Americans Abroad Wrap

It was a crazy week for Americans abroad with goals from Clint Dempsey, Terrence Boyd and Conor O’Brien, assists for Clarence Goodson and Sacha Kljestan, and an assist and a red card for Jermaine Jones.

Additionally, nine Americans were involved in matchups against their own countrymen, a good sign for the increasing prevalence of Americans playing in Europe.

Here is a breakdown of the action.

Tottenham vs. Everton

This matchup between Americans Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard had a little bit of everything.

With both teams fighting for spots in the top four in England this season, the action was intense from the get-go, even though the game remained scoreless into the second half.

It was Dempsey who eventually opened the scoring in the 76th minute on a shot that caromed off Everton defender Sylvain Distin and over Howard.

However, Everton’s persistence finally paid off with an equalizer in the 90th minute and the game-winner in the 92nd minute.

Dempsey’s ability to get forward was somewhat limited throughout the game by Everton midfielder Seamus Coleman’s continual runs forward, but Dempsey continues to look more settled with Spurs in each game.

Hugo Lloris was again strong for Tottenham, especially on a first-half breakaway, but may have been able to do better on Everton’s late equalizer.

Still, it looks unlikely Brad Friedel will be reclaiming the No. 1 job for Spurs anytime soon.

Tim Howard did not have a lot to do on the day, but did very well to parry away a set-piece blast from Jan Vertonghen in the 56th minute.

Stoke City vs. Aston Villa

Three Americans were on the field for the full 90 in this matchup with Brad Guzan, Geoff Cameron and Eric Lichaj taking their places in their respective team’s lineups.

Cameron started off as a left-back for Stoke, but was moved to right center-back as Stoke manager Tony Pulis changed to a three-back formation to counter Villa’s three-back 15 minutes into the match.

Cameron struggled a bit, especially in the first half against Villa forward Christian Benteke, who both outmuscled Cameron and beat him repeatedly on the dribble.

Eric Lichaj played as a right wing-back in Villa’s 3-5-2 and got forward a few times with mixed results.

Late in the first half Lichaj put an absolutely gorgeous ball across the face of the net, but no one got on the end of it. He had at least one nice service from the flank in the second half as well, but also blasted a shot attempt so wide that it went out of bounds.

If Jurgen Klinsmann is looking for a “nastier” outside back, a term he alluded to this summer, Lichaj may be his man. In the 53rd minute, Lichaj absolutely wasted Ryan Shotton on the touchline in retaliation for a foul on one of Lichaj’s Villa teammates.

Guzan had little to do in this offensive snoozefest that ended 0-0.

Maurice Edu did not make the 18 for Stoke.

Ze Germans

In the “nobody is surprised” category, Jermaine Jones attempted a dangerous slide tackle from behind and was sent off in Schalke’s 3-1 loss to Stuttgart. He did, however, have a gorgeous assist on Schalke’s first goal and later apologized on Twitter for the red card.

"

Sorry for the red card!! But I'm not 100% on the ref side. And I also don't need to go there in a 50:50 ball. Sorry boys andSchalke Fans!!

"

"— Jermaine Jones (@Jermainejunior) December 8, 2012"

Steve Cherundolo started and went the distance in Hannover’s 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Timmy Chandler started and went the full 90 in Nurnberg’s 2-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Both Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams started for Hoffenheim, but a midweek coaching change couldn’t change Hoffenheim’s fortunes as they lost 2-0 to HSV.

John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin won 1-0 over Paderborn. Brooks started and played the entire match.

Joe Gyau made the bench for St. Pauli, but did not play in their 3-1 loss to Aue.

Andrew Wooten started and went the distance for Sandhausen, but they lost 3-1 to Frankfurt.

In the English Championship

Jonathan Spector started for Birmingham, but was withdrawn at halftime as they lost to Wolves 1-0. Will Packwood made the 18 for Birmingham, but did not play.

Tim Ream came on for Bolton in the 85th minute, ostensibly to help them protect their 2-1 lead, but Huddersfield equalized in the 87th to split the points.

Zak Whitbread started and went the full 90 in Leicester’s 2-2 draw with Barnsley.

Elsewhere in Europe

Carlos Bocanegra is still recovering from injury and did not feature in Santander’s 4-0 loss to Real Madrid’s reserves. It was Santander’s fourth loss in a row (three of them very lopsided) with Bocanegra out of the lineup.

Oguchi Onyewu was not in the 18 for Malaga.

Michael Bradley went the distance in Roma’s 4-2 win over Fiorentina.

Jozy Altidore started and went the full 90 for AZ Alkmaar in their 0-0 draw with Willem II.

Terrence Boyd continued his hot streak with the game-winning goal in Rapid Vienna’s 2-1 win over FC Wacker Innsbruck.

Sacha Kljestan picked up the assist on the game-winning goal in Anderlecht’s 5-0 dismantling of Mons.

Michael Parkhurst went 72 minutes in Nordsjaelland’s last game until March. They lost 4-1 to Copenhagen.

Conor O’Brien picked up another goal with SonderjyskE in their 2-2 draw with Brondby. Clarence Goodson picked up an assist on one of Brondby’s goals.

Season’s over

The Mexican Liga MX playoffs are over so Herculez Gomez, Greg Garza, Joe Corona, Jose Torres and Edgar Castillo are all done until January.

The Swedish and Norwegian leagues are done until March, so Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud and Josh Gatt will be out of action until then, barring any transfer activity for the three.

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