By FRANCO PANIZO
Two of the most in-form Americans right now will attempt to outdo one another on Saturday.
Juan Agudelo and Aron Johannsson will go head to head for the first time in their careers as FC Utrecht pays a visit to AZ Alkmaar. Both forwards have found ways to make impacts for their respective clubs in recent weeks, and they will hope for that to be the case again as they try to raise their U.S. Men’s National Team stocks ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Jozy Altidore is another young forward who will aim to find the back of the net. Altidore is sorely in need of a goal after failing to get on the scoresheet since Dec. 4, and he should get an opportunity to do so for the relegation-threatened Black Cats as they host Southampton in an FA Cup clash on Saturday.
For Jermaine Jones, this weekend could mark his Besiktas debut. Jones was recently dealing with a minor groin injury, but has recovered and could be deemed healthy enough to partake in Sunday’s home game vs. Bursaspor.
Here is who the Americans Abroad square off against this weekend:
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Mainz.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich.
Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Santos Laguna.
SATURDAY
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town. (Spector is out injured.)
Brek Shea and Barnsley play Doncaster Rovers.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Millwall. (Holden is out injured.)
Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Cody Cropper and Southampton in the FA Cup.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sheffield Wednesday play Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup. (Onyewu is out injured.)
Fabian Johnson and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play VfB Stuttgart.
Andrew Wooten and FSV Frankfurt play Dynamo Dresden.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Nice.
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play Juan Agudelo and FC Utrecht.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Trenkwalder Admira.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Cruz Azul.
Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Club Leon.
Jonathan Bornstein and Atlante play Pachuca.
Jose Torres and Tigres UANL play Jaguares de Chiapas.
SUNDAY
Danny Williams and Reading play Queens Park Rangers.
Tim Howard and Everton play Swansea City in the FA Cup.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play FC Augsburg. (Chandler is out injured.)
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play VfL Wolfsburg.
Jermaine Jones and Besiktas play Bursaspor.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play RAEC Bergen Mons.
—–
Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? See both Agudelo and Johannsson scoring? Think Altidore will snap his scoreless streak?
Share your thoughts below.