The German Bundesliga returned to action this past weekend after the annual winter break. For FC Augsburg, it meant another disappointing loss in what has already been a frustrating season.
Marcel De Jong’s club fell 1-0 to fellow relegation candidates Freiburg on Saturday, allowing their opponents to climb out of the cellar. De Jong (above) played 77 minutes and picked up a yellow card midway through the second half.
The defeat means that Augsburg now stand alone at the bottom of the Bundesliga table with half the season remaining.
Also on the losing end of a 1-0 result were FC Köln, who dropped the decision on Saturday to hosts VfL Wolfsburg. Canadian national team captain Kevin McKenna did not dress for the match as he dealt with an illness.
Down in Turkey, Mike Klukowski featured in a pair of matches for Manisaspor during the past week, putting in 90 minutes in each of his club’s games. Saturday’s match saw Manisaspor lose 3-2 at İstanbul BB, and they followed that up with a 1-1 draw with visiting Samsunspor on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Josh Simpson, Klukowski’s former club teammate, wasted little time finding a new team after leaving Manisaspor last week, putting pen to paper for Swiss Super League side BSC Young Boys.
Simpson was announced as Young Boys’ latest signing just two days after he had terminated his contract with Manisaspor, and he is currently training with his new club ahead of the Swiss league’s re-commencement in early February.
Over in England, Norwich City continued to impress by holding Premier League giants Chelsea to a scoreless draw. Simeon Jackson subbed on in 79th minute as Norwich looked for a late winner, although the 24-year-old striker could not break the deadlock.
Another Canadian took part in an EPL stalemate on Saturday, as Junior Hoilett went the full 90 for Blackburn Rovers in a 1-1 draw at Everton. Hoilett’s lone mention on the scoresheet was the yellow card he was shown late in the match.
The draws extended into the English Championship, with David Edgar playing the full match for Burnley in a 0-0 deadlock with visitors Derby County. Edgar lined up in the center of defense after having played the less-familiar right back position in recent weeks.
Up in Scotland’s Premier League, Marcus Haber started and played 83 minutes for St. Johnstone in a 3-2 victory at Hibernian. The 22-year-old forward had a shot cleared off the line as the Saints moved into a tie for third place on the SPL table.
Back on the continent, midfielder Atiba Hutchinson watched from the bench on Sunday as PSV Eindhoven grabbed a 1-1 draw at FC Utrecht in Holland’s Eredivisie. It was the first time in months that Hutchinson had suited up for PSV, as the Canadian veteran continues to recover from knee surgery.
On a completely different continent, Issey Nakajima-Farran got his regular start but only lasted for the duration of the first half as his club, the Brisbane Roar, have yet to regain their early-season winning form, this time battling to a 1-1 draw at Melbourne Heart in Australian A-League action.
