By FRANCO PANIZO
There is not a whole lot to play for for the remaining members of the Americans Abroad contingent, but DeAndre Yedlin and Totttenham are among the few exceptions.
Tottenham enters the final weekend of the Premier League campaign still in the hunt for fifth place and the UEFA Europa League berth that comes with it, but the club needs a victory coupled with a Liverpool loss to Stoke City to move up the table. Spurs have the benefit of taking on an Everton side that has only pride to play for, but the game is on the road at Goodison Park. Yedlin seems unlikely to start for Tottenham in the match, but could again be an option off the bench for manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Another American still with much at stake going into his club’s final match is Bobby Wood. FC Erzgebirge is currently in the 2. Bundesliga relegation zone, and only a win with some outside help can assure it of avoiding the drop. Wood should be in the lineup for Ezgebirge for its Sunday visit to Heidenheimer, and will surely be hoping to get on the scoresheet so as to help the side that was willing to take a chance on him this past winter.
Jonathan Bornstein also has added incentive to win this weekend. Bornstein and Queretaro host Pachuca on Sunday in the second leg of their Liga MX Liguilla semifinals series, and a win there could advance the White Roosters to the championship bout. Bornstein has been seeing time lately for the club, and might be used as a starter in the decisive clash because of his experience.
Here is who the Americans Abroad battle this weekend:
FRIDAY
Josh Gatt, Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Mjondalen.
SATURDAY
Joe Gyau and Borussia Dortmund play Werder Bremen. (Gyau is out injured.)
Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play FC Augsburg.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play Bayer Leverkusen.
Julian Green and Hamburg SV play Schalke 04.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play TSG Hoffenheim.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Lens.
SUNDAY
Gedion Zelalem and Arsenal play West Bromwich Albion. (Zelalem is with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.)
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Burnley.
Tim Howard and Everton play DeAndre Yedlin, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Liverpool.
Bobby Wood and FC Erzgebirge Aue play Heidenheimer SB.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Kaiserslautern.
Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig play Jann George and SpVgg Greuther Furth. (Boyd is out injured.)
Andrew Wooten and SV Sanhausen play VfL Bochum.
Conor O’Brien and FC Magna Wiener Neustadt play Rapid Vienna.
Heath Pearce and IFK Goteborg play Halmstad.
Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro play Pachuca in the Liga MX Liguilla.
MONDAY
Zarek Valentin, Danny Cruz and FK Bodo/Glimt play Lillestrom.
Cole Grossman and Stabaek IF play Rosenborg BK.
AJ Soares and Viking play Aalesund.
Freddy Adu, Stephen McCarthy and Kuopion Palloseura play HIFK.
Which of these matches are you most anticipating? Do you see Yedlin and Tottenham moving into that fifth-placed spot? Expecting Wood and Ezrgebirge to avoid the drop?
Share your thoughts below.
Anyone know why Freddy Adu has not been playing the last few weeks in league games?
Regardless if Aue are relegated, some team in 2nd Ligue will probably scoop Bobby Wood up.
After his performances with Aue, I could see a yo-yo club like Kaiserslautern, Nurnberg or Bochum picking him up, which would be a step up.
Sorry, but nobody will pick him. Maybe JK.
josh gatt leaves the game injured after 4 minutes…non contact play. wow. bummed for him.
That’s such horrible news. Another American Nat lost to injury…
again…why is alex dejohn of ik start not on this list? he’s played in all but one game in the tippeligaen for start. just saying.
He is not American…
He’s from New Jersey