A look at the latest news and performances of former Major League Soccer standouts around the globe:
International friendlies
The first game of the World Cup year for Team USA was a 3-1 setback to Honduras on Jan. 23 at The Home Depot Center. The only MLS alumnus to get into the action for head coach
Bob Bradley
was
Clarence Goodson
. The former FC Dallas defender came into the game at halftime and scored the only U.S. goal in the 70th minute. Two MLS alumni featured for Los Catrachos. Ex-LA Galaxy striker
Carlos Pavon
scored a goal and was credited with an assist for Honduras. FC Dallas and Chivas USA veteran
Ramon Nunez
came into the game in the 61st minute.
World Cup host nation South Africa started 2010 in fine style. Former MetroStars head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira led Bafana Bafana to a 6-2 victory over Swaziland in a scrimmage match in Durban on Jan. 23. Parreira's squad followed that win up with a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe in their first official international of the year on Jan. 27, a game also played in Durban.
Elsewhere Around the World
In Australia, in Week 24 of the Hyundai A-League, on Jan. 22, former New England Revolution defender
Tony Lochhead
missed Wellington Phoenix's 2-0 loss at Perth Glory due to a groin injury. Three-team MLS alumnus
Diego Walsh
made a two-minute cameo for the Phoenix. Due to a thigh injury, ex-FC Dallas striker
Victor Sikora
was on the sidelines for the Glory.
In Tuesday action, Lochhead remained sidelined as the Phoenix crashed 4-0 at Melbourne Victory.
In Brazil, former D.C. United striker Luciano Emilio played the full 90 as Rio Branco beat Botafogo 1-0 at home in Week 3 of the Torneo Paulista on Jan. 24.
In Costa Rica, in Week 2 of the Torneo de Verano on Jan. 24, Revs alumnus William Sunsing put in a 40-minute shift as Liberia tied 0-0 at UCR. In other Sunday action, former Columbus Crew striker Erick Scott played the full 90 as Alajuelense lost 1-0 at Puntarenas.
In England, in FA Cup fourth round action on Jan. 23, last year's beaten finalists Everton saw their Wembley dreams make an abrupt detour down the exit ramp after losing 2-1 at home to Birmingham City. Former MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard and on-loan 2009 MLS MVP Landon Donovan both started for the Toffees in the losing effort. In other FA Cup action on Saturday, former Revs star Clint Dempsey missed Fulham's 3-1 win at Accrington Stanley due to the knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for the foreseeable fortune. Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan gave up a brace to League One side Brighton and Hove Albion, but Aston Villa survived a potential banana skin and won 3-2 at home to advance to the fifth round. Villa's regular starter, ex-Columbus Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel, took his usual place on Villa's Cup bench. Another Crew alumnus, Stern John, put in a 58-minute shift as Ipswich Town was dumped out of the Cup 2-1 at Southampton. Ex-Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann dropped to the bench as Wolves needed a late goal to salvage a 2-2 home tie with Crystal Palace.
In the EPL on Jan. 23, former Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore did not dress for Hull City as the Tigers were taken apart at Old Trafford, 4-0, by Manchester United. Wayne Rooney scored all four goals for the Red Devils.
In EPL action on Jan. 26, Marcus Hahnemann was back in the nets for Wolves and shut out Liverpool in a 0-0 tie at Molineux. The Clint Dempsey-less Fulham dropped a 2-0 decision at Spurs.
In Wednesday EPL action on Jan. 27, Landon Donovan scored his first goal for Everton in the Toffees' 2-0 home win over Sunderland. Tim Howard posted the shutout. Brad Friedel also posted a shutout (with a couple of assists from the woodwork) as Aston Villa tied 0-0 at home with Arsenal. Former D.C. United captain Ryan Nelsen played the full 90 as Blackburn Rovers secured a critical 2-1 home win over fellow Lancashire relegation strugglers Wigan Athletic.
Down a rung in the Championship, Stern John dressed but did not play as Ipswich benefited from a dubious penalty kick call as the Tractor Boys tied 1-1 at home with the Black Country's finest West Bromwich Albion at Portman Road on Jan. 26. Also on Tuesday, former Revs assistant coach Paul Mariner led Plymouth Argyle to a vital 1-0 home win over fellow relegation strugglers Derby County.
Much further down the English football food chain in League One, ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh was a second-half substitute as Yeovil Town beat Exeter City 2-1 at home in the Devon derby on Jan. 23. The Glovers were back in action on Jan. 26, dropping a 2-1 decision at Tranmere Rovers with Welsh again being used as a second-half substitute.
In France, on Jan. 22, former Chicago Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra played the full 90 as Stade Rennes won 4-0 at minnows Saumur to move into the Coupe de France round of 16.
