MNT Blog: Go!

With this weekend’s results behind us, the U.S. Soccer Global blog will be taking a break coinciding with the international games around the world.

But wipe those tears off, friends! As you may have noticed, the MNT Blog is firing back up as the guys are landing and getting acclimated to South Africa ahead of Saturday’s match in Johannesburg.

While you won’t hear from us at the Global Blog for a little while, we’ll definitely be spending our vacation by keeping up with all the happenings in the Southern Hemisphere, and we suggest you do the same. Goodbye for now!

TIM HOWARD (EVERTON)

The News: Tim Howard made seven saves for Everton in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday.

Of Note: Howard kept Everton in the game with some superb goalkeeping, but it looked as if Didier Drogba’s header would be the difference in the closely contested match. However, that was until Everton’s Tim Cahill hit a bicycle kick to rival Taylor Twellman’s. The Australian international’s superb goal came in the final minute of play, and ensured that the points were shared between the two sides.



Up Next: The international break! Awesome! After that, Everton host Sunderland on November 24.

MICHAEL BRADLEY (HEERENVEEN)

The News: Michael Bradley scored the winning goal in Heerenveen's 1-0 victory over Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday in Dutch Eredivisie action.

Of Note: Heerenveen, who were away from home, would have likely settled for a draw after star striker Afonso Alves was red carded in stoppage time of the first half. However, just minutes after half-time break, Bradley popped up to snatch the winner for his side, who vaulted into fourth place with the victory. The goal was Bradley's fifth of the season, and his third in Eredivisie play. 

Up Next: The international break halts league action for a week, and after that, the Dutch leage will take a longer vacation than most: Heerenveen's next match is on December 2nd against NEC Nijmegen. 

A Short Update...

A brief wrap up of the goings on for Saturday’s league games…

Fulham slipped to defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, despite holding out for the majority of the game. Fernando Torres came off the bench to score the winner for the home side in the 81^st minut, as the Cottagers were again plagued by giving up a late goal. Four minutes later, Steven Gerrard converted from the spot to put the result out of reach for Fulham, who started both Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra.

At Pride Park, Jonathan Spector was in the starting lineup for visiting West Ham and his team ran rampant over Derby County. The final score was 5-0, and Spector was behind West Ham’s third goal. It was his shot off a corner kick that led to an eventual own goal by Eddie Lewis. There remain some questions over who will claim the goal, but for now it looks as if the own goal ruling stands. We’ll be sure to keep you informed if the men in suits decide differently, and award Spector what would be his first goal in English football.

In Germany, Heath Pearce made a brief cameo for his club, Hansa Rostock, during their 3-2 win over Energie Cottbus. Pearce came on as a sub in the 86^th minute. Meanwhile, Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 were on the losing end of a 1-0 game against Hertha Berlin.

SOCCER ON TV

Some interesting games on TV this weekend, in what will be the last few days of club soccer prior to the final international break of the year:

(All times ET)

Saturday:

9:45 a.m.: Derby v. West Ham (Setanta) – Derby, despite their poor form, remain a mere two points away from safety. As such, they’ll be looking to get some points in what looks like a winnable game at home against West Ham. Eddie Lewis and Benny Feilhaber were both absent from the squad which lost last week to Aston Villa, so they’ll be looking to get into the team for Saturday afternoon’s kickoff. Meanwhile, Jonathan Spector has made three consecutive appearances for the Hammers, and will hope to figure into Alan Curbishley’s plans again this weekend.

12 p.m.: Liverpool v. Fulham (FSC) – As many of you will undoubtedly remember, in the last meeting between the clubs, Clint Dempsey scored the goal which not only won the game for Fulham, but also went a long way toward lifting his club out of the relegation battle at the end of last year. This year, Dempsey already has four goals for the Cottagers, including the game winner last week. Both he and Carlos Bocanegra, who returns from suspension on Saturday, will have to be at their best as Fulham travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side that demolished Besiktas 8-0 in the Champions League.

Sunday:

7 p.m.: Chelsea v. Everton (Setanta, delayed) – This game could very well be the pick of the weekend, as it features two teams who have found some form at the same time. Everton, as previously mentioned in the blog, have won five in a row, while the Avram Grant era at Chelsea seems to be quietly gathering speed. Tim Howard is virtually a sure thing to start in goal for the Toffees before he jets off the next day to join up with Bob Bradley and the team in South Africa. It’s too bad this game is aired on a ten hour delay, so make sure to stay away from all forms of communication until Sunday night!

Quick UEFA Cup Wrap Up

Everton and Tim Howard made it six points from two games after last night’s UEFA Cup victory over Nürnberg. The Toffees left it a bit late, but goals from Mikel Arteta and Victor Anchibe handed the English club a deserved 2-0 victory. At the back, Tim Howard and the defense kept an important clean sheet that will undoubtedly boost confidence ahead of Sunday’s mammoth clash with Chelsea. Everton couldn’t be better positioned for that match, with five victories on the trot and Australian international Tim Cahill getting back to his best after injury.

