Americans Abroad Wrap-Up

Another weekend of club action for American soccer players plying their trade abroad is in the books, with special recognition going to Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan who both scored fantastic goals (both are embedded in the following slides).

Let’s take a look at how the top Americans did this weekend in Europe and Mexico.

Stoke vs. QPR

Geoff Cameron took his usual spot in Stoke’s starting XI, but after playing the first half at right back, he switched over to the left in the second half—presumably in response to QPR’s Junior Holiett giving him too many problems on the right in the first half.

In the match, Cameron’s passing skills were on display on numerous occasions as he set up two of Stoke’s best chances.

Cameron has now played center midfield, right back and left back for Stoke, but ironically never as a center back, his position with the USMNT.

Stoke won the game 1-0 on a Charlie Adam goal off a set-piece.

Maurice Edu was not in the 18 for Stoke.

Tottenham vs. Manchester City

Tottenham lost a heartbreaker to Manchester City with both Clint Dempsey and Brad Friedel going the distance.

After taking an early lead in the 21st minute, Tottenham gave goals back in the 65th and then cruelly in the 88th minute.

City dominated play, but Tottenham played well defensively, keeping City to only a handful of decent chances. However, Spurs were unable to find a second goal on the counter and wasted the few chances they did create, allowing City to stay in the game.

Dempsey was uninvolved for long spells in the match, which has sadly become his modus operandi so far with Tottenham when deployed as the withdrawn striker.

Friedel played well, making a number of key stops and could do nothing about the two that went in.

The Villans

Brad Guzan started as Aston Villa took on league-leading Manchester United, but it was a day that all Villans would prefer to forget.

After scoring just before and just after the half to go up 2-0, Manchester United staged their obligatory late comeback, storming back to win the match 3-2.

In the 58th minute, Chicharito scored the first goal for United on a play that was half brilliant, half lucky as he took down a Paul Scholes service nicely and then slotted it between Guzan’s legs.

In the 63rd minute, Guzan was again beaten, again by Chicharito. This time Hernandez’s shot was probably going wide, but it was deflected into the Villa net by Villa center-back Ron Vlaar.

In the 65th minute, Guzan did well did get a strong hand on a long effort on a good shot from Wayne Rooney, but United was not finished.

In the 87th minute, United stole all three points when Chicharito once again beat Guzan on a beautiful header via a Robin van Persie free kick.

Eric Lichaj did not play due to a yellow-card suspension.

Everton

Everton continued their fantastic start to the 2012-13 Premier League campaign, staging a late second-half comeback to beat Sunderland 2-1.

In the 4th minute, Tim Howard had a great foot save to stop Stephane Sessegnon on an open chance from eight yards out.

In the 45th minute, Adam Johnson beat Howard on a nice half-volleyed attempt that Howard could do nothing about.

Everton worked its way back into the match, via nice second half goals from Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic.

Tim Howard finished the game with two saves.

Ze Germans

Jermaine Jones got the start and went 90 minutes as Schalke defeated Werder Bremen 2-1. Jones assisted on the game-winning goal.

Steve Cherudolo started and went 87 minutes in Hannover’s 4-2 win over Stuttgart.

Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams both started and went the distance for Hoffenheim in their 1-1 tie with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Down in Bundesliga 2, John Anthony Brooks started and went 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin’s 6-1 win over Sandhausen.

In the English Championship

Jonathan Spector started and went 90 minutes in Birmingham’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn. Will Packwood did not make the 18 for Birmingham.

Tim Ream lost his spot in the starting lineup again for Bolton and did not play in their 2-2 draw with Blackpool.

Zak Whitbread started and went the distance in Leicester’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Elsewhere in Europe

Carlos Bocanegra played 90 minutes in Racing Santander’s 1-0 loss to Girona.

Oguchi Onyewu saw his first league start for Malaga in their 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad, but Onyewu was at least partially responsible for both of Real Sociedad’s goals.

Michael Bradley started and went the distance in Roma’s 3-2 loss to Lazio.

Terrence Boyd’s Rapid Vienna lost 2-0 to RZ Pellets WAC. Boyd came on at the half, but was unable to help his team back into the match.

Mix Diskerud went the distance for Rosenborg, but they lost 1-0 to Fredrikstad.

Josh Gatt’s Molde beat Honefoss 1-0. Gatt played the second half, coming on at the break. The win secured the Tippeligaen title for Molde.

Michael Parkhurst’s Nordsjaelland played Charlie Davies’s Randers, tying the match 2-2. Parkhurst went the distance. Davies did not make it off the bench.

Conor O’Brien’s SonderjyskE was beaten up by OB in a 5-0 loss. It probably didn’t help that SonderjyskE played the final 54 minutes with only nine men as a result of two first-half red cards. O’Brien went the distance.

Clarence Goodson went the distance in Brondby’s 2-1 win over Silkeborg.

Goal No. 1

Sacha Kljestan’s Anderlecht beat Club Bruges 6-1.

Kljestan scored the fourth goal on a fantastic full-volleyed effort.

Plus, the announcer’s pronunciation of his name is just terrific.

Goal No. 2

Jozy Altidore had a brilliant goal in AZ Alkmaar’s 2-2 draw with ADO Den Haag.

His form is going to make it tough for USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to keep him off the roster in the future.

South of the Border

Herculez Gomez played the last 21 minutes of Santos Laguna’s 2-0 loss to Morelia.

Edgar Castillo started and went the distance in Tijuana’s 2-0 win over Guadalajara. Joe Corona did not play for Tijuana.

Jose Torres was not in the team for Pachuca’s 2-1 win over Jaguares.

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