MNT European Update [March 9, 2003]
An update on the U.S. National Team players currently plying their trade in Europe.
March 9, 2004
ENGLAND
Carlos Bocanegra
Fulham FC, English Premier League
Record: 10-11-6 (36 points)
Last match: [March 6] DNP in 0-1 loss @ Manchester United, F.A. Cup, Quarterfinal Round
Next Match: [March 13] v. Leeds United
League Position: 6 (last week: 6)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
5/5 0 0/1 4/4 0 1/0 - - - 9/9 0 1/1
QUICK HITS
- Bocanegra served game two of his three-match ban as Fulham was dismissed from the F.A. Cup
- Bocanegra makes a brief trip back across the pond to sport the red, white and blue in the USA's friendly against Haiti this Saturday (March 13) in Miami
- The suspension wraps up this weekend as Fulham host cellar dwellar's Leeds United at Loftus Road
Brad Friedel
Blackburn Rovers FC, English Premier League
Record: 7-13-7 (28 points)
Last match: [Feb. 28] played 90 minutes in 1-1 draw v. Southampton
Next Match: [March 13] v. Arsenal
League Position: 15 (15)
STATBOX
League UEFA Cup F.A .Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
27/27 1.63 4 2/2 2.00 0 1/1 4.00 0 1/1 4.00 0 31/31 1.81 4
QUICK HITS
- Andy Cole's deserved equalizer delivered Rovers a point in their 1-1 draw v. Southampton, keeping the lifetime league series deadlocked at 16-10-16
- The draw leaves Blackburn with one win in eight matches, hovering perilously close above the relegation zone with only four points separating them from the bottom four
- Stories continue to be written about Friedel's 90th minute goal-scoring effort against Charlton on Feb. 23, as he became the first American netminder ever to tally in an EPL match
- Blackburn had the weekend off to recharge for the final pushes of the league campaign, then face a short trip back to reality as they host league leaders Arsenal at Ewood Park
Tim Howard
Manchester United FC, English Premier League
Record: 18-4-4 (58 points)
Last match: [March 6] played 90 minutes in 2-1 win v. Fulham, F.A. Cup, Quarterfinal Round
Next Match: [March 9] v. FC Porto, UEFA Champions League, Second Round, Second Leg; [March 13] @ Manchester City
League Position: 3 (3)
STATBOX
League UEFA Cup F.A .Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
26/26 0.92 10 6/6 0.67 4 3/3 1.33 0 0/0 - - 35/35 0.92 14
QUICK HITS
- Howard got the nod in goal as Man. U slipped past Fulham 2-1, setting up a mammoth match-up against league leaders Arsenal in the F.A. Cup final four
- The Red Devils' double duty this week kicks off today with a healthy dose of pressure as they challenge FC Porto in the second leg of their UCL series, having dropped the first meeting 1-0 in Porto two weeks back
- Desperate to keep their dwindling league championship hopes alive, United look to dispense with their three-match EPL winless drought in the lion's den of Manchester City stadium
Kasey Keller
Tottenham Hotspur FC, English Premier League
Record: 10-13-4 (34 points)
Last match: [March 9] played 90 minutes in 0-1 loss @ Middlesbrough
Next Match: [March 14] v. Newcastle
League Position: 10 (10)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO GP:GS GAA SO
27/27 1.62 5 3/3 1.67 1 4/4 0.50 2 34/34 1.48 8
QUICK HITS
- Kasey Keller's heroics went all for naught, a 60th minute penalty save not enough to avoid a 1-0 loss to Carling Cup trophy winners Middlesbrough
- The loss ends a three-match unbeaten run for Spurs, who remain at the midplace in the EPL table
- Spurs will seek redemption on the weekend, looking to make up for an embarassing 4-0 pasting by Newcastle in their first meeting Dec. 13
Eddie Lewis
Preston North End, Division One
Record: 14-12-5 (50 points)
Last match: [March 2] played final 29 minutes in 2-1 win v. Reading; [March 6] played final 45 minutes in 1-1 draw @ Burnley
Next Match: [March 13] v. Gillingham
League Position: 11 (14)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