Dan Califf and Aalborg BK claimed a late draw against Anderlecht, after Mattias Lindstrom equalized for the Danish side in the 86^th minute. After the international break, Califf and his club will put their European credentials to the test, as they take on Tottenham, who are the favorites of the group. First, however, they’ll turn their sights back to the Danish league, and prepare to face FC Nordsjælland on Sunday.

As a side note, both Califf and Howard are part of Bob Bradley’s initial 17-man roster that will travel to South Africa later this month.

UEFA Cup Preview

Everton and Tim Howard travel to Germany to face Nurnberg in a game that kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. The two clubs come into tonight’s match with extremely contrasting fortunes: Everton have won four in a row as they push up the Premier League table, while Nurnberg have endured an appalling start to the season and currently sit in the relegation zone in the Bundesliga. Nonetheless, the UEFA Cup is a different competition all together, and the slate is clean for the German club, who will play their first group match today. Everton, on the other hand, have already played one group match against Larissa, where the Toffees triumphed 3-1. Read up on some facts about the match here and be sure to follow live text updates of the game at UEFA.com.

Aalborg BK, led by American defender and club captain Dan Califf, plays its first group stage game tonight against Belgian side Anderlecht. AaB (as the Danish side is abbreviated) has already played nine European games this season, as they had to qualify for the UEFA Cup through the Intertoto Cup. Califf and AaB defeated the heavily favored Serie A side Sampdoria in the qualification round in order to be drawn into group G. As you may remember, the MNT Blog spoke to Califf about that victory over Samporia during the recent camp in Switzerland. You can read about all the pre-game happenings here, and be sure to follow the game when it kicks off at 1:15 p.m. ET here.

DAMARCUS BEASLEY (RANGERS)

The News: DaMarcus Beasley was in the starting lineup for Rangers last night, but Barcelona were the better side and came away with a 2-0 victory.

Of Note: The result leaves Rangers in second place in Group D with seven points. Significantly, Stuttgart suffered defeat last night at the hands of Lyon, which means that at the very worst Rangers will qualify for the UEFA Cup. However, the French Champions now sit just behind Rangers on six points, and the final group day match between the two sides (at Ibrox on Dec. 12) could decide who advances to the knockout stage.

Up Next: Rangers have no game at the weekend, which means they head into the international break a bit early. Their next match is against Falkirk on November 24.

South Africa Squad Released

Because the MNT Blog isn’t back from hiatus yet (just wait until next week!), we’ve decided to point you to the South Africa squad for this month’s friendly via the Global Blog.

The U.S. takes on South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup on Saturday November 17. Kickoff at Ellis Park is 4 p.m. local (9 a.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on FSC and Galavision.

Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira has called together a strong team to face the United States in Johannesburg on November 17^th. Headlining the squad is Blackburn Rovers’ Benni McCarthy who, after a slow start to the season, is starting to relocate the form that has made him one of Europe’s most feared strikers for the past few years.

Other notable inclusions in the squad are Bradley Carnell, a defender with German side Karlsruhe. His club have surprised everybody so far in the Bundesliga, and currently reside in fourth place, after only being promoted this season.

Winger Steven Pienaar is a teammate of Tim Howard’s at Everton, and the 25-year old is making an impression on Merseyside this season, where he is on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund. He is also the subject of this tremendously-scored highlight video chronicling his time at Ajax.

Parreira has brought in players from five different countries across Europe, including five from Germany and three from England. The team is also comprised of ten players based in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

Stay tuned for an upcoming roster release for the U.S. team, which we’ll have on ussoccer.com later this week.

DAMARCUS BEASLEY (RANGERS)

The News: DaMarcus Beasley and Rangers travel to Catalonia tonight to face Barcelona at the Nou Camp. With 16 appearances and four goals, Beasley has settled nicely into Glasgow. (In case you haven't seen it, we visited Beas last month to get a feel for his role at Rangers - watch the all_access video here)

And in case you haven’t seen it yet, we visited Beasley in the lead up to the Old Firm game in October. It is that kind of experience that Beasley and Rangers will have to draw on if they look to get something out of tonight’s game.

Of Note: Both clubs come into this match at the top of Group E after their draw at Ibrox two weeks ago. In that game, Beasley came off the bench for Rangers. However, after starting on the wing during his club’s victory this weekend, he’ll hope to reprise that role tonight in one of the world’s most famous stadiums. Barcelona won this weekend, and worryingly for Rangers, Frank Rijkaard believes that the recently-criticized Ronaldinho is returning to his best form. Walter Smith has indicated that Rangers will be playing for a draw, which would suit their qualification hopes just fine. Beasley also spoke to Rangers’ website about tonight’s big match, and the prospect of qualifying for the next round.

