Clint Dempsey had the standout performance for National Teamers Abroad over the weekend, scoring three times as Fulham advanced 4-0 over Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup. Playing at home, Dempsey had Fulham's first goal eight minutes in, adding a second in the 61st and converting an 81st minute penalty to finish off the hat-trick. Damien Duff scored Fulham's fourth and final goal six minutes later. Charlton put more shots on frame than Fulham (7 to 6) making it a difficult shutout for Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale.
Everybody stepped up a gear and we realised that we had to take it to them to win," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. "It was very positive that Clint scored three goals and Bryan Ruiz created all the goals."
Tim Howard and Landon Donovan both started for Everton in a 2-0 win over Conference club Tamworth at Goodison Park. John Heitinga converted from a Donovan corner to open the scoring in the5th minute and Leighton Baines converted a 79th minute penalty with Howard picking up the shutout on two saves.
“Tamworth played well,” Donovan said. “But we did not expect them to come here and lie down. Obviously they are a few divisions below us but they made it hard. They maybe died a little bit around the 70-minute mark but you’d probably expect that with their fitness not quite being as good as a Premier League team. But they deserve a lot of credit."
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Brad Guzan stopped a stoppage time penalty as Bristol Rovers staged an unlikely comeback after the 90th minute. With Aston Villa up 3-0 from Marc Albrighton (35th), Gabriel Agbonlahor (64th), and Ciaran Clark (78th), Rovers got a stoppage time goal from Scott McGleish. It would be McGleish failing to get by Guzan.
"I thought we were very professional," Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish said. "It was well controlled by the players. That was the thing - the psychological thing - if they have any nerves it can happen, we have seen many giant-killing acts in the Cup before, but they handled that part of it well."
Jonathan Spector went the distance for Birmingham City in a 0-0 draw with Wolves. This is the FA Cup, so the game will be replayed. Zak Whitbread got the start for Norwich City in a 4-1 win over Burnley. Norwich were already two goals ahead when Burnley scored in the 15th minute. Whitbread was yellow carded in the 79th.
In League One, Frank Simek started for Carlisle in a 4-1 win over Leyton Orient. Carlisle had an opening goal less than 60 seconds into the game.
Scottish Cup, and Rangers had no problems with Arbroath in a 4-0 shutout. Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu started for Rangers, who were in front 17 minutes in and doubled that lead courtesy of a 22nd minute Arbroath own-goal.
Portugal, and Oguchi Onyewu started for Sporting in a 0-0 draw with Porto. In Serie A, Francesco Totti converted two penalties in Roma's 2-0 win over Michael Bradley's Chievo.
Mexico's Clausura season opened on Friday with Edgar Castillo starting in his first game for Tijuana, a 101 draw at Morelia. Jose Sand converted a 45th minute penalty to equalize for Tijuana. On Saturday, Jose Francisco Torres returned to Pachuca's lineup after recovering from his injury, getting the start in a 0-0 draw with Santos Laguna. Herculez Gomez subbed on for new club Santos in the 72nd minute. Michael Orozco got the start for San Luis in a 1-0 win over Chiapas where San Luis played from the 34th minute a man down. Anibal Matellan was sent off, with Jehu Chiapas scoring the game's only goal five minutes later. Oscar Perez picked up the short-handed shutout. On Sunday, DaMarcus Beasley started and played 55 minutes in Puebla's 0-0 draw with Atlas. Puebla played the second-half a man up with Beasley subbing out in the 55th minute.
Did Not Play: Marcus Hahnemann (Everton 2 - Tamworth 0), Robbie Findley (Nottingham Forest 0 - Leicester City 0), Brad Friedel (Spurs 3 - Cheltenham 0), Alejandro Bedoya (Rangers 4 - Arbroath 0), Jonathan Bornstein (Tigres 1 - Cruz Azul 1)
Injured: Stuart Holden (Bolton 2 - Macclesfield 2)
