ASN 100 Update
Goals, Goals Everywhere for USMNTers on the Field
A host of American national team players including Graham Zusi find the back of the net for their club teams; Landon Donovan returns to the field as does Carlos Bocanegra; another mainstay makes the bench.
Steve Cherundolo—ASN rank #7
Although he didn’t play, Dolo returned to the Hannover game day roster for the club’s 2-0 victory over Augsburg on Saturday. Cherundolo, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in February, has not featured since before the Bundesliga winter break in December. Michael Parkhurst (ASN #18) did not make the game day roster for relegation-threatened Augsburg. Landon Donovan—ASN rank #8
He has returned. The all-time leading U.S. goal scorer ended his self-imposed sabbatical, coming off the bench and playing 29 minutes for the Galaxy in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday. Donovan did not perform particularly well but acknowledged that it will take a few weeks to return to match sharpness. Following the match, the attacker seemed to signal that his passion may have returned during his hiatus. “I haven’t felt that way playing in a very long time. That was the desired goal when I stepped away," Donovan said. Earlier in the week Donovan also discussed his current standing with the national team, saying “There's certainly no obligation on anyone's part to let me back in—I've got to earn my way back.” He seems eager to work his way back into Klinsmann’s plans, which is a good piece of news for national team supporters. Graham Zusi—ASN rank #9
Zusi helped Sporting KC get back on track Saturday, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal in a 2-0 win against Montreal Impact. Following a midfield turnover, Zusi was able to slide behind the Montreal defense and out-muscle a defender before chipping the onrushing goalkeeper with a composed left-footed effort. The play began with a brilliantly weighted through pass from Benny Feilhaber (ASN #45), who assisted on both Sporting goals on the day. The 80th minute effort, Zusi's second of the season, delivered a much-needed three points while simultaneously knocking off the previously-undefeated Impact. Carlos Bocanegra—ASN rank #19
Good news this weekend for the long-time U.S. captain. Bocanegra returned to the starting lineup for Racing Santander on Sunday, going 90 minutes and picking up a yellow card in a 0-0 draw against table frontrunners Elche. The start, his first since Feb. 2, comes only a week after being left off the U.S. roster by Jurgen Klinsmann for the most recent round of World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. With only five games remaining in the season, the point may prove to be vital as Santander is currently embroiled in a tight relegation battle in the Spanish Segunda Division. The draw puts the club only one point from safety with 11 weeks left in the season. Stuart Holden—ASN rank #26
On Thursday Bolton Wanderers announced that Holden would be loaned out to fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday for the next month. Since returning from his injury in January, first team minutes have been few and far between for Holden, who has featured only three times for the Wanderers. With Bolton fighting for a playoff promotion spot, the club has been unable to work Holden back into fitness during this vital stretch of the season. Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, is currently battling relegation and are desperate to finish above the drop zone. In his first match for the Owls on the weekend, Holden stepped right into the starting lineup playing 61 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Barnsley. Holden could be in action again to start the week, as Wednesday take on fellow relegation candidate Bristol City in a vital clash Monday afternoon. Edgar Castillo—ASN rank #29
After suffering multiple facial fractures in a Copa Libertadores match against Corinthians last month, Castillo returned to action for Club Tijuana on Saturday, playing 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Toluca. After conceding a goal and going down a man inside the opening 10 minutes, Tijuana failed to rescue a point away from home. Castillo, now wearing a protective mask, missed the previous two matches for the struggling Xolos, who have only one win in their last eight and are currently tumbling down the Liga MX table. Joe Corona (ASN #27) played 63 minutes in the loss. Dax McCarty—ASN rank #39
The Red Bulls midfielder picked up his first goal of the year on Saturday in New York’s 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union on Saturday. McCarty got on the end of a cross from Juninho, deftly redirecting it past Zac MacMath with the outside of his boot to open the scoring. The goal, paired with a brilliant late one from Thierry Henry, helped the Red Bulls secure their first win of the 2013 season. Will Bruin—ASN rank #41
After a slow start to the season, the third-year forward finally got on the score sheet Saturday. During a 2-0 victory over visiting San Jose, Bruin, who netted 16 times in 2012, converted a cross from Boniek Garcia to open scoring for the Dynamo. Alejandro Bedoya—ASN rank #46