Up Next: The match kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET, so be sure to read the match preview here. The game will be shown live on ESPN Deportes, and re-aired on ESPN Classic at 5 p.m. ET. You can also follow live updates on UEFA.com.

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

The News: Freddy Adu was an unused substitute in Benfica’s 1-0 loss to Celtic last night.

Of Note: A lone Aidan McGeady goal was the difference between the two sides, as the Glasgow club prevailed in a tightly contested Group D Champions League match. With the loss, the pressure is mounting significantly for Benfica and Adu, and they will need points from their next two games against Shakthar Donetsk and AC Milan to have any hope of qualifying for the knockout round. Check out full highlights of the game here.

Up Next: Benfica will try to steady the ship win they face Boavista in the Portuguese League on Sunday. Adu and Benfica are yet to lose in the league this year, while Boavista, by contrast, are winless and hovering near the relegation zone. After the international break, Benfica will host AC Milan in a Champions League match where they must achieve a result.

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

The News: Freddy Adu and Benfica take on Celtic today in a Champions League Group D match at Celtic Park.

Of Note: The teams last met two weeks ago when Benfica defeated Celtic, 1-0, at the Estadio da Luz. Adu came on as a second half sub in that game, and was part of the passing build up which lead to Benfica’s late goal. With that victory, the Portuguese club reignited its hopes of qualification for the next round, and it now sits only three points behind joint-leaders AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk. Celtic could equally use a victory tonight, and they’ll rely on a rowdy home crowd to help them achieve a positive result. You can read previews for the match here and here, and can also follow live text updates at uefa.com.

Up Next: Kickoff is slated for 2:45 p.m. ET, and since the game isn’t on TV, we’ll be sure to link you to highlights as they come on the internet. How do you feel about Benfica’s chances to progress to the next round? They’ve got some tough games ahead….What about predictions for tonight’s fixture?

JAY DEMERIT (WATFORD)

The News: A strained calf muscle has ruled Jay DeMerit out of action with Watford for the next month.

Of Note: DeMerit was stretchered off the field during Saturday’s loss to West Brom and immediately substituted. At first the extent of his injury was unknown, but after tests on DeMerit’s leg, it was revealed that he will be unfit to play for around a month. The confirmation of the injury means that DeMerit is unlikely to participate in the U.S. team’s trip to Johannesburg to face South Africa later this month.

Up Next: Rest and rehab for DeMerit, who will look to return to the field in December prior to Watford’s busy holiday schedule. In regards to the South Africa trip, stay tuned to ussoccer.com, as later this week we’ll be releasing the full roster for the November 17 friendly.

WEEKEND WRAP UP

Scotland:
With a 2-0 win on Saturday, DaMarcus Beasley and Rangers made it two victories in a row before they travel to Spain for their crunch Champions League match with Barcelona. Beasley retained his place in the starting eleven as Rangers hosted Inverness at Ibrox, and it took only seconds for the home side to gain the lead through Kris Boyd. With their early advantage, Rangers didn’t look back, and the result was put out of reach for the visitors with an additional goal in the second half.

Portugal:
Over on the Iberian Peninsula, Freddy Adu again came off the bench for Benfica, who needed more late heroics to earn a 2-1 win against Paços Ferreira. This time the goal came from Greek international Kostas Katsouranis, after he tapped in a rebound off a Rui Costa free kick in the 84th minute. Adu came off the bench in the 81st minute for his fourth consecutive appearance for Benfica, who will travel to Glasgow to face Celtic this week. Check out highlights of the game here.

England:
Tim Howard and Everton made it four wins in a row with their 3-1 victory over Birmingham on Saturday. The Toffees were in danger of dropping points, after Birmingham’s Olivier Kapo tied the game for Steve Bruce’s side in the 80th minute. However, late goals from Lee Carsley and record-signing Yakubu stole victory for an Everton team that now sits at eighth in the table, just shy of a qualification spot for Europe. Speaking of Europe, David Moyes’ team will travel to Germany this week, where they’ll face FC Nürnberg on Thursday in the UEFA Cup. You can see highlights of this weekend’s game here.

Jonathan Spector again came off the bench for West Ham early in the second half, this time with the Hammers defending a 1-0 lead against Bolton. Unfortunately, however, a late stoppage time goal from Bolton's Kevin Nolan meant that the game finished in a draw and the points were shared. Full highlights of the game here.

Meanwhile, Derby County’s troubles are mounting, as they went down 2-0 to Aston Villa. Neither Eddie Lewis nor Benny Feilhaber appeared in the game.

In the Championship, Watford suffered their first loss of the season, crashing to a 3-0 defeat at home to West Bromich Albion. After only 10 minutes, Jay DeMerit collided with an opposing player and had to be stretchered off with what looked to be a calf injury. We’ll keep you updated as we hear the prognosis.