29/24 4 5/0 2/2 0 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 31/26 4 5/0
QUICK HITS
- Lewis took his turns off the bench last week, Preston picking up three places in the Division One table as they pulled points from two matches
- The Lilywhites needed an 89th minute tally past Reading 'keeper Marcus Hahnemann to fell the visitors for the second straight time
- PNE took point a point from Turf Moor for the first time in four league matches, needing a 58th penalty to end on level terms with Burnley
- PNE look to complete the series sweep against Gillingham, having collected a 1-0 win in their first meeting on Dec. 13
Brian McBride
Fulham FC, English Premier League
Record: 10-11-6 (36 points)
Last match: [March 6] started and played 62 minutes in 1-2 loss @ Manchester United, F.A. Cup, Quarterfinal Round
Next Match: [March 13] v. Leeds United
League Position: 6 (6)
STATBOX
League FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
5/4 1 0/0 3/3 1 0/0 - - - 8/7 2 0/0
QUICK HITS
- McBride came up on the short end of the match-up with U.S international Tim Howard, Fulham's FA Cup misery against Man-U continuing as their lifetime record fell to 1-6-2
- This will be the sixth meeting between the clubs in England's top flight, with the series level at 2-2-1
Claudio Reyna
Manchester City, English Premier League
Record: 6-12-9 (27 points)
Last match: [Feb. 28] played 90 minutes in 0-1 loss v. Chelsea
Next Match: [March 13] v. Manchester United
League Position: 16 (16)
STATBOX
League UEFA Cup FA Cup League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
16/14 1 0/0 4/2 0 0/0 3/3 0 1/0 1/1 0 0/0 12/8 1 0/0
QUICK HITS
- By all accounts a dominating performance, Reyna and Man. City were left holding nothing but disappointment after a 1-0 loss to Chelsea
- The Light Blues have not won a home match since Oct. 18, a dreadful string of 12 games in all competitions
- The season's climactic moment could come March 13 in the 141st edition of the Manchester derby, the home side desperately clinging to a place in the top flight while the visitors look to resurrect quickly dwindling hopes of a league title
GERMANY
Gregg Berhalter
Energie Cottbus, German Second Bundesliga
Record: 12-6-5 (41 points)
Last match: [March 7] played 90 minutes in 3-1 win v. RW Oberhausen
Next Match: [March 12] @ LR Ahlen
League Position: 1 (3)
STATBOX
League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
21/21 5 6/0 1/1 0 0/0 22/22 5 6/0
QUICK HITS
- Berhalter remains a rock in the Cottbus central defense, the side picking up their fourth victory in the last five league matches
- Improving their home record to 8-2-1, Cottbus have leapfrogged to the top spot in the Second Bundesliga
- They can add even more distance from the promotion chasers with a visit to lowly LR Ahlen, a side they overcame 3-2 in the first meeting Sept. 27
Conor Casey
Karlsruher SC, German Second Bundesliga
Record: 9-8-6 (33 points)
Last match: [March 5] started and played 58 minutes in 0-0 draw @ SVW Burghausen
Next Match: [March 15] v. FSV Mainz
League Position: 7 (7)
STATBOX
League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
21/21 9 6/0 2/1 0 0/0 23/22 9 6/0
QUICK HITS
- Casey was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards in Karsruher's second scoreless draw with Burghausen in the 2003-04 season
- Karlsruher remain within sight of the promotion zone, five points below third-place Oberhausen
- They can clear a big hurdle this weekend as they welcome fourth place FSV Mainz, the home side holding a one-advantage and a game in hand on the hosts
Steve Cherundolo
Hannover 96, German Bundesliga
Record: 6-11-6 (24 points)
Last match: [March 6] played 90 minutes 0-1 loss @ Borussia Moenchengladbach
Next Match: [March 13] v. Kaiserslautern
League Position: 15 (13)
STATBOX
League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
20/19 0 5/0 2/2 0 1/0 22/21 0 6/0
QUICK HITS
- Cherundolo's shot at an equalizer was denied in the 82nd minute as Hannover's winless run reached five matches
