Photo by Robin Parker/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
In the same week that long-time U.S. Men’s National Team right back Steve Cherundolo retired, two players staked their claims as his potential long-term successor.
Geoff Cameron likely further convinced U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann that he is a more than capable right back by turning in another solid performance that included a goal in Stoke City’s 4-1 rout of Aston Villa on Sunday. Cameron netted the final goal in the victory at Villa Park, making a late run into the penalty area and hitting a composed finish past fellow American Brad Guzan to notch his second of tally the season.
Fabian Johnson was the other player to make an impact for his club. Johnson, who was again playing as a right back for Hoffenheim, set up the game-winning goal in a 3-2 triumph vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. The assist marked the second straight week in which Johnson has directly helped create a goal.
It was not all good news, however. Aron Johannsson missed out on a chance to add to his impressive goal-scoring total this season by having a penalty kick saved in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 win vs. PEC Zwolle, Jose Torres left played just 32 minutes for Tigres UANL before coming off with an injury, and Hertha Berlin’s defense conceded three goals in a defeat that came in John Brooks’ return to the starting lineup.
Here is how the Americans Abroad did this weekend:
ENGLAND
Premiership
- Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Everton’s 3-2 win vs. Swansea City on Saturday.
- Jozy Altidore started and played 90 minutes in Sunderland’s 2-0 loss vs. Norwich City on Saturday.
- Geoff Cameron started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Stoke City’s 4-1 win vs. Aston Villa on Sunday.
- Brek Shea dressed but did not play for Stoke City.
- Brad Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa’s 4-1 loss vs. Stoke City on Sunday.
- Brad Friedel dressed but did not play in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-2 win vs. Southampton on Sunday.
- Cody Cropper did not dress in Southampton’s 3-2 loss vs. Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
- Sebastian Lletget did not dress in West Ham United’s 2-0 loss vs. Manchester United on Saturday.
CHAMPIONSHIP
- Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday’s 1-0 loss vs. Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
- Danny Williams did not dress in Reading’s 2-1 win vs. Birmingham City on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Duane Holmes dressed but did not play in Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 loss vs. Blackpool on Saturday.
- Will Packwood started and played 90 minutes Birmingham City’s 2-1 loss vs. Reading on Saturday.
- Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes for Birmingham City.
- Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers’ 2-2 draw vs. Yeovil Town on Saturday.
- Stuart Holden did not dress for Bolton. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- Eric Lichaj did not dress in Nottingham Forest’s 5-0 loss vs. Derby County on Saturday. He is recovering from a groin injury.
- Zak Whitbread dressed but did not play in Derby County’s 5-0 win vs. Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
- Gboly Ariyibi did not dress in Leeds United’s 2-1 win vs. Millwall on Saturday.
GERMANY
Bundesliga
- Fabian Johnson started, played 90 minutes and had an ASSIST in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s 3-2 win vs. Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm1uhbliYGc]
- John Brooks started and played 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 3-0 loss vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.
- Timmy Chandler did not dress in FC Nurberg’s 5-2 loss vs. Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
- David Yelldell dressed but did not play in Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-2 loss vs. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Bundesliga 2
- Alfredo Morales started and played 90 minutes in FC Ingolstadt 04’s 0-0 draw vs. St Pauli on Saturday.
- Bobby Wood dressed but did not play in TSV 1860 Munich’s 1-0 loss vs. Kaiserslautern on Sunday.
- Andrew Wooten came off the bench and played eight minutes in FSV Frankfurt’s 0-0 draw vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday.
FRANCE
- Alejandro Bedoya came off the bench and played 39 minutes in FC Nantes’ 2-1 win vs. Montpellier on Saturday.
NETHERLANDS
- Aron Johannsson started, played 73 minutes and failed to convert a penalty kick in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 win vs. PEC Zwolle on Sunday.
- Juan Agudelo and FC Utrecht did not play this weekend.
TURKEY
- Jermaine Jones came off the bench and played 37 minutes in Besiktas’ 3-0 win vs. Akhisar Belediyespor Sunday.
BELGIUM
- Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht did not play this weekend.
DENMARK
- Conor O’Brien came off the bench and played 18 minutes in Odense BK’s 2-1 win vs. Brondby IF on Sunday.
- Babajide Ogunbiyi came off the bench in second-half stoppage time in Viborg FF’s 1-0 loss vs. FC Vestsjaelland on Friday.
AUSTRIA
- Terrence Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Rapid Vienna’s 3-0 win vs. Wolfsberger AC on Saturday.
MEXICO
- DaMarcus Beasley started and played 90 minutes in Puebla’s 3-1 loss vs. Club Tijuana on Saturday.
- Michael Orozco started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card for Puebla.
- Jose Torres started and played 32 minutes before coming off with an injury in Tigres UANL’s 2-0 loss vs. Queretaro on Saturday.
- Jonathan Bornstein came off the bench and played 11 minutes in Atlante’s 2-1 win vs. Toluca on Sunday.
- Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana’s 3-1 win vs. Puebla on Friday.
- Herculez Gomez came off the bench, played 15 minutes and received a yellow card for Club Tijuana.
- Joe Corona dressed but did not play for Club Tijuana.
- Greg Garza dressed but did not play for Club Tijuana.
- Paul Arriola did not dress for Club Tijuana.
- Alejandro Guido did not dress for Club Tijuana.
- Fernando Arce Jr did not dress for Club Tijuana.
- Joaquin Alonso Hernandez dressed but did not play in Monterrey’s 2-1 win vs. Pumas UNAM on Sunday.
- Gabriel Farfan did not dress in Jaguares de Chiapas’ 2-0 loss vs. Pachuca on Saturday.
- Michael Farfan dressed but did not play in Cruz Azul’s 0-0 draw vs. Club Leon on Saturday.
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What do you think of these performances? Would you prefer to see Cameron or Johnson at right back for the USMNT? Which piece of bad news (Johannsson’s missed penalty kick, Torres’ knock, Hertha’s showing in Brooks’ return) is most concerning to you?
Share your thoughts below.