Clint Dempsey scored his sixth goal of the season on Tuesday to help Fulham climb out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion.
Fulham jumped all the way to 13th in the English Premier League standings with the win. Dempsey's goal made the score 2-0, with defender Brede Hangeland added an insurance goal to make the score 3-0. If you missed the match, here are the highlights:
Manchester United pushed its lead atop the Premier League standings to three points with a game in hand after a 2-1 victory against Stoke City. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez scored a goal and set up Nani's game-winner to push the Red Devils ahead of Manchester City with City taking on Arsenal today.
Birmingham City defeated Blackpool, 2-1, in Tuesday's other Premier League match.
Here are some other stories to get your Wednesday going:
Portugal-Argentina friendly canceled
According to internet reports on Wednesday morning, the scheduled friendly between Portugal and Argentina has been canceled.
The potential match-up featuring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo apparently fell apart because of problems with match promoters. The match was scheduled to be played on Feb. 9th in London at the Emirates Stadium.
Quick Kicks
Sky Sports is reporting that the Los Angeles Galaxy is open to loaning out David Beckham for the right price.
German publication Bild has linked the Philadelphia Union with Slovak playmaker Marek Mintal (33).
French defensive midfielder Ousmane Dabo (33) has told France Football he expects an MLS move this month.
French midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa has completed a transfer to Newcastle United after initially joining the Magpies on loan (and subsequently having his leg broken by Nigel deJong).
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What do you think of these developments? Think Dempsey can reach 10 goals this season? disappointed Portugal-Argentina won't happen? Surprised at all that the Galaxy might consider loaning Beckham out again?
Share your thoughts below.
Absolutely beautiful set piece on the 3rd goal. Notice that Dempsey leaves the goal line and draws out his defender and Hangeland heads it where Deuce and his defender would have been. Perfection.
Chicharito >>> Any American striker who has played in the EPL…and it is only his first year. USMNT is back where they belong, in the backseat to Mexico!! jajajajajaja!
If the Galaxy is seriously considering loaning Beckham *anywhere* just for the money, then AEG is a bigger bunch of money-grubbing bastards than even I thought — especially after Beckham suffered a torn Achilles tendon 10 months!
With all these friendlies, off-season tours and pseudo-tournaments, doesn’t anybody care about the players’ health? Apparently, AEG certainly doesn’t.
Then again, guess who was sponsoring Michael Jackson’s farewell tour before his untimely death? Guess who made as much money off Jackson’s death as possible?
Thanks. I did not know of the link between Team Beckham and Cosmos 2.0.
I’m torn about the revival of the Cosmos. I’m a native New Yorker and cheered for them like crazy in high school and college, but now I’m RBNY through and through. (I even live in New Jersey now.) I guess a local rivalry would be great, but the Cosmos need a lot — like a stadium — to be a viable franchise. More selfishly, I worry about dividing the loyalties of the NY market, even if it is the biggest in the country.
Thanks.
Yeah you are missing something. Garber has been more than candid in saying the next franchise he wants in the league is a second NY team.
Beckhams agent/manager/right-hand is a board member (I believe) of the new Cosmos.
Beyond that, the Cosmos brand in NY still remains huge. What was it, last year sometime, that they reinvigorated the Cosmos, I had three NY natives in my office who have never discussed soccer with me absolutely buzzing about it.
With no credible strikers, Donovan and Dempsey at their best when attacking, and Holden, Feilhaber, Bradley, Edu, Torres all at their best when playing central, it is time for USA to move to a 4-3-2-1 (or 4-1-2-2-1 or 4-3-3 if you will).