A look at the latest news and performances of former Major League Soccer standouts around the globe:
Elsewhere Around the World
In Argentina, in Week 1 of the Clausura on Jan. 31, former LA Galaxy defender
Eduardo Dominguez
played the full 90 as Huracán lost 3-2 at Lanús in dramatic fashion. Huracán led 2-1 until the 84th minute when Gonzalo García was sent off and Lanús tied the game from the subsequent penalty kick. Then in the 90th minute Gonzalo Castillejos scored his second goal of the game to give El Granate a late, late winner. In other action, former D.C. United Designated Player
Marcelo Gallardo
did not dress as River Plate kicked off the season with a 1-0 home loss to Banfield.
In Australia, in Week 25 of the Hyundai A-League, on Jan. 29, former New England Revolution defender Tony Lochhead returned to the Wellington Phoenix starting lineup after missing two games with a groin injury. He played the full 90 as the Phoenix beat Adelaide United 1-0 at home. Due to a thigh injury ex-FC Dallas striker Victor Sikora was on the sidelines again for the Glory as Perth beat the Central Coast Mariners 3-1 on Jan. 31.
In Brazil, in Week 4 of the Torneo Paulista on Jan. 28, former D.C. United striker Luciano Emilio played the full 90 as Rio Branco tied 0-0 at Sertaozinho. In Week 5 on Jan. 31, Emilio put in another 90-minute shift as Rio Branco lost 2-1 at home to AA Ponte Preta.
In Week 5 of the Gaucho Copa Fernando Carvalho on Jan. 31, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva dressed but did not play as Internacional beat Gremio 1-0 at home.
In Colombia, in Week 1 of the Primera Etapa, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey was a second-half substitute for his new team América de Cali in their 2-2 home tie with Atlético Huila on Jan. 30.
In Costa Rica, in Week 3 of the Torneo de Verano on Jan. 31, two-team MLS alumnus Andy Herron came into the game at halftime for his new team Ramonense in their 2-0 home loss to Alajuelense. In other Sunday action, Revs alumnus William Sunsing played the full 90 as Liberia won 1-0 at Puntarenas. Brujas FC head coach and former San Jose Clash and New England Revolution defender Mauricio Wright saw "the Witches" tie 1-1 at home with Cartaginés. MetroStars alumnus Pablo Brenes started for Brujas but was sent off in the 70th minute for his second yellow card offense.
In England, in EPL action on Jan. 30, former MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard posted his third straight Premiership shutout as Everton extended their unbeaten league streak to nine games with a 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic. On-loan 2009 MLS MVP Landon Donovan put in a 75-minute shift for the Toffees. In other Saturday action, ex-Columbus Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel, resplendent in his yellow uniform, also posted his third straight EPL shutout as Aston Villa won 2-0 at Fulham. The Cottagers' former Revs star, Clint Dempsey continues to rehab his knee injury and missed the game. Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan took his customary spot on Villa's EPL bench. Former Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore was back in the starting XI for Hull City as the Tigers tied 2-2 at home with Wolves. Altidore had an assist on Hull's opening goal and gained the penalty kick for the Tigers' second goal after being upended by Wolves defender Ronald Zubar. Ex-Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann blocked an Altidore shot soon after Hull's second goal, a save that would prove critical when Wolves later tied the game. Former D.C. United captain Ryan Nelsen played the full 90 as Blackburn Rovers gained a 0-0 draw at West Ham United.
In EPL action on Feb. 2, Altidore put in an 86-minute shift for Hull as they gained a precious point in an unexpected 1-1 home tie with league leaders Chelsea.
In EPL action on Feb. 3, the Dempsey-less Fulham got back to winning ways with a 1-0 home victory over bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth.
Down a rung in the Championship, Columbus Crew alumnus Stern John made a 12-minute substitute appearance as Ipswich Town slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Preston North End. Former Revs assistant coach Paul Mariner saw his Plymouth Argyle go down 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. In other Plymouth news, the Pilgrims' MLS connection got even stronger when former FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper joined Mariner and ex-Toronto FC boss John Carver on loan for the rest of the season from 1860 Munich.
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 lost 1-0 at home to Huddersfield Town.
In an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Feb. 2, Marcus Hahnemann was one of five Wolves starters rested by manager Mick McCarthy for the 3-1 loss at Crystal Palace.
