photo by Javier Garcia/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
When Clint Dempsey steps onto the field for Fulham on Saturday, he'll be looking to make history by becoming the American with most goals scored in a Premiership campaign. There's only one problem, though.
Tim Howard will stand between him and history.
Howard and Dempsey will do battle as Fulham and Everton square off in a match that could see the latter break Brian McBride's record for goals scored in a Premiership season. Dempsey will be aiming to score his tenth goal of the season while helping Fulham climb the standings, but Howard will hope to prevent that from happening en route to his seventh cleansheet of the campaign.
It's unlikely that Maurice Edu will square off against Dominic Cervi in the Scottish League Cup (Scottish Co-operative Insurance Cup), but Edu should see the field as Rangers tries to capture their 27th title in the tournament. Rangers, the current Scottish League Cup champs, could use the win as motivation as the club attempts to close the two-point gap Celtic holds atop the Scottish Premier League standings.
Here is a rundown of who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Amaechi Igwe, Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin. (Igwe is out injured.)
David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Luis Robles and Karlsruhe.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play Angers.
Benny Feilhaber and AGF Aarhus play Hobro.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Sarpsborg 08.
Sammy Ochoa and Estudiantes Tecos U.A. de G. play Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL.
SATURDAY
Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play Tottenham Hotspur.
Brad Friedel, Michael Bradley and Aston Villa play Marcus Hahnemann and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jermaine Jones and Blackburn Rovers play Blackpool.
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Manchester United.
Tim Howard and Everton play Clint Dempsey and Fulham.
Eric Lichaj and Leeds United play Sheffield United.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Crystal Palace.
Brad Guzan and Hull City play Zak Whitbread and Norwich City.
Eddie Johnson and Preston North End play Coventry City.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Swansea City. (Findley is out injured.)
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play AFC Bournemouth.
Mike Grella and Swindon Town play Huddersfield Town.
Anton Peterlin and Plymouth Argyle play Rochdale.
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play St Pauli.
Steve Cherundolo, DaMarcus Beasley and Hannover 96 play TSG Hoffenheim.
Timothy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Werder Bremen.
Daniel Williams and SC Freiburg play Bayern Munich. (Williams is out injured.)
Carlos Bocanegra and St Etienne play Lorient.
Gustavo Adrian Ruelas and Santos Laguna play Morelia.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Chiapas.
SUNDAY
Maurice Edu and Rangers play Dominic Cervi and Celtic in the Scottish Co-operative Insurance Cup.
Oguchi Onyewu and Twente Enschede play Excelsior.
Freddy Adu and Caykur Rizespor play Akhisar Belediyespor.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KAA Gent.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Esbjerg.
Marcus Tracy, Chris Rolfe and Aalborg BK play Lyngby. (Tracy is out injured.)
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Copenhagen. (Goodson is out injured.)
Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Lillestrom.
Edgar Castillo and Puebla play Necaxa.
Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Pachuca play Pumas UNAM.
MONDAY
Jozy Altidore and Bursaspor play Ankaragucu.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Dempsey scoring on Howard? Think Edu and Rangers will retain their championship? Relieved to finally see Feilhaber playing again after a long winter break?
Share your thoughts below.
He’s sitting next to Waldo.
I hope Demps breaks through. I’m starting to believe he is cursed after the penalty miss against Chelsea.
I’d love to read a twitter smack talk battle between these two (all in good fun)…only problem is Timmeh doesn’t dig the twitter.
A bit off topic but it looks like the US men might be playing Spain in Foxborough right before the Gold Cup.
Think that one will be fun?
http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2011/03/18/man_u_and_spain_have_foxborough_plans/
To link both of your points, Spector was inserted in to the game last weekend when Piquonne (i think) got injured instead of Robbie Keane (who was “fit”)… you can look at that in a variety of ways, I guess. He’s sure making a sweet buck, but perhaps Grant wasn’t ready. I’m just really glad they are playing much better. Looks like Demba Ba and Hitzlesberger were both fantastic signings this season. Hitz will take away from Spector’s potential playing time, but when you’re getting goals and W’s, it’s hard to argue against it.
Yeah, one of the best US Soccer photos ever. I saw that too! Is the guy in the duece US jersey a yank?
Looks like everybody hoped off the Spector bus. Hope he leaves WH in May and sign for a Bundesliga club. He’ll need to do something if he ever wants to regain his spot in the NT. Guys like Lichaj and Chandler are young and finding mins for their clubs and will be after his PT.
That being said how is Keane doing at WH? I know that guy Dembe Ba came in and took away Carlton Cole’s spot? But has Keane kept his place?
I pray Dempsey scores a brace. Sorry Timmy
You have some great eyes my friend.
Cool photo! I like the guy with the Dempsey USMNT shirt behind the goal.
Looking forward to getting back to some PL action. Last weekend’s FA Cup was fun and all, but this saturday is loaded with Yanks representing. Man City and Chelsea should be good on Sunday, but after the ManCity exit yesterday they might be a bit deflated.
Stu and Co. are going up against a pretty makeshift backline of United… still damn good backline, have you, but he could really grab some hadlines if things go well. I hope he scores 2 and United win 3-2, ha.
Torres of pachuca wants to beat an unbeaten pumas lol. If other teams beat them 4-0 imagine what pumas is going to do to them. Hope he gets atleast 1 goal.