WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 20, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Oguchi Onyewu's Standard Liege are Jupiler League champions with three games left to play, while Clint Mathis' Ergotelis finished off their remarkable comeback to avoid relegation on the last day of the Greek season.
ENGLAND
Premier League
Arsenal 2 - Reading 0
Marcus Hahnemann was in goal and Bobby Convey returned to the starting eleven, but Arsenal took two first half goals and the game. Reading manager Steve Coppell isn't naïve about his club's position one point above the relegation zone: "We shrunk back after we conceded and observed and did not play. After the break we put in some real effort and commitment. We have a three game mini-season and must aim to get enough points to stay up."
Fulham 0 - Liverpool 2
A tough game for Kasey Keller, who saw his defense outclassed while Liverpool opted not to rest everybody for their Champions League semifinal. On the other end, Clint Dempsey had chances to respond but couldn’t keep the ball on frame. "We can retain hope of staying up," said manager Roy Hodgson. The task gets harder because we have not recovered any points on the teams above us and we have lost another game and another opportunity. We have given a good account of ourselves but we do not have anything to show for it." To do that, Fulham will need at least five points to pass Birmingham where the goal differential doesn't favor them. Reading, two slots higher, have a -28 to Fulham's -26. Brian McBride started and played 81 minutes. Carlos Bocanegra was on the bench. Ed Johnson wasn't in the squad.
West Ham United 2 - Derby County 1
Jonathan Spector wasn't in the squad for West Ham, with Eddie Lewis the only active American as Benny Feilhaber remained on the bench for Derby. With both teams playing out their remaining games, this one was more about Derby trying to actually win, at least for manager Paul Jewell: "The fans have been unbelievable and that's why we were desperate to reward them today. They have been there all season and they deserve to be in the Premier League."
Blackburn 1 - Manchester United 1
Brad Friedel reminded the rest of the Premier League that he remains in the conversation for the best keeper going, showing how to stop Manchester United time and again. Given United's resources, Carlos Tevez's 88th minute equalizer wasn't shocking, then again neither was the play of Friedel. "Brad has been able to make a fantastic save and Tevez kicks it out basically," said Blackburn manager Mark Hughes. "It hits his knee and goes out so it should have been a goal kick…. But we aren't going to beat ourselves up. I thought we were excellent."
Johann Smith wasn't involved in Bolton Wanderers' 1-0 win over Middlesbrough that moved them out of the relegation zone and ahead of Reading on goal differential for 16th place.
The Championship
Jay DeMerit was on the subs bench with Watford losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace. Watford have a one point lead over Palace in 5th place. Frank Simek remains out for Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1 losers to Blackpool and now in the top relegation slot with two games remaining. Matt Pickens wasn't in the squad and Cory Gibbs remains on the injured list as Queens Park Rangers beat Charlton Athletic 1-0.
In League One, Zak Whitbread continues his recovery from a shoulder injury, missing Millwall's 2-0 loss to Leeds United. Leeds are currently contesting the 15 point deduction keeping them 6th rather than 2nd.
GERMANY
Kamani Hill wasn't in the squad as VfL Wolfsburg lost 1-0 to Nurnberg on Sunday. This was the only league game of the weekend.
AUSTRIA
Bundesliga
Rapid Vienna 3 - SCR Altach 0
Nate Jaqua started and played the full ninety in the loss to the league leaders, with all goals scored in the first half. For those not up on the Austrian setup, their season ends early this year for Euro 2008. Next week is the final game, with Altach in no position to catch SV Reid in 7th, three points higher in the table, but also separated by a +13 goal differential in favor of Reid. In 9th place, Austria Karnten is two points back of Altach.
BELGIUM
Jupiler League
Standard Liege 2 - Anderlecht 0
Oguchi Onyewu's Standard Liege are champions of the Jupiler League, with Onyewu taking his normal starting role in the win. With three games left in the season, Liege are ten points ahead, taking the title against defending champions second-place Anderlecht. This is the first title for Liege in 25 years. They have yet to lose a game this season. "Over the whole season we have proved to be the best team," said Onyewu. "Hopefully we can win the rest of our games, stay unbeaten and go on to challenge in the Champions League next season."
HOLLAND
Eredivisie
Heerenveen 5 - Excelsior 0
Michael Bradley's Heerenveen sent Excelsior down on Sunday, finishing the season in 5th place on 60 points with a +40 goal differential. The Dutch league puts the 2nd - 9th finishers in a playoff bracket for their remaining Champions League place, three UEFA Cup slots, and one InterToto Cup place. 2nd - 5th play for that Champions League slot, with the losers taking the three UEFA Cup slots. Heerenveen plays Ajax Amsterdam in the first playoff game. Earnie Stewart's NAC Breda where he serves as technical director, will be playing in the other half of that bracket for the Champions League slot after finishing 3rd, three points ahead of Heerenveen.
GREECE
Super League
Ergotelis 2 - FC Xanthi 0
Clint Mathis' Ergotelis finished off their run from dead at the bottom of the table to another year in the Super League with a 2-0 win and a 13th-place finish. Atromitos, Veria and Apollon Kalamarias were relegated. Olympiacos are champions.
Did Not Play: Andrew Jacobson is recovering from injury, missing FC Lorient's 1-0 loss to St. Etienne. Freddy Adu wasn't in the squad for the Lisbon derby, but he was in attendance for the 2-0 loss to Porto. Danny Szetela missed Brescia's 3-0 loss to Chievo Verona.
