ASN 100 Update
Donovan, Dillon, Darlington Sparkle with Club Sides
Landon Donovan tied a major Major League Soccer record over the weekend, and Dillon Powers continued to show why he is ASN 100 material. And Darlington Nagbe? Well, we're intrigued.
Landon Donovan—ASN rank #4
Thanks to two strikes on Sunday, the American soccer legend drew even with Jeff Cunningham on the all-time Major League Soccer scoring list. The fact that the goals came in a 5-0 dismantling of the perpetually hapless Chivas USA can’t be blamed on Donovan. After providing a sixth-minute assist to Robbie Keane, Donovan notched No. 133 in the 22nd minute, easily converting a Gyasi Zardes cross for the score. Donovan then grabbed his share of Cunningham’s record 20 minutes later, expertly chipping Chivas goal keeper Dan Kennedy (a moment of silence, please) on a breakaway for No. 134. Post-game, Donovan remained predictably nonchalant: “If it comes, it comes, great,” he said. Knock on wood, nothing happens and there's no injuries, it's going to happen at some point.” Sooner or later, all your records belong to him. Matt Besler—ASN rank #9
After being held out of the previous two league matches—likely due to fatigue from a long summer with the national team—Besler made his return to the Sporting KC lineup on Saturday, playing 90 minutes in a chippy 1-0 win over Columbus Crew. Lacking a polished performance, the 26-year-old did demonstrate his toughness after suffering a brutal gash to the head during an aerial duel with the Crew’s Chad Barson. Despite looking like a downed prizefighter, Besler returned minutes later with a Wayne Rooney-esque headpiece to finish the match. Besler will join up with the U.S. national team this week hoping to play in front of his hometown fans against Jamaica on Friday. Eddie Johnson—ASN rank #13
Before departing for national team camp, Johnson picked up his team-leading ninth league goal for the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. Unfortunately for him, the goal came on the wrong side of a shocking 5-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids. After giving up four goals in the first half, Johnson pulled one back for a depleted Seattle side in the 63rd minute, getting behind the Rapids defense and sliding his attempt past Clint Irwin for the score. Johnson could’ve had more had it not been for some fantastic saves and a few unlucky bounces. Despite the loss Seattle remains in pole position for the Supporter’s Shield with four games remaining in its regular season campaign. Maurice Edu—ASN rank #40
It’s been months since Edu’s name has appeared here at American Soccer Now, and with good reason. Edu has only recently returned from sports hernia surgery and is yet to make a first-team appearance for Stoke City this season after spending last season on loan in Turkey. This week, Edu—along with Brek Shea—once again suited up with the Potters’ U-21 team, starting at center back in a 1-0 loss to West Ham United. Steven Beitashour—ASN rank #70
According to a MLSSoccer.com report, the 26-year-old Beitashour has been called up by the Iranian national team for next month’s Asian Games qualifiers. If the Earthquake right back participates in an October 15th match with Thailand, he will be officially cap-tied to Iran. For the U.S. Soccer Federation, this comes one month after LA Galaxy’s A.J. Delagarza filed a switch to represent Guam in international play. Beitashour—who has not yet formally accepted the invite—has been called twice by Jurgen Klinsmann, once against Mexico in 2012 and again in January 2013, but he has yet to feature for the Stars and Stripes. Lee Nguyen—ASN rank #73
The 26-year-old picked up his fourth goal of the season on Saturday, converting a penalty in the 83rd minute and helping spur the New England Revolution to a dramatic 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls. With both teams needing a result—Red Bulls trying to lock up the Supporter’s Shield and New England trying to sneak into the playoffs—it was a match marred by a myriad of questionable calls—including a phantom handball whistle on Jamison Olave that set up Nguyen’s PK. Nevertheless, the draw leaves New England three points behind Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the East. Seb Hines—ASN rank #81
After missing the beginning of the English Championship campaign as he continued to rehabilitate from off-season knee surgery, the U.S.-eligible defender made his return to the Middlesbrough roster on Saturday in the club’s 4-1 win over Yeovil. Although the 25-year-old didn’t see any action, Hines is poised to make his on-field return for Boro in the coming weeks. Ricardo Clark—ASN rank #82
At 30, the Houston Dynamo midfielder is having his most productive season ever as a professional. During Friday night’s 1-0 win over a faltering Montreal Impact, Clark tallied the lone goal of the evening with a perfect 25-yard blast from the top of the box. It was his fourth goal of the year and a possible MLS goal of the week candidate until Camillo had something to say about it on Sunday night. Unbeaten in the last four, Dom Kinnear’s men are in third place in the Eastern conference, once again primed for a late-season playoff run. Dillon Powers—ASN rank #99
During Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of the Seattle Sounders, the former Notre Dame standout got the start for Colorado and picked up both his fifth goal and sixth assist of the season in 59 minutes of action. Already up 1-0 in the 10th minute, Powers beat the Seattle defense on corner kick to the near post, directing his diving header past Michael Gspurning to take a 2-0 lead. Twenty minutes later, Powers added to the score sheet again, feeding a well-placed early ball to Deshorn Brown, who outmuscled Deandre Yedlin for his second goal of the match. Currently enjoying a breakout debut campaign for Colorado Rapids, the 22-year-old midfielder has started 28 of 31 games for the club and has been a driving force behind its late-season playoff push. Darlington Nagbe—ASN rank #n/a
The countdown to U.S citizenship continues. Wow. Get your seat on the bandwagon before it’s too late! Josh Deaver is a former academic turned soccer obsessive. Follow him on Twitter.
