By FRANCO PANIZO
Getting out of the dog house was a start. Now, it’s about distancing away from it.
Timmy Chandler earned his first appearance of the new Bundesliga season this past weekend by coming off the bench at halftime, and is hoping that his 45-minute performance can help him earn a start on Saturday vs. VfB Stuttgart. Chandler started the month a bit out of favor with Eintracht head coach Armin Veh, but looks to be winning him back over and could be in line for a start in the upcoming road game. Getting the nod would surely be a boost for Chandler, whose case to start at right back in the upcoming U.S. Men’s National Team friendlies would be strengthened if he can help his club pick up its first win of the season.
While it will be worth keeping tabs on Chandler’s role this weekend, there is another intriguing match that you might not want to miss. A potential battle of Americans and former club teammates could take place on Friday, as Joe Corona’s Veracruz welcomes Edgar Castillo and Monterrey. Both teams have gotten off to solid starts so far in the Liga MX Apertura campaign and are even on points, but Monterrey could create some distance while having a game in hand if it can slow down the in-form Joe Corona and Co. at Estadio Luis de la Fuente.
Two other Americans that are likely to be in action and will be keen on building on their midweek success are Tim Ream and Gedion Zelalem. Ream had a successful Fulham debut in Capital One Cup play on Tuesday, and is aiming to earn his first league start for his new club on Saturday against Rotherham United. Zelalem, for his part, will try and build on his two-assist debut for Rangers by getting the nod again when it returns to league play on Sunday by visiting Queen of the South.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Bobby Wood and FC Union Berlin play Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig. (Boyd is out injured.)
Caleb Stanko and SC Freiburg play Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen.
Joe Corona and Veracruz play Edgar Castillo and Monterrey.
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Sunderland.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play West Bromwich Albion.
DeAndre Yedlin and Tottenham Hotspur play Tim Howard and Everton.
Danny Williams, Andrija Novakovich and Reading play Brentford.
Cody Cropper and Milton Keynes Dons play Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Cardiff City.
Tim Ream, Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Rotherham United.
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play FC Augsburg.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play VfB Stuttgart.
Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht play Desevio Payne and FC Groningen.
A.J. Soares and Viking play Sandefjord.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Cruz Azul.
Jose Torres and Tigres UANL play Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro.
Greg Garza and Atlas play Pachuca.
Michael Orozco, Paul Arriola, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Morelia.
SUNDAY
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Borussia Dortmund.
Gedion Zelalem and Rangers play Queen of the South.
Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen play Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach. (Johnson is out injured.)
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Bordeaux.
Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Lillestrom.
Cole Grossman and Stabaek IF play Odd.
Zarek Valentin, Danny Cruz and FK Bodo/Glimt play Sarpsborg FK.
Rhett Bernstein, Erik Hurtado and Mjondalen IF play Stromsgodset.
Miguel Ibarra, William Yarbrough and Club Leon play Toluca.
Gabriel Farfan and Jaguares de Chiapas play Chivas de Guadalajara.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Think Chandler gets the start this weekend? Will either Corona or Castillo have a major impact in the Veracruz-Monterrey match?
Share your thoughts below.
GZ talks about his loan
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/gedion-zelalem-rangers-loan-can-make-me-a-star-1-3872238
Marvel Wynn is faster than yedlin. He’s not a phenom, just young and took advantage of his opportunity.