WASHINGTON, DC (May 4, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Fulham got a win to push them out of the relegation zone with one game left in the English Premier League season. Unfortunately for two Americans Abroad, it was at Reading's expense. Meanwhile, The Championship and League One seasons ended with no American Abroad clubs relegated and Watford making the playoffs.
ENGLAND
Premier League
Reading 0 - Spurs 1
Now it's Reading top of the relegation zone, falling behind Fulham on goal differential after Robbie Keane beat Marcus Hahnemann in the 16th minute for the game's only goal. "We've been fully aware all season of the trouble we could be - and now are - in," said Reading manager Steve Coppell. "But there's no point looking back. We know what we've got to do next week now. We have to win." At least on paper, they have the easiest match-up on the last day of the season, playing Derby County. Bobby Convey wasn't in the squad for Reading.
Fulham 2 - Birmingham City 0
With Fulham playing for their season, Brian McBride put his head on the ball in the 52nd to put Fulham out of the relegation zone and leave Birmingham one up from bottom and a point from safety. Birmingham and Reading are still capable of ruining it for Fulham, who avoid relegation with a win, over Portsmouth next week, but would need help with a draw or a loss. "I made sure that I tell them that if we go down, they are down with us," said Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed. "And I have promised each one of them they will have a £5,000 hamper full of caviar and smoked salmon (if Fulham avoid relegation)" Kasey Keller and Clint Dempsey started for Fulham with Carlos Bocanegra on the bench. Eddie Johnson wasn't in the squad.
Arsenal 1 - Everton 0
A 77th minute goal was the difference, ruining Tim Howard's shutout and setting Everton up for a potentially meaningful final game, with Aston Villa three points behind and equal on goal differential. A win or a draw keeps Everton 5th and in next season's UEFA Cup. "We have been fourth or fifth all year and we want to hang on to it," said Everton manager David Moyes.
Blackburn 3 - Derby County 1
Brad Friedel started for Blackburn and Eddie Lewis started and played 72 minutes for Derby, who actually led for most of the first half. Blackburn took the game before and after halftime, meaning Derby will finish with the worst record in EPL history. "It would have been nice to have got six points from our last two games but it wasn't going to happen," said Derby manager Paul Jewell. 7th-place Blackburn could stil finish as high as 6th with a game remaining. "We've never been out of the top 10 all season and for a club of our size that is a huge achievement," said Blackburn manager Mark Hughes. Benny Feilhaber was on the bench for Derby County.
Johann Smith missed Bolton's 2-0 win over Sunderland, now free of the relegation zone. Jonathan Spector wasn't in the squad for West Ham's 4-1 loss to Manchester United.
The Championship
Jay DeMerit wasn't in the squad for Watford's 1-1 draw with Blackpool, good for the last playoff slot on goal differential. Matt Pickens wasn't in the squad for QPR's 2-0 loss to Championship winners West Bromwich Albion. Frankie Simek missed Sheffield Wednesday's final game of the season die to injury, with Wednesday finishing three points above the relegation zone in 16th with a 4-1 win over Norwich City. With Charlton Atheltic already announcing they wouldn't be offering Cory Gibbs a new contract, he officially never played a first team game in his two years with the club. Charlton beat Coventry City 4-1 to finish 11th. West Brom and Stoke were promoted, Hull, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, and Watford made the playoffs, and Leicester City, Scunthorpe, and Colchester were relegated.
In League One, Zak Whitbread remains unavailable for Millwall, 2-1 losers to Swindon Town. Millwall finish the season in 17th, four points above the relegation zone. Swansea and Nottingham Forest are promoted to the Championship, Doncaster, Carlisle, Leeds, and Southend made the playoffs, and Bournemouth, Gillingham, Port Vale, and Luton were relegated.
GERMANY
Bundesliga
Schalke 1 - Hannover 1
Steve Cherundolo started as usual, with Hannover's low producing offense getting an early lead and the defense holding on for the draw. A good result, considering Schalke is 2nd to Hannover's 8 in the table with five games left. Hannover remains in contention for a European place, currently eight points out of 5th.
Kamani Hill wasn't in the squad for Wolfsburg, who drew 0-0 with your 2007-08 Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Brian Arguez missed Hertha Berlin's 3-1 win over Karlsruhe. Hamburg's Preston Zimmerman and Hansa Rostock's Heath Pearce weren't involved in Hamburg's 3-1 win over Hansa Rostock.
Bundesliga 2
FSV Mainz 2 - Kaiserslautern 1
Neven Subotic started for Mainz, second in the 2.Bundesliga with five games remaining.
Josh Wolff was on the bench and Gregg Berhalter wasn't in the squad for TSV 1860 Munich's 3-0 loss to Freiburg on Friday. Also on Friday, Joey Enochs wasn't involved in Osnabruck's 1-1 draw with FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Josh Grenier is recovering from an injured knee , missing TUS Koblenz's 2-0 win over SV Wehen on Sunday.
BELGIUM
Jupiler League
Standard Liege 3 - FCV Dender 0
Oguchi Onyewu started as normal, the week after Standard Liege lost their first game of the season.
HOLLAND
Eredivisie
Heerenveen 1 - Ajax 2
Michael Bradley's Heerenveen lost the first leg of the Eredivisie playoffs for the second Champions League slot on Thursday. If Heerenveen doesn't advance, they qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Did Not Play: Freddy Adu's Benfica drew 0-0 with Amadora, falling to 4th in the table with a game left to play. Andrew Jacobson remains unavailable for Lorient, who drew 0-0 with Le Mans. Danny Szetela wasn't part of Brescia's 3-0 win over Modena.
