Americans Abroad: Midweek Rewind

By FRANCO PANIZO

AS Roma are one step closer towards winning some hardware and reaching the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League, and Michael Bradley is a big reason as to why that is.

Roma were locked in a scoreless stalemate with Fiorentina and penalty kicks were looming in their Coppa Italia quarterfinals match on Wednesday, but Bradley stepped up to help give the Giallorossi a 1-0 extra-time victory by playing a part in setting up the winner. Bradley hit a slick but simple pass in behind the defense in the first half of extra-time, and it allowed Miralem Pjanic to hit a low cross to Mattia Destro for the game’s only goal. Bradley and Roma now move on to the semifinals of the competition, where they will meet Inter Milan in a two-legged series.

More good news came on Tuesday, as Stuart Holden completed his long road to recovery by making a cameo off the bench in Bolton Wanderers’ 2-0 FA Cup victory over Sunderland. Holden played the final 16 minutes of the match, a confidence boost for the midfielder who has spent much of the past two years rehabbing a problematic knee injury.

Here’s how the Americans Abroad who were in midweek action performed:

ENGLAND

• Geoff Cameron started, played 120 minutes and received a yellow card in Stoke City’s 4-1 extra-time win vs. Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

• Maurice Edu did not dress for Stoke City.

• Sebastian Lletget dressed but did not play in West Ham United’s 1-0 loss vs. Manchester United in the FA Cup on Wednesday.

• Tim Ream dressed but did not play in Bolton Wanderers’ 2-0 win vs. Sunderland in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

• Stuart Holden came off the bench and played 16 minutes for Bolton Wanderers.

• Jonathan Spector did not dress in Birmingham City’s 2-1 loss vs. Leeds United in the FA Cup on Tuesday. He is recovering from an ankle injury.

• Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from a leg injury.

SPAIN