By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Jan 26, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Sacha, Sacha, Sacha. If you didn't come away from Saturday night's National Team game against Sweden thoroughly impressed with the play of one Sacha Kljestan please seek medical attention immediately. “Meaningless game against poor competition” you'll surely cry. I beg to differ.
Kljestan put on a show against a mostly inexperienced Swedish team that rivaled any performance in recent memory by a member of the National Team. The fact that he did it while playing alongside many untested US players only makes his effort that much more special. In a game like that, players like Kljestan and Ching and Califf should be expected to rise to the top and show off their know-how. That is exactly what they did.
Kljestan was all over the field from front to back and showed that he can score, and put himself in good scoring situations, in a number of different ways. Whether it was the precision of his early free kick, the coolness of his penalty effort, or his run off the ball for goal number three, you had to walk away awed by his overall showing.
Celtic could end up regretting it if they don't put in a bid for Kljestan now and try to get a move done by the close of the transfer window on Saturday. He should be the next pricey move from MLS to Europe, and the Sweden game might have put him on a wider shopping list than just the Scottish Premier League.
A lot of teams could use a young midfielder capable of pushing the attack while keeping his defensive assignment. Kljestan also makes other players better. He's shown that with club and country. His skills are only improving, and he deserves a bigger cllub stage.
American Abroad Report Card
English FA Cup (Round 4): Clint Dempsey started and played 90 minutes for Fulham in their 4-2 FA Cup victory over non-league Kettering Town. Simon Davies, Danny Murphy, Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora scored for Fulham. Craig Westcarr scored twice for Kettering. Dempsey assisted on Fulham's first goal.
Brad Friedel started in goal for Aston Villa in their 0-0 draw with Doncaster Rovers. Brad Guzan watched from the bench. Friedel made two saves in the contest. A replay will be needed to decide which team moves on to the fifth round of the cup competition.
Jonathan Spector was on the bench as West Ham United moved on to the 5th round of the FA Cup courtesy of their 2-0 win over Hartlepool United. Valon Behrami and Mark Noble scored for the Hammers.
Jay Demerit started and played the full-90 for Watford in their 4-3 win over Crystal Palace. Demerit, Jack Cork, Will Hoskins and Grzegorz Rasiak scored for Watford. Clint Hill and two from Paul Ifill accounted for the Palace scoring.
Eddie Johnson came on in stoppage time for Cardiff City in their 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Ninian Park in Wales. Johnson will hope for more playing time in the 4th round replay to be played February 3rd at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Tim Howard started in goal and played 90 minutes for Everton in their 1-1 draw with neighbors Liverpool at Anfield. Joleon Lescott scored for Everton before a Steven Gerrard goal knotted the game at one. Howard made seven saves for the Toffees.
Germany: All German divisions are off for their yearly winter break. Play begins again in Germany this Friday.
Scotland: Neither DaMarcus Beasley nor Maurice Edu made the bench for Rangers in their 0-0 draw with Aberdeen. Rangers sit four points behind first place Celtic in the Scottish Premier League standings.
France - Coupe de France: Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes move on in the Coupe de France by virtue of their 2-0 win over St. Etienne. A Jimmy Briand double sent Rennes on their way. Bocanegra once again started and played the full match at left back. Freddy Adu did not make the Monaco squad for their 1-0 win over Nice. Alexandre Licata scored the only goal of the game.
Spain: Jozy Altidore was not involved for Villarreal in their 1-1 draw with Osasuna. Giuseppe Rossi scored for Villarreal while Dady scored for Osasuna.
Belgium: Oguchi Onyewu started and played the full match for Standard Liege in their 1-0 win over KVC Westerlo. Igor De Camargo scored the only goal of the game in the 84th minute. The victory takes Liege to the top of the Jupiler League standings, two points clear of second place Anderlecht. Anderlecht do have one game in hand on Les Rouches.
Italy: Danny Szetela watched from the bench for Brescia in their 2-nil win over Empoli. Victor Hugo Mareco and Davide Possanzini scored for Brescia.
Graig Carbino covers American Abroad and writes a weekly column for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at graiger11@yahoo.com