Also in the championship, Sheffield Wednesday earned a 2-1 victory over Plymouth, as Frank Simek made his return to the starting lineup after a brief layoff through injury. The win moves the Owls away from the relegation zone, and they’ll look to further climb the table when they host West Brom on Tuesday.

Holland:
Michael Bradley and Heerenveen beat PSV 2-1 to move up to fifth in the table. Bradley was again in the starting lineup for Heerenveen, whose victory ended a bad week for the Eindhoven club: on Wednesday, manager Ronald Koeman departed the club to take over at Valencia.

Belgium:
Standard Liege and Oguchi Onyewu drew 0-0 on Saturday against Excelsior. Despite remaining undefeated on the season, the draw sees Gooch’s club fall to second place, one point behind Club Brugge.

CLINT DEMPSEY (FULHAM)

The News: Clint Dempsey scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season in Fulham’s 3-1 victory over Reading on Saturday.

Of Note: Dempsey tapped home a Shefki Kuqi header in the 72nd minute, and the goal proved to be the game-winner. Fulham have had a nasty habit of conceding late goals this season, but this time they were doing the attacking in the second half, and David Healy’s 90th minute goal made sure of the three points. With the victory, Fulham jump to 13th place in the league, putting some breathing room between them and the relegation zone. For Reading, Marcus Hahnemann took the loss in goal, as they remain one point above Fulham in 12th place. Bobby Convey made his return to the Premier League from injury when he came on as a sub in the 76th minute.



Up Next: Fulham have a tough stretch of three games coming up. On Saturday, they’ll travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool, in a game that will be shown live on FSC. After the international break, they’ll take on Blackburn and Manchester United over the Thanksgiving weekend. Reading, meanwhile, are at home to Arsenal on Monday the 12th.

SOCCER ON TV

(All times are ET)

Saturday:

5:30 pm: Fulham v. Reading (FSC, delayed) – Clint Dempsey and Fulham host Bobby Convey, Marcus Hahnemann and Reading in this matchup between two teams seeking to push themselves into the top half of the table. For the Cottagers, Carlos Bocanegra is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, and his team will need to figure out a way to stop conceding late goals, which has been a plague throughout the season. Meanwhile, Convey is included in the squad as he continues his recovery from injury, and Hahnemann, if he starts in goal as expected, will make his 50^th premier league appearance for the club. You can read a match preview for the game here.

Sunday:

11:00 am: West Ham v. Bolton (FSC) – Jonathan Spector and West Ham host struggling Bolton at Upton Park on Sunday in a battle between the 11^th and 19^th placed teams. Spector has appeared in West Ham’s last two games, and with the Hammers’ injury list growing rapidly, he could find himself in the starting lineup for this weekend’s game. You can read a match preview for the game here.

As always, we’ll be bringing you highlights and news items as they happen throughout the weekend. With a full schedule of games around Europe, there will undoubtedly be some action to report on. Which games are you looking forward to? Any predictions? Let us know by leaving some comments…

DAMARCUS BEASLEY (RANGERS)

The News: DaMarcus Beasley was inserted into the starting lineup for Rangers’ cup match against Motherwell and played the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory.

Of Note: Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd were on target for Rangers, who move on to the semifinals of the competition. Beasley had a hand in the second goal for the Glasgow club, pouncing on a loose ball and starting the move forward which eventually resulted in Boyd’s strike.

Up Next: Rangers welcome Inverness to Ibrox on Saturday, before hopping on a plane to the Nou Camp, where they will face Barcelona on Wednesday night.

MICHAEL BRADLEY (HEERENVEEN)

The News: Michael Bradley scored his fifth goal of the season, but it proved to be only a consolation as Heerenveen went down to Ajax 3-1 in Dutch Cup play.

Of Note: Heerenveen traveled to Amsterdam to face Ajax in a third round cup match, and ultimately couldn’t pull off an upset against the Dutch giants. Down early from a Johnny Heitinga goal, Heerveen fought back, but a Hedwiges Maduro strike put Ajax up 2-0 at halftime. In the second half, it was more of the same frustration for Heerenveen and a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar goal put the result out of reach before Michael Bradley got on the scoresheet in the 71^st minute.

Up Next: Heerenveen have no time to hang their heads, as they host league-topping PSV Eindhoven on Saturday. DaMarcus Beasley’s former club is thus far undefeated in the league, and Heerenveen will look for a result to shake up the standings in the Eredivisie.

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

The News: Freddy Adu continued his run of good form, scoring from the penalty spot, and looking dangerous throughout the game, however it wasn’t enough to stave off defeat, and Benfica eventually went down 2-1 in the game to Vitória Setúbal.. With the loss, Benfica was eliminated from the Portuguese Cup 3-2 on aggregate goals.

