A look at the latest news and performances of former Major League Soccer standouts around the globe:
UEFA Champions League
In Matchday Two of the UEFA Champions League, Glasgow Rangers listless start to the season took a major setback as they lost 4-1 at home to Sevilla FC (Spain) on Sept. 29.
DaMarcus Beasley
did not dress for the game.
CONCACAF Champions League
In Group B action on Sept. 23, former FC Dallas and Chivas USA midfielder
Ramon Nunez
played the full 90 as Cruz Azul (Mexico) downed MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew 2-0 at Crew Stadium. Pablo Zeballos and Alejandro Vela got the goals for the Cement Makers.
In Group D action on Sept. 24, another Chivas USA alumnus, Paco Palencia, was also on the winning end of a shutout. Palencia's Pumas (Mexico) demolished Real España (Honduras) 4-0 at home, scoring a pair of goals in each half. LA Galaxy alumnus Carlos Pavon went the distance for Espana.
Elsewhere Around the World
In Argentina, the Week 6 of the Torneo Apertura, former Los Angeles Galaxy defender
Eduardo Dominguez
played the full 90 as Huracán lost 2-0 at Vélez Sarsfield on Sept. 27.
In Australia, in Week 8 of the Hyundai A-League, on Sept. 25, ex-FC Dallas striker Victor Sikora was back in the starting XI for Perth Glory in their 1-0 win at the Newcastle Jets.
In Sunday's action, the Wellington Phoenix maintained their reputation as the league draw specialists, playing a 0-0 tie at home with the Central Coast Mariners. It was the fourth consecutive tie for Phoenix and their fifth in seven games to start the season. Former Revs defender Tony Lochhead played the full 90 for Wellington.
In Bolivia, in the semifinals of the Torneo Clausura, former MetroStars midfielder Joselito Vaca played the full 90 as Oriente Petrolero beat Blooming 3-2 at home on Sept. 27.
In Brazil, in Week 26 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva dressed but did not play in Internacional's scoreless home tie with Flamengo on Sept. 26.
In Colombia, in Week 11 of the Copa Mustang II, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey was a second-half substitute in Atlético National 1-1 home tie with Deportivo Pasto on Sept. 26.
In Costa Rica, on Sept. 26, two-team MLS veteran Douglas Sequeira, played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Saprissa lost 3-0 at Alajuelense. In other Saturday action, former Crew and Fire star Andy Herron and San Jose Clash veteran Mauricio Solis both played the full 90 as Herediano lost 2-1 at UCR. LA Galaxy alumnus Michael Umana played the full 90 as Liberia Municipal won 1-0 at Cartagines.
In Denmark, on Saturday, Sept. 26, former LA Galaxy defender Danny Califf dressed but did not play for FC Midtjylland as the Wolves lost 2-0 at Odense BK. In Sunday action, former Revs defender Michael Parkhurst dressed but did not play in FC Nordsjaelland's 2-0 home loss to Sonderjyske.
In Ecuador, in Week 11 of the Segunda Fase, El Nacional snapped their three-game losing streak by beating CD Cuenca, 4-1 at home on Sept. 27. Former MetroStars and LA Galaxy midfielder Wellington Sanchez played the full 90 for El Nacional. Michael Quinonez scored two goals in the win.
In England, on Saturday, Sept. 26, former MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard was outstanding in his penalty area once again for Everton, as the Toffees won 1-0 at Portsmouth. Howard made two astonishing reflex saves to deny Pompey who posted their seventh straight EPL loss to start the season, as Howard posted his second straight EPL shutout. Another former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Brad Friedel, saw his three-game EPL shutout streak snapped by his former club, Blackburn Rovers. Not only did Rovers score on Friedel but rallied to beat his Aston Villa 2-1 after Gabriel Agbonlahor had given Villa the early lead. After battling injury during the first month of the EPL season, ex-D.C. United skipper Ryan Nelsen was back in the starting XI for Blackburn and played the full 90. Friedel's backup, ex-Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, took his customary position on the Villans bench. New York Red Bulls alumnus Jozy Altidore dropped back to the bench for Hull's visit to Liverpool. The young striker made a second-half cameo but could do nothing to prevent the Tigers being mauled 6-1 by the Reds. Clint Dempsey's Fulham hosted another member of the EPL's big four, Arsenal, and went down 1-0. The Gunners' young backup goalkeeper Vito Mannone stoned the Cottagers with a series of spectacular saves, including two point-blank saves on former Revs star Dempsey.
In Sunday action, ex-Rapids goalie Marcus Hahnemann was on the bench for Wolves, as the black and gold were hammered 5-2 at Sunderland.
Further down the English football food chain in League One, ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh had a big day as Yeovil Town beat Brentford 2-0 at home on Saturday. Walsh recorded soccer's equivalent of hockey's Gordie Howe hat trick: scoring a goal, getting an assist and picking up a yellow card. On Sept. 29, Walsh played the full 90 as the Plovers tied 0-0 at Millwall.
In France, on Saturday, Sept. 26, ex-Chicago defender Bakary Soumare did not dress for Boulogne's 1-0 loss at fellow Ligue 1 newcomers Montpellier. In a Sunday game, former Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra played the full 90 as Rennes lost 1-0 at champions Bordeaux.
In Germany, on Sept. 27, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley was a halftime substitute for Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Foals 3-0 loss at SC Freiburg.
In Bundesliga 2 action on Sept. 25, ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor was a second-half substitute for FSV Frankfurt as the basement dwellers lost 3-0 at Energie Cottbus. On Sunday, former FC Dallas marksman Kenny Cooper played the full 90 as his 1860 Munich played a 0-0 home tie with SC Paderborn 07.
