WASHINGTON, DC (Apr
13, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- With the final game of he Greek season next
weekend, Clint Mathis' Ergotelis will need a win and help to avoid relegation,
after a remarkable comeback to what looked like a wasted season. Meanwhile, Fulham gets three points but no
help higher up the table.
ENGLAND
Premier League
Reading 0 - Fulham 2
Fulham wins away at the expense of Marcus Hahnemann's Reading, with Brian McBride scoring the 24th minute opener. Kasey Keller got the shutout, with Clint Dempsey starting and being subbed out for Carlos Bocanegra in the 85th. Fulham remain four points from safety. "We would have a far better chance of staying up if there were eight or so games left," said Fulham manager Roy Hodgson. "We have 12 points to fight for and this performance has given me hope that we might get some miraculous escape." Eddie Johnson wasn't in the squad for Fulham. Bobby Convey wasn't in the squad for Reading, who are three points out of the relegation zone in 16th.
Derby County 0 - Aston Villa 6
Another disaster for already relegated Derby, with Eddie Lewis in the starting eleven and Benny Feilhaber watching from the bench. "We played well for the first 20 minutes but as soon as we concede a goal it is like a pack of cards and we just collapse," said manager Paul Jewell. "It is a horrible situation we are in and it is uncomfortable. As soon as we face a bit of adversity we have not got enough leaders or men to get us through it." Derby also announced they will be going to Holland instead of the United States for their preseason tour.
Bolton 1 - West Ham United 0
Jonathan Spector got the start, but Bolton got the surprise result. Bad news for Fulham, who beat Reading and would've moved to the top of the relegation zone with a Bolton loss. Instead, its already relegated Derby in 20th with 11 points, Fulham in 19th with 27, and Bolton in 18th with 29, chasing Birmingham City in 17th with 31. Johann Smith wasn't in the squad for Bolton.
Birmingham City 1 - Everton 1
More bad news for the American clubs struggling near the bottom of the EPL table, with Birmingham adding a point to the difference between safety and the drop. Tim Howard played well, with the Everton defense gave Birmingham enough opportunity to take all three points. "We have three games left at home and one away," said Everton manager David Moyes. "Our home form is good. Hopefully we will be able to pick up some important points." Everton remain in 5th place with a four-point lead over 6th place Portsmouth.
Liverpool 3 - Blackburn 1
Brad Friedel's Blackburn were punished by an early offsides call and helped by a missed penalty appeal, with the end fair according to manager Mark Hughes: "Our downfall was misplaced passes in dangerous areas…. The first goal was key. We should not have conceded two more but Liverpool probably deserved the win."
In the Championship, Jay DeMerit wasn't in the squad for Watford's 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion. West Brom are in second, two points ahead of Watford in 5th and carrying a massive goal differential at +29 to Watford's +9. Charlton drew 1-1 with Southampton without Cory Gibbs. Charlton are four points back from the playoffs. Matt Pickens was on the bench for QPR's 1-1 draw with Hull. In League One, Zak Whitbread remains unavailable for Millwall who beat Hartlepool 1-0 to move five points clear of the relegation zone.
GERMANY
Bundesliga
Hannover 96 2 - Eintracht Frankfurt 1
Steve Cherundolo started as Hannover shook of their opening goal scorer Sergio Pinto getting a red card in the 61st minute to win the game from a Christian Schulz goal in the 89th. Hannover are 10th, tied with Karlsruhe on points but trailing on goal differential.
Karlsruhe 1 - Hansa Rostock 2
Heath Pearce was a 74th minute substitute and on the field ten minutes later when Fin Bartels added a second goal to give Rostock the win. The win keeps Rostock out of the relegation mess, with a two point cushion in 15th. Last place Nurnberg are four points back, with a superior goal differential.
Preston Zimmerman wasn't in the squad for Hamburg's 1-0 loss to MSV Duisburg. Bryan Arguez was on the bench for Hertha Berlin's 1-1 draw with VfL Bochum. Kamani Hill wasn't in the squad for VfL Wolfsburg's halftime rainout on Friday, trailing Nurnberg 1-0 when the game was called.
Bundesliga 2
Kickers Offenbach 2 - 1860 Munich 0
Gregg Berhalter started and Josh Wolff was on the bench as Kickers Offenbach turned around their early season loss to Munich, now 11th in the table. With six games left, Munich are twelve points back from the third promotion slot, currently held by FC Koln.
FC Augsburg 2 - FSV Mainz 1
Neven Subotic started for Mainz in a game that kept them out of the third promotion slot. Mainz are currently 4th, a point behind Koln with a better goal differential than any club but league leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Joey Enochs' Osnabruck beat Josh Grenier's Koblenz 2-0 on Friday, with neither player appearing.
AUSTRIA
Bundesliga
SCR Altach 0 - FK Austria Magna 4
Nate Jaqua played the full ninety, but the game won't make the highlight reel for Altach. They remain 8th out of 10th in the Austrian table.
BELGIUM
Jupiler League
Lokeren 0 - Standard Leige 0
It's rare for Leige not to take all three points, especially against a 12th place club like Lokeren. Oguchi Onyewu took his usual spot in the Leige defense.
GREECE
Super League
Larissa 3 - Ergotelis 2
Clint Mathis' Ergotelis are 14th in the table after losing to 7th place Larissa. In the Greek League, slots 14-16 are relegated, with one game remaining for Ergotelis to get out of the zone. Atrmitos are two points ahead in 13th and Levadiakos are three points ahead in 12th. Ergotelis has the differential advantage against Levadiakos, but must beat FC Xanthi next week and get help to stay up.
HOLLAND
Eredivisie
Sparta 4 - Heerenveen 2
Michael Bradley started, came close early, and was involved in the second goal, but a first half that was all Heerenveen didn’t hold up in the second. Sparta dominated the final 45, scoring all of their goals including a 73rd minute penalty that gave them a 3-2 lead.
Did Not Play: Freddy Adu wasn't in the squad for Benfica's 3-0 loss to Academica on Friday, dropping them to 4th. Andrew Jacobson wasn't in the squad for Lorient's 1-0 win over Lens. Danny Szetela missed Brescia's 3-2 win over Albinoleffe.
