs. Puebla on Sunday.
- Herculez Gomez started and played 90 minutes in Puebla's 2-1 loss vs. Indios de Ciudad Juarez on Sunday.
Argentina
- Michael Hoyos and Estudiantes La Plata play Racing Club on Monday.
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What do you think of these performances? How surprised are you by Cherundolo and Hannover's last two results? How do you see Spector and West Ham's season ending? Think DeMerit and Watford will avoid relegation?
Share your thoughts below