By FRANCO PANIZO
The last time AZ Alkmaar met Ajax, Jozy Altidore inspired his club to a big 3-0 win in cup play.
AZ will be hoping that history repeats itself this weekend.
In dire need of three points to distance themselves from the drop zone, AZ will attempt to snap their six-game winless streak when they host Ajax on Sunday. AZ will not be favored against the league leaders, but if Altidore can muster up another masterful performance – he scored twice and had an assist in their last meeting on Feb. 27 – the Cheese Farmers will have a good chance at pulling of the upset again.
Josh Gatt is also slated to be in action this weekend, as the 2013 Norwegian Tippeligaen season gets underway. Molde will attempt to go for their third straight league title when they visit Viking on Friday and Gatt should resume his place in the club’s starting lineup.
If you’re wondering what is the biggest match-up involving Americans Abroad, look no further than Timmy Chandler and Nurnberg’s clash against Jermaine Jones and Schalke. Both teams have gone unbeaten in league play in recent weeks and they will each be looking for a win before heading into the international break.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play FC Union Berlin.
Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play Volga Nizhny Novgorod.
Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Trabzonspor.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Viking.
Tim Howard and Everton play Manchester City. (Howard is out injured.)
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Queens Park Rangers.
Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play West Bromwich Albion.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Ipswich Town.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Middlesbrough. (Packwood is out injured.)
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Zak Whitbread and Leicester City.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Leyton Orient.
Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United play Notts County.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg play Hamburg SV.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Mainz.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play Bayern Munich.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Sporting Lisbon.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KAA Gent.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Trenkwalder Admira.
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play Aalborg BK.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play San Luis.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco Fiscal and Puebla play Pachuca.
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Chivas da Guadalajara.
Herculez Gomez, Benji Joya and Santos Laguna play Atlas.
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Monterrey.
SUNDAY
Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Fulham. (Dempsey is out injured.)
Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United play Chelsea.
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Espanyol.
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Xerez.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Parma.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play VfR Aalen.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Ajax.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Academica de Coimbra.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play Silkeborg IF.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Midtjylland.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play IK Start.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Odd.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Think Altidore will help AZ top Ajax? How do you see Gatt doing this season with Molde?
Share your thoughts below.