So let’s start with the positive, since there weren’t a heck of a lot of highlights involving Americans on the pitch in Europe and south of the border this weekend.
Juan Agudelo was the Man of the Match in his final match on loan for FC Utrecht in a 2-1 win over Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday, scoring a goal and “setting up” the otherHe registered six shots, three on frame, burying the match-winner in the 78th minute. While Steve de Ridder simply picked up a rough first touch from Agudelo slot home for the first goal, Agudelo’s marker came from a strong run and deft finish.
Terrence Boyd scored again for Rapid Wien, his 34th minute tally holding up as the match-winner in a 2-0 win over relegated FC Wacker Innsbruck. Rapid has a six-point lead on Austria Wien for second in the table after Boyd went 80 minutes in the win.
Ale Bedoya went 90 minutes for Nantes as they picked up a point but couldn’t catch Toulouse, drawing the club 1-1.
In Norway, Mix Diskerud went all 90 for Rosenborg, but his club wasted a chance to make an early-season charge for the top of the table. Molde won 2-0 and now has a four-point lead on No. 4 Rosenborg. Bob Bradley‘s Stabaek will look to get back in the win column with a victory on Monday, which would boost them level with Diskerud’s squad.
Sacha Kljestan didn’t play for Anderlecht in Belgium (they beat Club Brugge 1-0), while Aron Johannsson didn’t appear for AZ Alkmaar.
The Premier League was kind to Yanks as well, save for the No.1 goalkeeper. Tim Howard was beaten thrice, at least once regrettably, as Everton fell 3-2 to Manchester City.
Geoff Cameron had a nice day with another 90 minutes as Stoke City stomped Fulham 4-1 to send the Cottagers into the Championship. Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan finally got some support in front of him as the Villans topped Hull 3-1 to give them almost certain PL status for another year. Jozy Altidore played the final 25 minutes as Sunderland shocked Manchester United 1-0.
Jonathan Spector and Tim Ream dueled in the Championship, with the latter’s Birmingham City club earning safety in the 2-2 with the former’s Bolton club. It was quite a week for Ream, who was voted as Player of the Year by both Bolton’s team and supporters.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-1 at Yeovil Town, but “Gooch” was solid on the whole in 90 minutes of play.
Danny Williams didn’t play for Reading due to injury as the club missed out on the final playoff spot, while Zak Whitbread finally got some playing time for Derby County on the final day in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United.
In Germany, Fabian Johnson proved versatile at left back for Hoffenheim again in a 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund, while John Anthony Brooks played 90 — picking up a yellow card — as Hertha Berlin fell to Werder Bremen 2-0.