- The precipitous skid towards relegation cost coach Rolf Rangnick his job, replaced with former Borussia Moenchengladbach boss Ewald Lienen
Clint Mathis
Hannover 96, German Bundesliga
Record: 6-11-6 (24 points)
Last match: [March 6] played 90 minutes 0-1 loss @ Borussia Moenchengladbach
Next Match: [March 13] v. Kaiserslautern
League Position: 15 (13)
STATBOX
League League Cup TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
6/6 4 1/0 -/- - - 6/6 4 1/0
QUICK HITS
- Mathis couldn't find the Midas touch this week, as Hannover were held scoreless for only the third time in the 2003-03 league campaign
- Mathis has been "momentan in Hochform" (in brilliant form) since joining Hannover, his spectacular efforts good for four goals in six matches
- Hannover face a massive dogfight against fellow relegation-threatened side Kaiserslautern, the teams level on 24 points heading into the weekend's action
Tony Sanneh
FC Nurnberg, German Second Bundesliga
Record: 11-5-7 (40 points)
Last match: [March 7] DNP in 2-2 @ Gruether Furth
Next Match: [March 14] v. Duisberg
League Position: 2 (1)
STATBOX
League TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
- - - - - -
QUICK HITS
- Sanneh fitness battle reaches a significant plateau this week, having joined the U.S. national team for full training for the first time since the 2002 World Cup
- Meantime, while Nurnberg extended their unbeaten run to seven matches, the 2-2 draw with Gruether Furth was not enough to keep them in the pole position in the Second Bundesliga. The league leaders have not lost since Dec. 12, 2003
- They look to keep pace with the league leaders against mid-table MSV Duisberg, having revenge on their minds after a 2-1 loss earlier this season
HOLLAND
John O'Brien
Ajax Amsterdam, Dutch Eredivisie
Record: 18-4-1 (55 points)
Last match: [March 6] DNP in 1-0 win @ RKC Waalwijk
Next Match: [March 14] v. Roda
League Position: 1 (1)
STATBOX
League Champions League TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
4/4 0 0/0 - - - 4/4 0 0/0
QUICK HITS
- O'Brien's injury plague seems endless, the latest installment a hamstring injury which has kept him idle since Feb. 13
- Ajax quickly put the kibosh on a two-match losing spell, edging RKC Waalwijk 1-0 to put themselves six points clear at the Dutch league summit
- The Amsterdammers put their unbeaten 12-0-0 record at the ArenA to the test against visiting Roda, having taken the first meeting 2-1 in O'Brien's season debut on Jan. 21
FRANCE
Greg Vanney
SC Bastia, Le Championnat Ligue 1
Record: 8-11-8 (32 points)
Last match: [March 7] DNP in 4-1 win v. Marseille
Next Match: [March 13] @ Lens
League Position: 14 (14)
STATBOX
League TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
14/13 0 1/0 14/13 0 1/0
QUICK HITS
- Vanney returns to availability after sorting through a hernia injury
- Bastia romped to their biggest margin of victory of the campaign, pouring in four goals for only the second time this season to avenge a 3-1 defeat to Marseille on Oct. 4
- They will try to keep the goal machine humming against Lens this weekend, having buried a 'tres' in their first meeting with Lens earlier this year, a 3-1 victory
DENMARK
*The Danish Super Ligaen has entered their winter break and will resume play March 14
Wade Barrett
AGF Aarhaus, Danish Super Ligaen
Record: 7-9-2 (23 points)
Last match: [Dec. 7] started and played 53 minutes in 3-1 win @ FC Nordsjaelland
Next Match: [March 14] v. AaB
League Position: 7 (7)
STATBOX
League TOTALS
GP:GS Gls C/E GP:GS Gls C/E
11/10 0 2/0 11/10 0 2/0
QUICK HITS
- AGF made a quick return to the win column, disposing of FC Nordsjaelland with three unanswered goals in a seven-minute span in the second half
- After being sidelined with an ankle injury through the middle part of the schedule, Barrett started six consecutive matches heading into the long winter break for the SuperLigaen