Of Note: Adu made it two goals in two games, when he converted a penalty for Benfica in first half stoppage time. The goal was his fourth on the season, and third in the cup competition. In the second half, Vitória stormed back, grabbing an equalizer shortly after the break. Their constant pressure eventually paid off, and Edinho popped up seven minutes from time to bag the goal which eventually sealed the tie. For Adu, he started and played 85 minutes, but that will be scant consolation, as his side are now out of the race for the Cup title.

Up Next: Benfica and Adu will look to get back on track this weekend, when they face Paços de Ferreira, the side currently in fifteenth place in the league. Next Tuesday, Benfica travel to Scotland to face Celtic in Group D Champions League action.

Cup-Mania!

In the Carling Cup yesterday, Jonathan Spector and West Ham United came from behind to defeat Coventry City 2-1. The win secures the Hammers’ passage into the fifth round, though they don’t yet know who their opponent will be. Spector came on at halftime and sparked an improvement in West Ham, who got an injury time winner from Carlton Cole to sneak out a win. Today in the same competition, Tim Howard and Everton travel to lower division Luton for an evening kickoff.

Over in Germany, cup action was also on the cards. Heath Pearce was in the starting lineup for Hansa Rostock for the first time in over a month, as they dismantled Kickers Offenbach 6-0. In a match up of two 2^nd Bundesliga sides, Gregg Berhalter and Josh Wolff helped guide 1860 Munich to a 2-1 victory over Mainz. Neven Subotic, who scored at the weekend for Mainz, was not in action for his club.

Today, Michael Bradley and Heerenveen take on Ajax in a tough third round matchup in the Dutch Cup, while across the channel, DaMarcus Beasley and Rangers travel to Fir Park stadium to take on Motherwell in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup. Rangers were eliminated from the competition at this stage last year by St. Johnstone, and will look to better that performance in today’s encounter.

In Portugal, Freddy Adu and Benfica face Setubal in the second leg of the cup tie. Last week, Adu grabbed a late equalizing goal to make sure that Benfica went into tonight’s rematch on level terms. With a goal at the weekend and manager Hector Camacho slated to rest some established starters Adu could make his way into the first eleven. As a side note, the League Cup in Portugal works much differently than most other countries on the continent. Instead of a single elimination, bracket style, tournament, all the clubs playing tonight will vie for progression into a group stage, where a round robin group of matches will then determine who competes in the final.

BRIAN MCBRIDE (FULHAM)

The News: Fulham captain Brian McBride targets a December return for the Cottagers.

Of Note: In an interview on Fulham’s website, manager Lawrie Sanchez talks about the absence of McBride in attack, and the effect that its had on the team. He also updates fans on Brian’s recovery from successful surgery in August. You can read the entirety of the interview here.

Up Next: After a draw with Sunderland this past weekend, Fulham will face Reading and American’s Bobby Convey and Marcus Hahnemann in a Saturday match up at Craven Cottage. Though Clint Dempsey will likely take part in that match for Fulham, defender Carlos Bocanegra is suspended for yellow car accumulation.

WEEKEND WRAP UP

Below are highlights of Freddy Adu’s goal, but here’s how the rest of the Americans in Europe fared this weekend:

England:

Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey both played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 1-1 draw against Roy Keane’s Sunderland. Fulham jumped out to an early lead, courtesy of Welsh international Simon Davies, and when Sunderland were reduced to ten men in the second half, the Cottagers looked to be on the road to a vital win away from home. However, Sunderland fought valiantly, and eventually equalized late in the game to earn a share of the points.

Tim Howard and Everton traveled to Pride Park on Saturday to face Eddie Lewis and Derby County, where the Toffees came out 2-0 victors. The clean sheet was Howard’s second of the season and the victory vaults Everton into the top half of the table, in ninth place. For Derby, trouble seems to be mounting with zero wins in their last five matches. However, they still remain only two points away from safety and will look to get back on track next week against Aston Villa. Benny Feilhaber did not dress for the game on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Reading hosted Newcastle, and Marcus Hahnemann resumed his position between the sticks for the Royals, overseeing a 2-1 victory for Steve Coppell’s side. In a back and forth game, Reading took the lead through Dave Kitson, though they were later pegged back by a Michael Duberry own goal. The home side were not to be denied, and Shane Long scored with only his second touch of the game, after just coming on the field only seconds before, to secure all three points for Reading. Bobby Convey is just returning to fitness for Reading, having been out for a few weeks with an injury, and was an unused substitute in the game.

Finally, Jonathan Spector made a late substitute appearance for West Ham United in their 0-0 draw against Portsmouth. Spector came on in the 78th minute for Nolberto Solano, as West Ham survived a late penalty scare to salvage a point.

So, what do you think about this week's matches overseas? Let us know by making a comment below.