Bedoya started and played 82 minutes for Helsingborg on Sunday, picking up an assist in a 3-0 win over Djurgarden to kick off the 2013 Allsvenskan campaign. Bedoya also had a part in the game’s first goal, when his shot inside the box was saved by the keeper before begin converted on the rebound only five minutes into the match. Luis Gil—ASN rank #49
Members of the U.S. under-20 national team are continuing to make big noise early in this MLS season. Following a superb goal early in the day by LA Galaxy striker Jose Villarreal, the Real Salt Lake midfielder added the eventual game winner in a 2-1 defeat of the struggling Seattle Sounders. Gil finished a clever set play off a short corner with a picture-perfect 12-yard diving header that slipped past Michael Gspurning in the 35th minute. Whether it is with Salt Lake or the under-20’s, Gil continues to show why he is one of the brightest prospects in U.S. soccer today. DaMarcus Beasley—ASN rank #51
Following his service for the national team against Costa Rica and Mexico, Beasley returned to Liga MX action on Sunday. Going against league-leader Tigres UANL, Beasley came on at half time for Puebla before scoring an equalizer in the club’s 2-1 loss. Beasley lost his marker and slipped past three defenders to get a head on the end of a long pass into the box. Michael Orozco Fiscal (ASN #68) went a full 90 for Puebla, while Jose Torres (ASN #28) started and played 68 minutes for Tigres in his return from injury. Mike Magee—ASN rank #77
Magee hammered home his league-leading fifth goal of the MLS season on Saturday, opening the scoring in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with Toronto FC. Magee has never scored more than eight goals in a season. If he sustains current form, the 28-year old is on pace for a career year in 2013. Magee will be on call Wednesday for CONCACAF Champions League action, when the Galaxy face a stiff test at home against defending champion Monterrey in the first leg of the semifinal round. Tim Howard (ASN #4) made his return to the Everton starting XI, making three saves and keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Stoke City. Geoff Cameron (ASN #5), who started and played 79 minutes for Stoke, was beaten badly on the game’s only goal. Really badly.
Everton-Stoke City 1-0 Highlights All Goal... by marcoxxx46 Both Fabian Johnson (#ASN 6) and Danny Williams (ASN #11), making his return from injury, started for Hoffenheim in their 3-0 loss to Schalke on Saturday. Hoffenheim have won only two of their previous 17 games and, barring a massive turnaround, seem destined for relegation.
Midfielder Nick DeLeon (ASN #48), who was so vital in 2012 for D.C United, will miss six weeks with a grade-two hamstring strain. DeLeon pulled up after a run last Saturday against Columbus and was subbed off early in the first half.
For the first time since being acquired by AZ Alkmaar, Aron Johannsson (ASN #53) made the game day roster for the club’s 2-1 win over Heracles. Johansson recently recovered from hernia surgery.
Brad Evans (ASN #63) picked up his first goal of the season in a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake.
On Saturday, John Anthony Brooks (ASN #70) started and played 90 minutes for Hertha Berlin while Alfredo Morales (ASN #73) played the final 15 minutes in a 2-0 win over Bochum. A win next week will guarantee automatic Bundesliga promotion after a one-year top flight absence for the club.
Josh Deaver is a former academic turned soccer obsessive. Follow him on Twitter.
Although he didn’t play, Dolo returned to the Hannover game day roster for the club’s 2-0 victory over Augsburg on Saturday. Cherundolo, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in February, has not featured since before the Bundesliga winter break in December. Michael Parkhurst (ASN #18) did not make the game day roster for relegation-threatened Augsburg. Landon Donovan—ASN rank #8
He has returned. The all-time leading U.S. goal scorer ended his self-imposed sabbatical, coming off the bench and playing 29 minutes for the Galaxy in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday. Donovan did not perform particularly well but acknowledged that it will take a few weeks to return to match sharpness. Following the match, the attacker seemed to signal that his passion may have returned during his hiatus. “I haven’t felt that way playing in a very long time. That was the desired goal when I stepped away," Donovan said. Earlier in the week Donovan also discussed his current standing with the national team, saying “There's certainly no obligation on anyone's part to let me back in—I've got to earn my way back.” He seems eager to work his way back into Klinsmann’s plans, which is a good piece of news for national team supporters. Graham Zusi—ASN rank #9
Zusi helped Sporting KC get back on track Saturday, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal in a 2-0 win against Montreal Impact. Following a midfield turnover, Zusi was able to slide behind the Montreal defense and out-muscle a defender before chipping the onrushing goalkeeper with a composed left-footed effort. The play began with a brilliantly weighted through pass from Benny Feilhaber (ASN #45), who assisted on both Sporting goals on the day. The 80th minute effort, Zusi's second of the season, delivered a much-needed three points while simultaneously knocking off the previously-undefeated Impact. Carlos Bocanegra—ASN rank #19
