By FRANCO PANIZO
There weren’t too many strong performances from Americans playing abroad this weekend, but two veteran defenders stood out for helping their clubs post respectable shutouts in tough environments.
Tim Ream went the distance at Anfield on Saturday to help Bolton play to a scoreless draw in their FA Cup tilt with Liverpool. Ream was on the left side of a new-look, three-man back line for the Trotters, and kept the likes of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho off the board to a force a replay at home on Feb 4. or 5.
Michael Orozco helped his side post a clean sheet in one of soccer’s biggest cathedrals this weekend. Orozco and Puebla entered Estadio Azteca on Saturday and came away with a valiant Liga MX point after holding Club America to a scoreless draw. Orozco played from whistle to whistle, but teammate Herculez Gomez did not get off the bench despite scoring in Puebla’s last two matches across all competitions.
There was another positive development in Mexico, as Joe Corona continued to make his way back from injury. After scoring in his return in a midweek Copa MX affair, Corona came off the bench to help Club Tijuana close out a 2-1 win over Tigres UANL on Saturday. Corona played the last 15 minutes of the game, securing the result that marked the Xolos’ third-straight victory in all competitions.
Here is how the Americans Abroad performed this weekend:
ENGLAND
Premiership
- Tim Howard and Everton did not play this weekend.
- Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win vs. AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Sunday.
- Brad Friedel dressed but did not play in Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 loss vs. Leicester City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- DeAndre Yedlin did not dress for Tottenham Hotspur.
- Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Rochdale in the FA Cup on Monday.
- Gedion Zelalem did not dress in Arsenal’s 3-2 win vs. Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Championship
- Jonathan Spector did not dress in Birmingham City’s 2-1 loss vs. West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- Will Packwood did not dress for Birmingham City. He is recovering from an injury.
- Tim Ream started and played 90 minutes in Bolton Wanderers’ 0-0 draw vs. Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest did not play this weekend.
- Danny Williams started and played 90 minutes in Reading’s 2-1 win vs. Cardiff City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
- Emerson Hyndman did not dress in Fulham’s 0-0 draw vs. Sunderland on Saturday. He was with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.
- Zak Whitbread did not dress in Derby County’s 2-0 win vs. Chesterfield in the FA Cup on Saturday. He is recovering from an injury.
- Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in Charlton Athletic’s 0-0 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
FRANCE
- Alejandro Bedoya dressed but did not play in FC Nantes’ 4-0 loss vs. Montpellier on Saturday.
NETHERLANDS
- Aron Johannsson started and played 77 minutes in AZ Alkmaar’s 1-1 draw vs. PEC Zwolle on Saturday.
- Rubio Rubin came off the bench and played 25 minutes in FC Utrecht’s 2-2 draw vs. FC Groningen on Sunday.
BELGIUM
- Sacha Kljestan came off the bench and played 31 minutes in RSC Anderlecht’s 2-0 loss vs. Standard Liege on Sunday.
MEXICO
- Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes in Puebla’s 0-0 draw vs. Club America on Saturday.
- Herculez Gomez dressed but did not play for Puebla.
- Greg Garza started and played 90 minutes in Club Tijuana’s 2-1 win vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
- Joe Corona came off the bench and played 15 minutes for Club Tijuana.
- Paul Arriola did not dress for Club Tijuana. He was with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.
- Jose Torres did not dress in Tigres UANL’s 2-1 loss vs. Club Tijuana on Saturday. He is recovering from an injury.
- Edgar Castillo started and played 65 minutes in Atlas’ 3-1 loss vs. Jaguares de Chiapas on Saturday.
- Ventura Alvarado came off the bench and played 28 minutes in Club America’s 0-0 draw vs. Puebla on Saturday.
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What do you think of these performances? Think Ream and Orozco are both deserving of USMNT looks in the near future? Expecting Corona to break back into Tijuana’s lineup soon?
Share your thoughts below.
Ream is the smartest player the USA has had in a long time.Not that gifted physically but intelligent in a Beckenbauer sort of way when he was playing for the Cosmos. To me , Intelligence trumps brute force, particularly when playing against superior teams.
Curious as Jurgen said he would add more of the Latin style to the team, but he hardly calls a good group of them. I have nothing against the dual nationals, as they are just as American as any of the others. Just funny how he says something, but doesn’t stick with it enough.
Klinsmann’s called in all those guys except for Alvarado and given them a good amount of minutes.
I think it’s fair to say that out Yanks Abroad EPL division is all but dead. Time to pull the plug.
Don’t care too much for the championship. The games are pretty sh!itty and there’s not too much football being played.
The Mexico Division it’s still exciting.
If they are going to a 3-5-2 I would think Ream will get a call. His type of game would fit in well especially if his club is playing it as well. I have a feeling that is why Tottenham let Yedlin come play. They are also experimenting with it, and it gives him the opportunity to play in a competitive game to understand the ebbs and flow outside a premier League game
Gedio?
Anyone else think that Aaron Baconnsson has been unsettlingly quiet since returning from injury?
No idea… i know he isn’t playing too much.
It seems like he had a small run in with the coach. This is the longest he has gone without scoring.
The end of last season he went longer
I feel like Ream isn’t getting enough love from Klinsi. Ream can play CB and LB in a four man back line and the left CB in a three man back line. With the rumors of Klinsi trying a 3-5-2 you’d think that kind of versatility woul get more looks. Especially since Ream has played so well the past two seasons.
Especially since he went the route that Klinsi is always pushing players to go. He has gone to Europe and earned consistent playing time. Even if he is not at the top of the depth chart, you would think that he would be part of the pool. (I know he was brought in for a camp, but he has not been brought in for any extended period of time.)
I disagree with these comments. He was very close to working his way back into the picture right before world cup but his withdrawal from the March camp ended up doing him in. But post-world cup he has been called in each time I believe. I’m a bit surprised he hasn’t gotten a start (only used a sub) in those callups, but he’s definitely fully on Klinsi’s radar.
Good to hear. Thanks!