By FRANCO PANIZO
Jozy Altidore may have recently celebrated Sunderland’s advancement in the Capital One Cup, but he is still looking to break a scoring drought that dates back to early December.
He should have a good chance to do that this weekend.
Sunderland will turn their attention from one cup to another on Saturday, as they host Kidderminster Harriers of England’s fifth division in an FA Cup tilt. The Black Cats are coming off a penalty-kick win over Manchester United after 120 taxing minutes on Wednesday, so fresh legs like Altidore’s (he played just 34 minutes vs. the Red Devils) will likely be counted on to start and score against Kidderminster.
While Altidore will be attempting to snap his scoreless run of games, Aron Johannsson will be trying to add to his current goal-scoring streak. Johannsson has returned from the winter break in impressive fashion, scoring in two straight matches, and he will try and add to that when he and seventh-placed AZ Alkmaar take to the road to face underwhelming PSV Eindhoven.
The German Bundesliga will return from its winter break this weekend, and with it comes a potentially interesting match-up involving U.S. Men’s National Team pool players Timmy Chandler and Fabian Johnson. Chandler is aiming to help Nurnberg pick up three points in an effort to climb out of the relegation zone, but Johnson and Hoffenheim will look for a victory on the road, making the two players’ projected match-up on the flank all the more interesting.
In the Netherlands, Juan Agudelo secured his Dutch work permit on Friday and will be available for FC Utrecht’s match against Roda JC on Saturday.
Here is who the Americans Abroad battle this weekend:
FRIDAY
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Preston North End in the FA Cup.
Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Morelia.
SATURDAY
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Swansea City in the FA Cup. (Spector is out injured.)
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Cardiff City in the FA Cup. (Holden is out injured.)
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town play Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sheffield Wednesday play Rochdale in the FA Cup.
Cody Cropper and Southampton play Yeovil Town in the FA Cup.
Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup.
Tim Howard and Everton play Stevenage in the FA Cup.
Zak Whitbread and Derby County play Blackburn Rovers.
Danny Williams and Reading play Ipswich Town.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Fabian Johnson and TSG Hoffenheim.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play VfL Wolfsburg.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Eintracht Frankfurt.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Stade de Reims.
Juan Agudelo and FC Utrecht play Roda JC Kerkrade.
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play PSV Eindhoven.
Jose Torres and Tigres UANL play Pumas UNAM.
SUNDAY
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu and Stoke City play Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Hamburg SV.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Club Brugge.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Jaguares de Chiapas.
Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Toluca.
Jonathan Bornstein and Atlante play Chivas de Guadalajara.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Altidore starting and scoring? Think Johannssson will extend his goal-scoring streak to three games? Who will win between Chandler’s Nurnberg and Johnson’s Hoffenheim?
Share your thoughts below.