Good news this weekend for the long-time U.S. captain. Bocanegra returned to the starting lineup for Racing Santander on Sunday, going 90 minutes and picking up a yellow card in a 0-0 draw against table frontrunners Elche. The start, his first since Feb. 2, comes only a week after being left off the U.S. roster by Jurgen Klinsmann for the most recent round of World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. With only five games remaining in the season, the point may prove to be vital as Santander is currently embroiled in a tight relegation battle in the Spanish Segunda Division. The draw puts the club only one point from safety with 11 weeks left in the season. Stuart Holden—ASN rank #26
On Thursday Bolton Wanderers announced that Holden would be loaned out to fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday for the next month. Since returning from his injury in January, first team minutes have been few and far between for Holden, who has featured only three times for the Wanderers. With Bolton fighting for a playoff promotion spot, the club has been unable to work Holden back into fitness during this vital stretch of the season. Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, is currently battling relegation and are desperate to finish above the drop zone. In his first match for the Owls on the weekend, Holden stepped right into the starting lineup playing 61 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Barnsley. Holden could be in action again to start the week, as Wednesday take on fellow relegation candidate Bristol City in a vital clash Monday afternoon. Edgar Castillo—ASN rank #29
After suffering multiple facial fractures in a Copa Libertadores match against Corinthians last month, Castillo returned to action for Club Tijuana on Saturday, playing 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Toluca. After conceding a goal and going down a man inside the opening 10 minutes, Tijuana failed to rescue a point away from home. Castillo, now wearing a protective mask, missed the previous two matches for the struggling Xolos, who have only one win in their last eight and are currently tumbling down the Liga MX table. Joe Corona (ASN #27) played 63 minutes in the loss. Dax McCarty—ASN rank #39
The Red Bulls midfielder picked up his first goal of the year on Saturday in New York’s 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union on Saturday. McCarty got on the end of a cross from Juninho, deftly redirecting it past Zac MacMath with the outside of his boot to open the scoring. The goal, paired with a brilliant late one from Thierry Henry, helped the Red Bulls secure their first win of the 2013 season. Will Bruin—ASN rank #41
After a slow start to the season, the third-year forward finally got on the score sheet Saturday. During a 2-0 victory over visiting San Jose, Bruin, who netted 16 times in 2012, converted a cross from Boniek Garcia to open scoring for the Dynamo. Alejandro Bedoya—ASN rank #46
Bedoya started and played 82 minutes for Helsingborg on Sunday, picking up an assist in a 3-0 win over Djurgarden to kick off the 2013 Allsvenskan campaign. Bedoya also had a part in the game’s first goal, when his shot inside the box was saved by the keeper before begin converted on the rebound only five minutes into the match. Luis Gil—ASN rank #49
Members of the U.S. under-20 national team are continuing to make big noise early in this MLS season. Following a superb goal early in the day by LA Galaxy striker Jose Villarreal, the Real Salt Lake midfielder added the eventual game winner in a 2-1 defeat of the struggling Seattle Sounders. Gil finished a clever set play off a short corner with a picture-perfect 12-yard diving header that slipped past Michael Gspurning in the 35th minute. Whether it is with Salt Lake or the under-20’s, Gil continues to show why he is one of the brightest prospects in U.S. soccer today. DaMarcus Beasley—ASN rank #51
Following his service for the national team against Costa Rica and Mexico, Beasley returned to Liga MX action on Sunday. Going against league-leader Tigres UANL, Beasley came on at half time for Puebla before scoring an equalizer in the club’s 2-1 loss. Beasley lost his marker and slipped past three defenders to get a head on the end of a long pass into the box. Michael Orozco Fiscal (ASN #68) went a full 90 for Puebla, while Jose Torres (ASN #28) started and played 68 minutes for Tigres in his return from injury. Mike Magee—ASN rank #77
Magee hammered home his league-leading fifth goal of the MLS season on Saturday, opening the scoring in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with Toronto FC. Magee has never scored more than eight goals in a season. If he sustains current form, the 28-year old is on pace for a career year in 2013. Magee will be on call Wednesday for CONCACAF Champions League action, when the Galaxy face a stiff test at home against defending champion Monterrey in the first leg of the semifinal round.
QUICK NOTES
Everton-Stoke City 1-0 Highlights All Goal... by marcoxxx46