In Germany, on Jan. 23, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley played the full 90 as Borussia Moenchengladbach tied 0-0 at Hertha Berlin.
In Bundesliga.2 action on Jan. 22, ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor was back in the FSV Frankfurt starting XI but could do little to stop Frankfurt's disastrous start to the second half of the season as they were demolished 5-0 at home by SpVgg Greuther Fürth. That thrashing marked the second straight 5-0 beating for Frankfurt since the restart of the Bundesliga 2 campaign. Further south in Bavaria, 1860 Munich are going in the opposite direction. Former FC Dallas marksman Kenny Cooper had hoped to be back in action for the Lions but his knee injury kept him the sidelines again as 1860 Munich beat Hansa Rostock 3-0 under the Friday night lights.
In Greece, on Jan. 24 in the Greek Super League, former FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards striker Eddie Johnson came into the game in the 68th minute as Aris Salonika tied 0-0 at home against league leaders Panathinaikos. Aris' other on-loan MLS alumnus, Freddy Adu, dressed but did not play.
In Israel, in Week 18 of Ligat Al, Former Kansas City Wizards and San Jose Earthquakes striker Scott Sealy did not dress for Bnei Sakhnin in their 2-0 tie home win over Bnei Yehuda on Jan. 24. Former Rapids midfielder Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Hapoel Tel Aviv tied 0-0 at Maccabi Haifa on Jan. 25.
In Italy, in Serie A action on Jan. 24, LA Galaxy on-loan midfield maestro David Beckham played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as AC Milan went down 2-0 in the Milan derby to archrivals Inter. Jose Mourinho's team dominated the game despite playing a man down for nearly an hour. A second Inter player was sent off in the 90th minute.
On Jan. 27, Beckham did not dress as AC Milan lost 1-0 at home to Udinese in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals.
In Mexico, in Week 2 of the Clausura on Jan. 22, former MetroStars defender Diego Jimenez played the full 90 as Estudiantes Tecos lost 3-2 at home to Puebla. Former MLS Golden Boot winner Carlos Ruiz did not dress for Puebla.
In Saturday action, Chivas USA alumnus Paco Palencia played the full 90 for UNAM as the tied 0-0 at Cruz Azul. Another Chivas USA veteran, Isaac Romo, played the full 90 in Querétaro's 1-0 home win over Pachuca. Ex-FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino did not dress for Monterrey's 3-0 loss at Atlas.
In Sunday action, Colorado Rapids alumnus Alain N'Kong was a second-half substitute for Indios and picked up a yellow card in the 0-0 home tie with Santos.
Down a level in the Liga de Ascenso on Jan. 23, former Chicago Fire Designated Player Cuauhtemoc Blanco had two assists as Veracruz beat Universidad de Guadalajara 3-1 at home.
In Scotland, on Jan. 23, neither ex-Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu nor Chicago Fire alumnus DaMarcus Beasley dressed for Rangers' 1-1 home tie with Hearts. In other Saturday action, Revs alumnus Andy Dorman played the full 90 as St. Mirren lost 2-0 at Motherwell.
In Sunday SPL action, former Real Salt Lake striker Kenny Deuchar put in a 63-minute shift as St. Johnstone lost 4-1 at home to Celtic.
In SPL action on Jan. 27, Andy Dorman played the full 90 as the Buddies went down 2-0 at home to Rangers. Once again, neither DaMarcus Beasley nor Maurice Edu dressed for the champions. In other Wednesday action, Kenny Deuchar dropped to the bench for St. Johnstone's six-goal thriller at Dundee United. Deuchar came into the game in the second half and picked up a yellow card in a game in which the Johnnies led 2-0 at halftime but had to rally late to gain a 3-3 tie.
Down a rung in Scottish Division One, former Revs striker Paul Keegan was a second-half substitute as Airdrie United's woeful season continued with a 1-0 home loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Jan. 23.
In Venezuela, in Week 2 of the Clausura on Jan. 23, former Red Bulls defender Gabriel Cicero played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Caracas beat Trujillanos 3-1 at home.
Performance of the Week
With a tip of the hat to
Landon Donovan
for scoring his first goal for Everton in the 2-0 win over Sunderland at Goodison Park on Wednesday, Jan. 27, the POTW goes to Donovan's old sparring partner
Cuauhtemoc Blanco
. The Mexico legend and former Fire star was in vintage form for Veracruz in the 3-1 win over Universidad de Guadalajara 3-1 on Jan. 23. The trademark flailing arms, intense burning eyes and dramatic falls to the turf were all on display as Blanco inspired his teammates to victory. Of course, his two assists with superb crosses from a corner kick and free kick respectively were a big help as well.
Mark C. Young is an Emmy Award-winning freelance writer/TV producer who has covered several FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. He is a contributor to Goal.com and also writes for the blog "No Mas."
