A look at the latest news and performances of former Major League Soccer standouts around the globe:
UEFA Europa League
Fulham advanced to the second round of the Europa League with a 3-2 win at FC Basel (Switzerland) on Dec. 16. Former New England Revolution star
Clint Dempsey
came into the game with 20 minutes left as Fulham held on for the win to finish second in Group E behind AS Roma (Italy). Former FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards forward
Eddie Johnson
did not dress for Fulham.
Elsewhere Around the World
In Australia, in Week 18 of the Hyundai A-League, on Dec. 11, former Revs defender
Tony Lochhead
played the full 90 as Wellington Phoenix lost 1-0 at home to Sydney FC. With that loss, Wellington's 14-game home unbeaten streak came to an end. By coincidence, it was Wellington's first home game at FMG Stadium, having played at Westpac Stadium for the entire unbeaten streak. In other Friday action, FC Dallas alumnus
Victor Sikora
put in a 79-minute shift as Perth Glory lost 1-0 at North Queensland Fury.
In Colombia, in the last weekend of Group A playoff action, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey was back in the starting lineup and scored for Atlético Nacional in their 4-3 road win at Deportes Tolima on Dec. 13. Despite the win, Nacional finished one point behind Atletico Huila, who advanced to play Independiente Medellin in the final of the Clausura championship.
In Costa Rica, on Dec. 9, in the Torneo de Invierno quarterfinals first leg, Revs alumnus William Sunsing played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card in Liberia's 2-1 home defeat to Brujas. In the second leg on Monday, Dec. 13, MetroStars alumnus Pablo Brenes came into the game in the 21st minute for Brujas and scored their first goal in a 3-1 win. Brujas advanced to the semifinals, 5-2 on aggregate.
In England, on Dec. 12, ex-Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann posted his first English Premier League shutout for Wolves as the Black-and-Gold upset Spurs at White Hart Lane, 1-0. It was the second straight win for the suddenly resurgent Black Country team. In another road upset on Saturday, former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel shut out Manchester United as Aston Villa won 1-0 at Old Trafford. It was the first time Villa had beaten United at the so-called "Theatre of Dreams" since 1983.
In other Saturday action, former D.C. United skipper Ryan Nelsen anchored the Blackburn Rovers defense in their goalless tie at Hull City. Former New York Red Bulls teenage sensation Jozy Altidore dropped to the bench for the start of this one. He came into the game in the 69th minute. Six minutes later he went to ground in the penalty area and, much to the consternation of the home fans, was adjudged to have dived by referee Chris Foy and shown a yellow card.
There was a six-pack of goals at Stamford Bridge, three of them conceded by ex-MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard. EPL leaders Chelsea rallied from an early one-goal deficit, to take the lead twice, but a Louis Saha goal in the 63rd minute gave Everton a 3-3 road tie. Howard's U.S. national team colleague, former Revs striker Clint Dempsey, played the full 90 as Fulham tied 1-1 at Burnley. Dempsey almost gave the Cottagers a two-goal lead in the second half when his goalbound header was cleared off the line by Tyrone Mears. Kansas City Wizards and FC Dallas alumnus Eddie Johnson did not dress for the Cottagers.
In Tuesday action, Brad Friedel pitched his second shutout of the week as Villa won on the road again, this time prevailing 2-0 at Sunderland. Brad Guzan had his usual watching brief on the Villa bench. After his heroics on Saturday, Marcus Hahnemann couldn't keep Wayne Rooney and company at bay at Old Trafford. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, with one eye on Saturday's vital relegation six-pointer with Burnley, made 10 changes from the team that beat Wolves. Hahnemann was the only player to keep his place. Manchester United, still smarting from the home loss to Wolves' neighbors, Aston Villa, on Saturday, put the Black-and-Gold to the sword, cruising to a 3-0 win. Traveling Wolves fans were outraged that their manager had essentially run up the white flag before a ball was even kicked and called for Wolves to refund their travel expenses. Ryan Nelsen scored for Blackburn Rovers in a losing effort at Birmingham City. Two strikes by Cameron Jerome paced the Blues to a 2-1 win.
A rung down the ladder in The Championship, former New England Revolution assistant Paul Mariner took charge of all football activities at Plymouth Argyle on Thursday, Dec. 10, replacing Paul Sturrock, whom Mariner had been serving under as head coach. Mariner's first game in charge came on Saturday, and he saw his Pilgrims go down 2-0 at Preston North End. In other Saturday action, ex-Columbus Crew striker Stern John, on loan at Ipswich Town from Crystal Palace, dressed but did not play in the Tractor Boys' 3-1 home win over Blackpool.
Further down the English football food chain in League One, ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh dressed but did not play as Yeovil Town tied 3-3 at home with Norwich City.