WEEKEND WRAP UP: PART II

Germany:

On Friday, Steve Cherundolo and Hannover played to a 0-0 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. Cherundolo played 90 minutes, and will likely be on the field again on Tuesday when his club travels to Gelsenkirchen to face Shalke 04. With both clubs tied on 18 points, the winner of tomorrow’s game will be thrust into the top four in the Bundesliga.

In the 2nd Bundesliga, Neven Subotic played 90 minutes in Mainz’s 1-1 draw against FC Augsburg. On Tuesday, Mainz travels south to face 1860 Munich and Gregg Berhalter, Josh Wolff, and Steve Purdy. Over the weekend 1860 beat Kickers Offenbach 3-0 and both Berhalter and Wolff were in the starting eleven. For the first time in his career, Purdy was called into the first team, after playing this season with the reserves. He was an unused substitute in 1860’s victory on Friday.

Holland:

Michael Bradley started and played 65 minutes in Heerenveen’s 4-0 win against VV Venlo. Brazilian scoring machine Afonso Alves was twice on target for Heerenveen, who on Wednesday will take on Ajax in the third round of the Dutch Cup.

Belgium:

Standard Liege drew 2-2 with KV Mechelen to remain both top of the league and unbeaten in the Belgian Jupiler League. American defender Oguchi Onyewu went the distance for SL, who will next face Excelsior Mouscron on Friday, November 2.

Sweden:

In the final game of the season, a Charlie Davies hat trick propelled Hammarby to a 4-0 victory over Gais. Davies’ three goals were his first in the league for the Swedish club, who finished sixth in the table this year, and can be seen in this video, accompanied by a tremendous soundtrack.

Scotland:

DaMarcus Beasley was inserted back into the starting lineup for Rangers, but unfortunately his club slipped to a 2-1 defeat away to Dundee United. Beasley was the source of Rangers’ goal, as he drew a penalty in the 51st minute which Daniel Cousin converted. However, The Tangerines earned a penalty of their own just three minutes later, and Barry Robson converted from the spot in what proved to be the decisive action of the game. The loss leaves Rangers three points adrift from rivals Celtic who top the Scottish Premier League table with 25 points.

So, what do you think about this week's matches overseas? Let us know by making a comment below.

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

The News: Freddy Adu scored his third goal of the season in the 87^th minute to give Benfica a 2-1 victory over Maritimo in the Portuguese League on Sunday.

Of Note: The goal was Adu’s first in league play for his club, who climbed to second place with the victory. After going a goal down early in the match, Benfica equalized in the 18^th minute, however they were reduced to 10 men after their goalkeeper, Quim, was red carded later in the first half. Adu came on late in the second half, and his timely finish from inside the six yard box sent the Estadio da Luz crowd into raptures. It caps an impressive week for the 18-year-old, who scored last Saturday in the League Cup for Benfica. In midweek, he appeared as a sub in Benfica’s victory over Celtic in the Champions League, and played a part in the build up to Óscar Cardozo’s winning goal.

Up Next: Benfica play Paços de Ferreira in a League match on Saturday, November 3, before traveling to Scotland to face Celtic in Champions League Parkhead on next Tuesday, November 6.

Two goals in a week for Adu? Is he finally hitting his groove at Benfica? Let us know what you think by adding a comment below!

TIM HOWARD (EVERTON)

The News: Tim Howard and Everton open UEFA Cup group play by hosting Greek side AE Larissa tonight.

Of Note: Everton just scraped through the first round, defeating Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv 4-3 on aggregate. Tim Howard played in goal for that first round game, and also minded the net for Everton’s defeat in the Merseyside Derby this past weekend. The Toffees are still smarting from what they feel were some poor referee decisions, but they’ll have to put the lingering effects of the loss aside for now to focus on tonight’s match against a team they’ve never faced before in European competition.

Up Next: Check out some facts on the upcoming match here. Also, the game will be aired on FSC at 5 pm ET (delayed)

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

The News: Freddy Adu became the youngest American to play in the UEFA Champions League proper when he came on in the 61st minute of Benfica’s 1-0 win over Scottish champion Celtic in their Group D match on Wednesday.

Of Note: Adu entered the game early in the second half while the score was still knotted at zero. The Portuguese club bombarded the Celtic goal for the duration of the second half, hitting the crossbar and the post, before Óscar Cardozo eventually scored the winner five minutes from time.

In the game last night against Celtic, Freddy was the first sub off the bench, and was also involved in the passing movement which built up to the goal. At 18 years, 4 months, Adu broke the record for the youngest American to play in the group stage of the Champions League held by Jonathan Spector (18 years, 11 months). That mark was set when he came on as a sub for Manchester United against Turkey's Fenerbahce in 2004.

Up Next: On Sunday, Benfica host Maritimo in a Portguese League match. Benfica have arguably underachieved thus far this year in the domestic league, and though they have yet to lose, sit at fourth place in the table due to four ties. The Lisbon club can go a long way toward rectifying their problems in their match this weekend; Maritimo currently are one point ahead of Benfica.