In France, on Jan. 30, former Chicago Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra played the full 90 as Stade Rennes thumped Grenoble 4-0 at home.
In Germany, on Jan. 30, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley played the full 90 as Borussia Moenchengladbach won a seven-goal thriller 4-3 at home over Werder Bremen. The Foals scored four goals in the first 35 minutes to jump to a 4-1 lead, but Bremen pulled the game back to 4-3 on a Torsten Frings 85th-minute penalty kick to set up a grandstand finish. Gladbach, however, held on for their first win since returning from the winter break.
In Bundesliga.2 action on Jan. 31, ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor didn't dress as FSV Frankfurt stopped the bleeding with a 2-0 win at SC Paderborn. Frankfurt had conceded 10 goals and not scored in their previous two games.
In Greece, on Jan. 31 in the Greek Super League, it was an eventful afternoon for Aris Thessalonika's duo of MLS alumni, Eddie Johnson and Freddy Adu in the 2-1 loss at FC Xanthi. Johnson came into the game in the 70th minute, picked up a yellow card in the 85th minute and scored his first goal for Aris in the 90th minute. For Adu it wasn't quite as momentous an afternoon but he did finally get on the field for his new team making his Aris debut as a substitute in the 64th minute.
In Israel, in Week 19 of Ligat Al, former Rapids midfielder Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 as Hapoel Tel Aviv rallied from a three-goal deficit to tie Maccabi Netanya 3-3 at home on Jan. 30. In a dramatic finish, Hap TA scored three goals in the last seven minutes to gain the tie.
In Italy, in Serie A action on Jan. 31, LA Galaxy on-loan midfield maestro David Beckham played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as AC Milan tied 1-1 at home with Livorno.
In Mexico, in Week 3 of the Clausura on Jan. 30, former MetroStars defender Diego Jimenez played the full 90 as Estudiantes Tecos lost 3-2 at Chivas. In a thrilling climax, the Goats rallied from a two-goal deficit, scoring three goals in a six-minute stretch in the last 12 minutes of the game. In other Saturday action, ex-FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino did not dress for Monterrey in the Rayados' 2-0 home win over Cruz Azul.
In Jan. 31 action, former Chivas USA striker Isaac Romo scored both Querétaro goals in the 2-1 come-from-behind win at Puebla. Former MLS Golden Boot winner Carlos Ruiz was back in the starting lineup for Puebla and played the full 90. In other Sunday action, Colorado Rapids alumnus Alain N'Kong was a second-half substitute for Indios as they lost 1-0 at Club América in an emotionally charged game, the first played by América since star forward Salvador Cabanas was shot in a Mexico City on Monday, Jan. 25. Chivas USA alumnus Paco Palencia came out of the game at halftime as Pumas tied 0-0 at home with Toluca.
Down a level in the Liga de Ascenso on Jan. 31, former Chicago Fire Designated Player Cuauhtemoc Blanco played the full 90 as Veracruz lost 1-0 at Tijuana.
In Qatar, former MetroStars and U.S. national team head coach Bora Militunovic was named an ambassador for Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup bid on Jan. 31.
In Scotland, on Jan. 30, neither ex-Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu nor Chicago Fire alumnus DaMarcus Beasley dressed for Rangers as the SPL champions cruised to a comfortable 3-0 home win over Falkirk. In other Saturday action, Revs alumnus Andy Dorman dropped to the bench for St. Mirren's visit to Hibernian. Dorman came into the game in the 59th minute as Hibs rallied to beat the Buddies 2-1, winning the game on a Jack Ross own goal scored in stoppage time at the end of the game. It was a much better day for ex-Real Salt Lake striker Kenny Deuchar who scored the lone goal as St. Johnstone beat Hearts 1-0 at home.
On Feb. 2, Andy Dorman was recalled to the St. Mirren starting lineup for the 1-0 Co-Operative Insurance Cup semifinals win over Hearts. The former Revs midfielder played 88 minutes as the Buddies secured their first League Cup final berth since 1956 on a Billy Mehmet goal.
In South Africa, on the first SPL match day after the winter break on Feb. 2, Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake alumnus Dipsy Selolwane dressed but did not play as Ajax Cape Town beat the Silver Stars 2-0 at home. In Wednesday action Bulgaria and Fire legend Hristo Stoitchkov saw his Mamelodi Sundowns tie 0-0 at home with Bloemfontein Celtic.
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."
