By FRANCO PANIZO
Before departing for his second U.S. Men’s National Team camp, Aron Johannsson will be looking to start a new scoring streak against the team directly above his club in the Eredivisie standings.
After having started and played 54 minutes in AZ Alkmaar’s Europa League qualifier vs. Atromitos on Thursday, Johannsson will attempt to help the Cheese Farmers knock off Vitesse Arnhem at home in a match-up between the ninth- and 10th-placed teams in the Nertherlands’ top tier. Johannsson has been kept off the scoresheet in his last two matches across all competitions after starting out the season by netting in five consecutive games, so expect him to try and find his scoring touch again.
Freddy Adu could be going up against a familiar foe this weekend. Adu earned his first start for Bahia on Wednesday in a Copa Sudamericana duel with Portuguesa de Desportos and the two teams are set to do battle again in a Serie A match on Saturday, one that may see Adu get significant minutes.
Alejandro Bedoya is aiming for his second straight start for his club, FC Nantes, this weekend, too. Bedoya is coming off a strong showing vs. Paris Saint-Germain, one that U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann praised Thursday, and another impressive outing should instill plenty of confidence in the 26-year-old midfielder before he heads off to join his American teammates for World Cup qualifying.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
FRIDAY
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play SV Sandhausen.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Cardiff City.
Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu, Brek Shea and Stoke City play West Ham United. (Edu is out injured.)
Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Crystal Palace.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Ipswich Town. (Packwood is out injured.)
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Blackburn Rovers. (Holden is out injured.)
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Charlton Athletic.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Wigan Athletic.
Danny Williams and Reading play Yeovil Town.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Mainz. (Cherundolo is out injured.)
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Michael Parkhurst and FC Augsburg.
John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play VfL Wolfsburg.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Bayer Leverkusen.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Stade de Reims.
Conor O’Brien and FC Nordsjaelland play FC Vestsjaelland.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Aalesund.
Jose Torres, Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Veracruz.
Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Atlas.
Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Jaguares de Chiapas. (Gomez is out injured.)
Freddy Adu and Bahia play Portuguesa de Desportos.
SUNDAY
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Arsenal.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Hellas Verona.
Fabian Johnson, Joe Gyau and TSG Hoffenheim play VfB Stuttgart.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Dynamo Dresden.
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Vitesse Arnhem.
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom’ Tomsk play Spartak Moscow.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Zulte-Waregem.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play Red Bull Salzburg.
Brian Span and Djurgarden IF play Elfsborg.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Tromso.
Josh Gatt, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Valerenga. (Gatt is out injured.)
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Atlante.
MONDAY
Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern play Energie Cottbus.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Johannsson scoring vs. Vitesse Arnhem? Think Adu is in store for another start for Bahia?
Share your thoughts below.
I’m hoping Adu starts or at least makes an appearance later today. Guy had a great game… Same for Bedoya & Vanilla Ice!
Who is this Freddy Adu? He plays soccer?
Good to see Adu getting minutes in Brasil.
Twenty bucks says that he doesn’t dress this weekend. He got the start in a throwaway cup game, he won’t play in a league match.
Hey, you gotta start somewhere. I am curious as to whether any American player has ever played in a Brazilian league match or earned a start before Adu. That would be a pretty cool first.
Cobi Jones w/Vasco De Gama
In fact I am a proud Zusi fan, and I will gladly say it in the face of the haters.
Let’s be honest with ourselves. We know better then to raise our hopes with adu.
Be honest with yer own dern self