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

The News: Freddy Adu and Benfica take on Celtic in Champions League action on Wednesday at the Stadium of Light.

Of Note: Freddy Adu has yet to really break into the first team, but he is on the squad list for the match. With injuries to a few players - including striker Nuno Gomes - is there a chance Adu sees some playing time? We won't know for sure until kickoff tomorrow (oh, by the way, the match is only on closed circuit TV or UEFA.com broadband pay-per-view). Adu has been making an impact as he scored the tying goal in Benfica’s Carlsberg Cup match on Saturday (see earlier Adu blog entry for video of the goal), coming into the game in the 71st minute and ripping a first time half volley from the edge of the area to ensure they earned a replay in the fourth round of the cup.

Up Next: The game of course! Get all the starting line-ups and more here before the match and then follow online.

DAMARCUS BEASLEY (RANGERS)

The News: DaMarcus Beasley came on in the 72nd minute for Nacho Novo during the Rangers 0-0 draw against Barcelona in their Champions League clash this evening at Ibrox Stadium.

Of Note: The scoreless draw was a favorable result for Rangers, who now have seven points from three games and are tied atop Group E with Barcelona.



Up Next: Rangers get set to take on Dundee United away in league play on Sunday. Beasley, who is coming back from a slight ankle injury he suffered during the USA-Switzerland match last week, will be looking to crack the starting line-up once again.

KASEY KELLER (FULHAM FC)

The News: Fulham goalkeeper Kasey Keller will be sidelined until next February after suffering a torn bicep muscle in training.

Of Note: Keller, who had established himself as the first-choice ‘keeper after joining the team in August, will likely need surgery. About the injury, Keller said: “I feel absolutely destroyed, devastated. It’s hugely disappointing because things were going so well and then this comes along and now I have to start all over again. I just wanted to make my name here and I was doing that until I suffered this cruel injury.”

Up Next: Keller-less Fulham next face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Oct. 27 as they try to start digging out from their relegation hole.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ON TV TODAY

The News: DaMarcus Beasley and Rangers take on Barcelona in Champions League action live on ESPN 2 at 2:30 ET. The match up tonight between two of Europe’s most tradition-laden clubs marks the first time that they’ve met in a European competition.

Of Note: Both clubs have won their first two Group E matches, though Barcelona currently sits in first place on goal difference. The two teams had contrasting results at the weekend: Rangers comprehensively defeated Celtic, 3-0, in the first Old Firm Derby of the year, while Barcelona crashed to a 3-1 defeat at high-flying Villarreal. Additionally, both clubs have key players sidelined for tonight’s game. For the Glasgow club, forward Jean-Claude Darcheville and holding midfielder Brahi Hemandi will both miss out, while the Catalans lengthy injury list includes long term absentees Samuel Eto’o and Deco, as well as Yaya Toure, Edmilson, Gianluca Zambrotta, and Rafael Marquez. However, Ronaldinho does return for the 2006 European Champions, who despite the injury omissions, still boast a frighteningly potent attack that has thus far banged in seventeen goals in La Liga, good for the most in the league.

Up Next: Well, the game doesn’t start until this afternoon, but the probable lineups are listed here, and you can find a good preview for the match right here.

NEVEN SUBOTIC (MAINZ)

The News: Neven Subotic scored his first goal as a professional in Europe as Mainz defeated SV Wehen 3-1 on Sunday.

Of Note: A former U-20 player for the United States, Subotic has appeared in all 10 games for Mainz so far this season. His goal on Sunday, which proved to be the eventual game winner, catapulted Mainz into third place, one point behind Borussia M’gladbach and Freiburg who are tied atop the German 2.Bundesliga stadings. Subotic has been everpresent for Mainz’s defense, having played 90 minutes in each of their games.

Up Next: Mainz host FC Augsburg on Friday, Oct. 26, before traveling south on Tuesday to play Josh Wolff, Gregg Berhalter and 1860 Munich in a cup match.

LEE NGUYEN (PSV)

News: Lee Nguyen is training again with PSV, following an extended period on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

Of Note: Lee has been slowed this season by a shoulder injury. The club were cautious about binging him back, but the 21-year old has finally resumed training with the first team in Eindhoven.

Up Next: PSV has started the season well, and currently sit in second place in the table, behind Feyenoord. The club has yet to lose a match in league play, and will put that record on the line next Sunday when they travel to Rotterdam to face their rivals in a top of the table clash. Prior to that, however, PSV will turn its attention to Europe, where on Tuesday they play host to Fenerbahce in a Champions League Group G match up.

JOSH WOLFF (1860 Munich)

News: Josh Wolff returned from injury to play 58 minutes in 1860 Munich’s 3-0 loss to SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Sunday.