Thanks to two strikes on Sunday, the American soccer legend drew even with Jeff Cunningham on the all-time Major League Soccer scoring list. The fact that the goals came in a 5-0 dismantling of the perpetually hapless Chivas USA can’t be blamed on Donovan. After providing a sixth-minute assist to Robbie Keane, Donovan notched No. 133 in the 22nd minute, easily converting a Gyasi Zardes cross for the score. Donovan then grabbed his share of Cunningham’s record 20 minutes later, expertly chipping Chivas goal keeper Dan Kennedy (a moment of silence, please) on a breakaway for No. 134. Post-game, Donovan remained predictably nonchalant: “If it comes, it comes, great,” he said. Knock on wood, nothing happens and there's no injuries, it's going to happen at some point.” Sooner or later, all your records belong to him. Matt Besler—ASN rank #9
After being held out of the previous two league matches—likely due to fatigue from a long summer with the national team—Besler made his return to the Sporting KC lineup on Saturday, playing 90 minutes in a chippy 1-0 win over Columbus Crew. Lacking a polished performance, the 26-year-old did demonstrate his toughness after suffering a brutal gash to the head during an aerial duel with the Crew’s Chad Barson. Despite looking like a downed prizefighter, Besler returned minutes later with a Wayne Rooney-esque headpiece to finish the match. Besler will join up with the U.S. national team this week hoping to play in front of his hometown fans against Jamaica on Friday. Eddie Johnson—ASN rank #13
Before departing for national team camp, Johnson picked up his team-leading ninth league goal for the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. Unfortunately for him, the goal came on the wrong side of a shocking 5-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids. After giving up four goals in the first half, Johnson pulled one back for a depleted Seattle side in the 63rd minute, getting behind the Rapids defense and sliding his attempt past Clint Irwin for the score. Johnson could’ve had more had it not been for some fantastic saves and a few unlucky bounces. Despite the loss Seattle remains in pole position for the Supporter’s Shield with four games remaining in its regular season campaign. Maurice Edu—ASN rank #40
It’s been months since Edu’s name has appeared here at American Soccer Now, and with good reason. Edu has only recently returned from sports hernia surgery and is yet to make a first-team appearance for Stoke City this season after spending last season on loan in Turkey. This week, Edu—along with Brek Shea—once again suited up with the Potters’ U-21 team, starting at center back in a 1-0 loss to West Ham United. Steven Beitashour—ASN rank #70
According to a MLSSoccer.com report, the 26-year-old Beitashour has been called up by the Iranian national team for next month’s Asian Games qualifiers. If the Earthquake right back participates in an October 15th match with Thailand, he will be officially cap-tied to Iran. For the U.S. Soccer Federation, this comes one month after LA Galaxy’s A.J. Delagarza filed a switch to represent Guam in international play. Beitashour—who has not yet formally accepted the invite—has been called twice by Jurgen Klinsmann, once against Mexico in 2012 and again in January 2013, but he has yet to feature for the Stars and Stripes. Lee Nguyen—ASN rank #73
The 26-year-old picked up his fourth goal of the season on Saturday, converting a penalty in the 83rd minute and helping spur the New England Revolution to a dramatic 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls. With both teams needing a result—Red Bulls trying to lock up the Supporter’s Shield and New England trying to sneak into the playoffs—it was a match marred by a myriad of questionable calls—including a phantom handball whistle on Jamison Olave that set up Nguyen’s PK. Nevertheless, the draw leaves New England three points behind Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the East. Seb Hines—ASN rank #81
After missing the beginning of the English Championship campaign as he continued to rehabilitate from off-season knee surgery, the U.S.-eligible defender made his return to the Middlesbrough roster on Saturday in the club’s 4-1 win over Yeovil. Although the 25-year-old didn’t see any action, Hines is poised to make his on-field return for Boro in the coming weeks. Ricardo Clark—ASN rank #82
At 30, the Houston Dynamo midfielder is having his most productive season ever as a professional. During Friday night’s 1-0 win over a faltering Montreal Impact, Clark tallied the lone goal of the evening with a perfect 25-yard blast from the top of the box. It was his fourth goal of the year and a possible MLS goal of the week candidate until Camillo had something to say about it on Sunday night. Unbeaten in the last four, Dom Kinnear’s men are in third place in the Eastern conference, once again primed for a late-season playoff run. Dillon Powers—ASN rank #99
During Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of the Seattle Sounders, the former Notre Dame standout got the start for Colorado and picked up both his fifth goal and sixth assist of the season in 59 minutes of action. Already up 1-0 in the 10th minute, Powers beat the Seattle defense on corner kick to the near post, directing his diving header past Michael Gspurning to take a 2-0 lead. Twenty minutes later, Powers added to the score sheet again, feeding a well-placed early ball to Deshorn Brown, who outmuscled Deandre Yedlin for his second goal of the match. Currently enjoying a breakout debut campaign for Colorado Rapids, the 22-year-old midfielder has started 28 of 31 games for the club and has been a driving force behind its late-season playoff push. Darlington Nagbe—ASN rank #n/a
The countdown to U.S citizenship continues. Wow. Get your seat on the bandwagon before it’s too late! Josh Deaver is a former academic turned soccer obsessive. Follow him on Twitter.