In France, on Dec. 12, Chicago Fire alumnus Carlos Bocanegra missed Stade Rennes' 2-1 win at AS Nancy due to suspension. In other Saturday action, ex-Fire defender Bakary Soumare dressed but did not play in Boulogne's 2-0 loss at Marseille.
In Wednesday action, Bocanegra dressed but did not play as Stade Rennes lost 1-0 at AS Monaco. Soumare was back in the starting XI for Boulogne as their losing streak continued with a 2-0 setback at Lyon.
In Germany, on Dec. 12, on one of the most memorable games of the season, Borussia Moenchengladbach were the beneficiaries of three own goals as they recorded a 5-3 home win over Hannover 96. Former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley scored the Foals' fourth goal in the 68th minute. Karim Haggui had the unpleasant experience of scoring two own goals in the game.
Also on Saturday, in 2.Bundesliga action, a knee injury once again kept former FC Dallas marksman Kenny Cooper on the sidelines as 1860 Munich won 1-0 at home over FC Augsburg. Ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor dressed but did not play for FSV Frankfurt in their 0-0 home tie with Ahlen.
In Mexico, in the dramatic first leg of the Apertura final, on Dec. 10, former FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino played the full 90 as Monterrey beat Cruz Azul, 4-3, rallying from a 3-1 halftime deficit. The second leg was played three days later and Davino again played the full 90 as Monterrey won 2-1 to clinch the title, 6-4 on aggregate.
In Poland, former Fire forward Tomasz Frankowski scored Jagiellonia Bialystok's first goal in their 2-1 home win over Belchatow on Dec. 13.
In Portugal, former D.C. United starlet Freddy Adu dressed but did not play as Belenenses lost 1-0 at home to Guimaraes on Dec. 14.
In Romania, on Dec. 13, former MLS All-Star Juan Toja played the full 90 as Steaua Bucharest won 3-2 at home over International to stay in a three-way tie atop the standings.
In Scotland, on Dec. 12, enjoying a rare start for Rangers, former Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley put in an excellent 73-minute effort for the SPL champions in their 3-0 home win over St. Johnstone. Beasley had assists on Rangers' first and third goals. Ex-Toronto FC striker Collin Samuel missed the game through injury and Real Salt Lake alumnus Kenny Deuchar came into the game in the 58th minute. In other Saturday action, former Revs midfielder Andy Dorman missed St. Mirren's 1-1 home tie with bottom of the table Falkirk due to injury.
In Tuesday action, Beasley got on the Rangers scoresheet for the first time since the 2008 Scottish Cup final in the Light Blues' 3-0 win at Dundee United. Beasley, who put in an 83-minute shift, scored on a blistering 20-yard drive in the 26th minute.
Down a rung in Scottish Division One former Revs striker Paul Keegan made a 13-minute appearance as Airdrie United lost 5-2 at home to Partick Thistle on Dec. 12. Three days later, Keegan made a 10-minute cameo as Airdrie United tied 1-1 at Raith Rovers.
In South Africa, on Dec. 13, Bulgaria legend and former D.C. United and Chicago Fire striker Hristo Stoichkov led his Mamelodi Sundowns to a 3-0 road win at Amazulu. Unbeaten in five straight games, that win moved the Brazilians into second place in the standings. In other Sunday action, two-team MLS alumnus Dipsy Selolwane dressed but did not play for Ajax Cape Town as they lost 2-1 at Maritzburg United.
In Spain, on Dec. 13, Mexico legend and former Dallas Burn striker Hugo Sanchez saw his Almeria side tie 1-1 at home with Deportivo La Coruna.
In Venezuela, on the final weekend of the Apertura championship, Caracas FC lost 2-0 at Anzoátegui on Sunday, Dec. 13. Former Red Bulls defender Gabriel Cicero played the full 90 for Caracas. But that Caracas FC defeat combined Deportivo Tachira's 1-0 win over Centro Italo meant that Tachira clinched the Apertura title.
Performance of the Week
With honorable mention to
Brad Friedel
for posting back-to-back shutouts at Manchester United and Sunderland this week, former Chicago Fire starlet
DaMarcus Beasley
gets the week kudos this week. It's been a long, difficult season for Jitter, marked by a lack of playing time and an incident of racial abuse. But this week, the two-time U.S. World Cup veteran finally got a chance to start again for Rangers and made the most of his opportunity. On Saturday, he was outstanding in Rangers' 3-0 win home win over St. Johnstone, posting assists on the first and third goals. On Tuesday, he was back in the starting XI again for a visit to Dundee United. Beasley had not scored for Rangers since the 2008 Scottish Cup Final win over Queen of the South, but he ended his drought on Tuesday in spectacular fashion, scoring on a 20-yard piledriver to give Rangers the lead in an eventual 3-0 road win. For those two performances, Beasley gets the POTW.
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."