Of Note: Wolff, who had previously missed the last three games due to a leg injury, returned to the starting lineup, and showed no lingering affects from his recent absence. He was replaced in the second half by Timo Gebhardt

Up Next: 1860 will look to get back on track when they host Kickers Offenbach on Friday the 26^th.

FREDDY ADU (BENFICA)

News: Freddy Adu appeared as a sub and scored in Benfica’s Carlsberg Cup match on Saturday, coming into the game in the 71^st minute.

Of Note: Down 1-0, Freddy scored the equalizing goal for Benfica in stoppage time. His first time half volley from the edge of the area ensured that the Lisbon team earned a replay in the fourth round of the cup. The goal was Adu’s second in the competition, after he scored a similarly late equalizer from the penalty spot in the previous round. Benfica went on to win that match in penalties.

Up Next: Benfica resumes Champions League play on Wednesday when they host Celtic at the Estadio da Luz. A result for the Portuguese club is vital, as they remain pointless in Group D after losing the first two matches. The top two teams from each group advance to the next round.

DAMARCUS BEASLEY (RANGERS)

THE NEWS: DaMarcus Beasley gets his first minutes in an Old Firm as Rangers cruise past city rivals Celtic with a 3-0 win to pull level on points at the top of the SPL table.

OF NOTE: Following the USA's 1-0 midweek win against Switzerland, Beasley entered in the 75th minute as Rangers shutout Celtic in the first of three scheduled meetings between the Scottish superpowers this season. Nacho Novo scored a pair of goals sandwiching a finish by team captain Barry Ferguson. Over 50,000 fans packed Ibrox Stadium to witness one of the greatest rivalries in sport.



UP NEXT: Rangers face their biggest test in nearly 20 years when they welcome mighty FC Barcelona to Glasgow on Oct. 23 for their first meeting in this year's Champions League group phase.

Games on TV this Weekend

European club football recommences this weekend after domestic leagues were put on hold this past week for the international break. With a full slate of games on TV, U.S. Soccer Global breaks down the ones that feature our guys:

(All times are ET)

Saturday:

7:40 am: Everton v. Liverpool (Setanta) – What better way to start out the weekend than by watching one of the most hotly contested games in world football? The 204th edition of the Merseyside Derby will be played at Goodison Park, where Tim Howard and Everton will look to improve on their current position of 10^th in the table. Timmy talked to Everton’s website about playing in the derby. You can read the full interview here.

4:30 pm: Blackburn v. Reading (FSC, delayed) – In a battle of U.S. international goalkeepers past and present, Brad Friedel and Blackburn take on Marcus Hahnemann and Reading at Ewood Park. Rovers have been steadily climbing the table this year and currently sit in sixth place, tied with three teams on 15 points. Meanwhile, Reading have gone a long way towards reversing their poor start to the season and have clawed their way to 12^th in the table on 10 points. Bobby Convey is an injury doubt for the Royals, but Hahnemann, who contributed 45 minutes to Wednesday’s clean sheet against Switzerland, will likely get the nod for Steve Coppell’s side.

3 am: Fulham v. Derby Country (Setanta, delayed) – Nothing seals the deal like a nightcap of soccer. At least that’s what we’ve always thought here at the blog. Maybe that explains something. Regardless, if you’re up late, be sure to catch the re-run of this game which could feature five American national team players. For the Cottagers, Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey could all see time for a Fulham side in need of a positive result. Coincidentally, Derby County needs the exact same thing, as they currently prop up the table with only five points. For the Rams, Eddie Lewis and Benny Feilhaber could both have a part to play.

Sunday:

8 am: Hannover v. Wolfsburg (Gol TV) – Change pace a bit with the Bundesliga, where Hannover take on Wolfsburg from the AWD-Arena. Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 currently lie sixth in the table, after back-to-back wins have significantly improved their position.

11 am: West Ham v. Sunderland (FSC) – Finally, Jonathan Spector and West Ham United play host to Sunderland in this brunch-time kickoff. West Ham have solidified their spot in midtable, but losses in their last two games have their demanding fans on edge again. For Sunderland and Roy Keane, any point will do. Spector spoke to West Ham United's website about getting his chance in the starting XI. You can read the interview here.

As always, keep refreshing U.S. Soccer Global all weekend long. We’ll try to bring you updates, videos and news as they happen around the continent.

JOHANN SMITH (DARLINGTON)

The News: Johann Smith, who was forced to miss the recent Under-20 World Cup with an injury suffered just days before leaving for Canada, will go on a one-month loan from Premier League side Bolton to League Two’s Darlington.

Of Note: The speedy winger, still rehabbing the third-degree sprain of his ankle, will look to gain experience and get back to match fitness during the loan, which includes options for extension. The move from Bolton is the second loan for the 20-year-old in two years, after appearing 14 times for Colchester United in the 2006-07 season.

Up Next: The Quakers, who have started the season nicely and sit in second place in the table, travel away to Bradford on Saturday.