US Soccer Players

National Teamers Abroad: Weather Patterns

Clint Dempsey and Fulham had no luck against Manchester City at a snowy Emirates Stadium, falling 3-0.  City were up from the penalty spot within ten minutes, making it 2-0 from an own-goal.  It was 3-0 in the 72nd, with Joe Hart picking up the shutout. 

"In the second half I think we had more possession," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. "That is exactly what you have to do.  Even in the last eight minutes we had two chances. If you keep the ball you can create something but you have to do that from the first minute.'

Tigres 2 - Union Espanola 2

Jonathan Bornstein once again got the start for Tigres in the Copa Libertadores, but they exit the tournament to Union Espanola.  Playing at the Estadio Universitario, Tigres went up a goal in the 14th minute and had a 2-0 lead by the 22nd.  Unfortunately for the home side, they went down a man when defender Jose Rivas was red carded in the 37th minute.  Union Espanola converted the ensuing penalty.   Both teams would be reduced to 10-men when Union Espanola's Mauro Diaz picked up a second yellow card in the 63rd minute.  Union Espanola leveled the score five minutes later, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.

Novara 1 - Chievo 2

Michael Bradley went 90 minutes for Chievo on Thursday, beating Novara 2-1 at the Stadio Silvio Piola.  Sergio Pellissier opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, with Cyril Thereau doubling the lead in the 78th.  Novara answered back a minute later, but were unable to come up with an equalizer.  The result has Chievo in 10th place, with Novara bottom of the table.  Chievo play Parma at home on Sunday.

Premier League Results

Clint Dempsey was once again the goal scorer for Fulham putting them in front in what turned into a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at Craven Cottage.  Dempsey's 69th minute opener was cancelled out in the 82nd.  With Bobby Zamora transferred to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, Dempsey was used as a striker. 

"Clint scores goals from the left and up-front. It's extraordinary to score goals the way he does," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. "He is normally on the left but today he played up-front and you know there are goals in him so I was pleased."

Everton, Spurs, Birmingham Win

Tim Howard and Landon Donovan were part of a huge win for Everton, beating Premier League leaders Manchester City 1-0 at Goodison Park.  Darron Gibson scored the game's only goal in the 60th minute.  Donovan assisted on the Gibson goal. 

"That is as good as it has been at Goodison for a while considering the players we had missing and the team we were up against," Everton manager David Moyes said. "So it says a lot about the Club and how we always seem to come back and do it - the players did great tonight.

National Teamers Abroad: Onyewu, Beasley Make The Difference

Oguchi Onyewu was the hero for Sporting, scoring twice on Sunday in a 2-0 win over Biera Mar. Onyewu opened the scoring with an 18th minute header and used his head again for the second goal in the 27th. He was yellow carded in the opening minute. The win moves Sporting into 4th-place in the Portuguese Liga.

Elsewhere in Europe, Michael Bradley went 74 minutes for Chievo in a 3-0 loss to Lazio. Chievo trailed by a goal when Bradley subbed out, his absence a rarity this season. Jozy Altidore played the second-half for AZ in a 2-0 loss to Roda JC. The final score was already set before Altidore subbed on with Roda scoring in the 10th and 33rd minutes. Altidore was yellow carded in the 80th minute. Sacha Kljestan went 76 minutes for Anderlecht in a scoreless draw with Germinal Beeschot.

Everton 2 - Fulham 1

Danny Murphy converted a 14th-minute penalty to put Fulham up at Goodison Park, but it would be Everton advancing to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.  Denis Stracqualursi equalized in the 27th minute from a Landon Donovan cross and Marouane Fellaini headed in the winner off Donovan's second assist in the 73rd.  Donovan and Tim Howard started for Everton, with Clint Dempsey in the lineup for Fulham.  Dempsey picked up an 86th minute yellow card.

In Friday's other game involving National Teamers, Steve Cherundolo got the start in Hsnnover 96's 1-0 win over Nurnberg.  Mohammed Abdellaoue was the difference, scoring in the 18th minute.  Timmy Chandler missed the game with a pulled muscle.  

Dempsey Talks FA Cup

With their Fourth Round game against Everton on Friday (3pm ET - Fox Soccer) Clint Dempsey described to Fulham's official site what the FA Cup means to him. 

“To be honest with you I didn’t [follow the FA Cup when I was younger] because I didn’t have a lot of channels growing up to watch football over in Europe. It wasn’t until I got a little bit older that we started to get channels like Fox Soccer Channel and stuff like that which showed all the Premier League games, so that’s what we watched, Premier League games, and also on ESPN we got to see the Champions League. But since I’ve been over here, you get to watch it on TV, you see the goals and you see that it’s a chance to win something special. In your career you want to win things and hopefully, maybe one day I can, maybe the FA Cup."

Official: Ream Transfers To Bolton

Confirming earlier reports, Major League Soccer announced on Thursday that New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream has completed his move to Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League. Ream received a work permit earlier this week.  Per MLS policy, the financial terms of the deal are not made public.

“I want to thank the Red Bulls and their fans for their tremendous support over the past two years," Ream said in a press statement. "The club gave me an unbelievable opportunity to play in Major League Soccer and I would not have been in this position without the team and league’s backing. I will always cherish my memories playing for New York,” Ream said. “This was a hard decision for me considering the fact that I enjoyed playing for the Red Bulls and was looking forward to the upcoming MLS season. However, after consulting with those closest to me, I decided that this was a once in a lifetime chance that I could not pass up.”

Union Espanola 1 - Tigres 0

Jonathan Bornstein went the distance for Tigres in their Copa Libertadores loss to Union Espanola at the Estadio Santa Laura SEK in Santiago, Chile.  Gonzalo Barriga scored the game's only goal in the 58th minute. Bornstein and Tigres are playing a two-leg first stage series with Union Espanola, with the winner advancing to Group 3.  Tigres hosts the second-leg on February 2nd.

