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:
- 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
La Liga
- Oguchi Onyewu dressed but did not play in Malaga CF’s 2-2 draw vs. Barcelona in Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
ITALY
- Michael Bradley started, played 120 minutes and helped set up a goal in AS Roma’s 1-0 extra-time win vs. Fiorentina in Coppa Italia on Wednesday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07nw9O6dhF4?feature=player_detailpage]
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What do you think of these performances? Impressed by Bradley’s pass that helped initiate Roma’s winner? How much longer do you think it will take before Holden can start a match for Bolton?
Share your thoughts below.