Johns Makes Impression In London

Though he has yet to make his debut for the United States, George John has already impressed at new club West Ham United.  West Ham's official site posted a lengthy article on John's first game with the reserves.  John scored 17 minutes into a 1-1 draw with Gillingham.  John is with West Ham on a two-month loan from FC Dallas with an option to buy.  Jonathan Spector's old club are currently top of the table in the Championship, leading Southampton by three points on 27 games played.

"I pride myself on working hard - that's how I've achieved what I've been able to do," John said. "I think I'm a decent defender so I just do my job well and pass the ball to the guys who need it. I'm excited about the opportunity. England has the best football league in the world and I'm always up for a new challenge. The only way to get better is to play with better players."

Anderlecht 3 - KAA Gent 1

Sacha Kljestan took his regular place in the starting eleven for Anderlecht on Tuesday, in a 3-1 win over Gent at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.  Their lead at the top of the SAS-Ligaen table is now nine points.  After falling behind seven minutes in, Milan Jovanovic scored twice for Anderlecht, with Matias Suarez adding the third goal. 

Olhanense 0 - Sporting 0

Oguchi Onyewu got the start for Sporting in a scoreless Liga draw with Olhanense on Monday.  Sporting are 5th, trailing Maritimo on goal difference with 29 points from 16 games played.  Olhanense are 9th.  Benfica lead the league with 42 points. 

Report: Ream Moving To Bolton

According to a flash report on the BBC Sport website, Tim Ream has received his work permit and will sign with Bolton Wanderers.  Having no ancestral connection to allow for a passport, Ream needed to apply for a work permit.  That procedure has hampered potential American moves in the past.  New York had been preparing for Ream to be sold to Bolton.  Neither Bolton nor New York have confirmed the transfer.

National Teamers Abroad: Dempsey's Game

The story of US National Team players abroad begins and ends with Clint Dempsey this weekend.  That's what happens when an American scores three goals in the Premier League.  Dempsey was the difference in a game that showed little promise in the first-half, but turned into a 5-2 win for Fulham over Newcastle United.  Dempsey took advantage of a clever move from Andy Johnson to launch a breakaway that found Bobby Zamora running into the Newcastle box.  Zamora's shot was parried into Dempsey, who pushed the ball into the back of the net in the 59th minute to make it 2-1 Fulham.  Dempsey's next two goals looked oddly similar, striking from distance in the 65th and 89th minutes.

"It was a good game to be part of, and obviously Clint did very well today," Dempsey's teammate Chris Baird told the club's official site. "That’s his second hat-trick in three games and I think everyone was really pleased for him. But it’s a positive win for us all and one that we can certainly build on."

Video: Dempsey Scores Three

Courtesy of Fox Soccer, USA midfielder Clint Dempsey scores three times as Fulham beat Newcastle 5-2 at Craven Cottage.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=b3d31c83-2e5b-4e25-bd59-6e55aefe496b" target="_new" title="">Clint Dempsey is sensational</a>

Ajax 2 - AZ 3

Jozy Altidore subbed on in the 78th minute for AZ in their rescheduled KNVB Beker (aka the KNVB Cup) game on Thursday.  The game was played during the day to allow school children to attend, a compromise after the original game was abandoned due to a fan attacking AZ's goalkeeper and rescheduled to be played without fans present.  Ajax took the lead in the 10th minute, with Maarten Martens equalizing for AZ in the 24th.  AZ were in the lead eight minutes later, but it didn't last long.  Ajax's Siem De Jong scored his second goal of the game in the 37th.  Rasmus Elm scored the winner for AZ, converting a 55th minute penalty.  AZ advance to play GVVV in the quarterfinals, by far the most advantageous draw with GVVV the only remaining amateur team in the competition. 

Nats Abroad: Forest Fail To Advance

Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest lost 4-0 to Leicester City in an FA Cup Third Round replay on Tuesday.  Jermaine Beckford had a hat trick for Leicester in front of the home fans at The King Power Stadium.  Forest inadvertently opened the scoring seven minutes in with an own-goal and Findley missed a shot from close range.  Leicester advance to host Swindon Town later this month.

Injured: Stuart Holden (Bolton 2 - Macclesfield 0)

Buddle On Trial With Everton

Everton have risen to the top of likeliest destination for National Team players in the Premier League, bringing in Ingolstadt forward Edson Buddle for a week-long trial.  USA goalkeepers Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann already play for the club, with Landon Donovan joining them on an MLS off-season loan deal.  Donovan spoke to the club's official site about his experience joining the club and almost immediately taking a starting role. 

"It's been nice to come in and get a lot of games but you kind of get thrown right into the fire and you've got to fend for yourself," Donovan said. "It's been good but the part that hasn't been sharp is in the attacking third. I feel I haven't been great with my passing and my finishing and it will be good having some time to actually work on it during training as opposed to just playing a game and recovering and then playing a game again."

Nats Abroad: Draw At Villa Park

What had the potential to be a battle of the Americans ended up not happening, with Brad Guzan giving way to the returning Shay Given in goal for Aston Villa.  Tim Howard and Landon Donovan started in the 1-1 draw.  Donovan assisted on Victor Anichebe's equalizer, with a pass that probably reminded too many of the Everton faithful why Donovan is such an upgrade for their club.  Donovan's La Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane made a cameo appearance on loan to Villa, subbing on in the 81st minute.

We got our noses in front," Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish said. "But Everton are a tough team. They make it hard - they are dangerous at set-pieces and they have one or two players who can make a difference."