In other news, reports in the German press have linked former MetroStars defender, and Germany national team legend, Lothar Matthaus to the coaching vacancy at Hertha Berlin. The Bundesliga's last-place team fired coach Lucien Favre on Sept. 28.
In Italy, in Serie A on Sept. 26, Napoli head coach, and former MetroStars midfielder, Roberto Donadoni saw his team gain their second win of the season, a 2-1 at home victory over fellow early strugglers Siena. A Marek Hamsik double gained the win, easing the pressure on Donadoni's job, at least for this week. Ex-Revs coach Walter Zenga led his Palermo squad to a 1-1 tie at Lazio.
In Mexico, in Week 10 of the Torneo Apertura, on Saturday, Sept. 26, Chivas USA alumnus Ramon Nunez came into the game at halftime in Cruz Azul's 2-1 home defeat to Toluca. It was the second straight week that Nunez came into the game for the entire second stanza. In other Saturday action, two FC Dallas alumni faced off in Monterrey as Duilio Davino's Rayados beat Carlos Ruiz's Puebla, 2-1. Ruiz came out of the game in the 42nd minute. Ex-Colorado Rapids defender Alain N'Kong, was a halftime substitute for Indios de Ciudad Juarez in their 2-1 home loss to UAG. Former MetroStars midfielder Diego Jimenez was serving a suspension and not available to the Tecos. Colorado Rapids alumnus Daniel Osorno was the hero for Atlas in their 2-1 over UANL. Atlas rallied late and in the 90th minute, Osorno got the winning goal.
In Sunday's games, ex-Chivas USA striker Paco Palencia was a second-half substitute for UNAM in the Pumas 1-1 home draw with Chivas. Another Chivas USA alumnus Isaac Romo dressed but did not play for Querétaro in their 5-0 demolition at Morelia.
In Norway, on Sept. 26, former Toronto FC goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos posted a shutout as Fredrikstad beat Lillestrom SK, 1-0, at home. In Sunday action, ex-Fire and Wizards midfielder Khari Stephenson scored in the 78th minute as Aalesunds tied 1-1 at Viking Stavanger. Former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson played the full 90 for IK Start, as did his fellow MLS alumnus Hunter Freeman, in the 1-0 loss at Sandefjord. Ex-D.C. United shot-stopper Troy Perkins shutout FK Bodo Glimt in Valerenga's 2-0 road win. Former Real Salt Lake defender Willis Forko played the full 90, and two-team MLS veteran Thiago Martins came into the game in the first half for BG.
In Peru, former D.C. United goalkeeper Jose Carvallo returned to the starting lineup for Sporting Cristal after spending several weeks on the bench, for the 1-1 road tie at César Vallejo on Sept. 27.
In Poland, former Fire forward Tomasz Frankowski played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card in Jagiellonia Bialystok's home 0-0 tie with Cracovia Krakow on Sept. 27.
In Portugal, on Sept. 23, former D.C. United starlet Freddy Adu made his debut for Belenenses in their 1-0 loss at Rio Ave in a Portuguese League Cup game. Adu started the game on the bench but joined the action in the 64th minute.
In Romania, on Sept. 27, former MLS All-Star Juan Toja was a second-half substitute in Steaua Bucharest's 0-0 tie at Brasov.
In Scotland, on Sept. 26, the St. Mirren Park new stadium jinx continued as Andy Dorman's Buddies lost at home 2-0 to Celtic. Once again the former Revs midfielder started on the bench, coming into the game in the 56th minute. In other Saturday action, the scoring woes of Celtic's archrivals Rangers continued. Ex-Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley dressed for Rangers but did not play in their scoreless draw at home to Aberdeen. It was the third scoreless SPL scoreless draw for the champions; their goal drought now stands at 293 minutes. There were plenty of goals at St. Johnstone, where the Johnnies lost 3-2 at home to Dundee United. MLS alumni Collin Samuel and Kenny Deuchar both started for St. Johnstone. Still winless in the SPL this season, St. Johnstone remains at the bottom of the standings.
Down a rung in Scottish Division One former Revs striker Paul Keegan played the full 90 as Airdrie United lost 1-0 at Greenock Morton.
In South Africa, in Week 8 of the South African Premiership on Sept. 26, former Chicago Fire and D.C. United forward Hristo Stoichkov saw his Mamelodi Sundowns go down at home, 2-1 to Ajax Cape Town, despite taking a first-half lead. Former Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake alumnus Dipsy Selolwane played the full 90 for Ajax.
In Spain, on Sunday, Sept. 27, Mexico legend and former Dallas Burn striker Hugo Sanchez saw Almeria rally to earn a 2-2 home tie with Racing Santander thanks to an 89th-minute equalizer.
In Venezuela, in Week 7 of the Torneo Apertura, defending champion Caracas FC demonstrated their pedigree in a 4-0 trouncing of Aragua at home on Sept. 27. Former Red Bulls defender Gabriel Cicero scored the fourth goal for Caracas and picked up a yellow card in the 78th minute.
Performance of the Week
With an honorable mention to former Colorado Rapids striker
Daniel Osorno
for his last minute game-winning goal for Atlas against Tigres, the POTW goes to ex-Toronto FC midfielder
Andy Welsh
. With the puck about to drop on the new NHL season, the soccer equivalent of a Gordie Howe hat trick, a goal, an assist, and a yellow card, is hard to resist. Welsh completed the rare feat during Yeovil's 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, and helped the Glovers snap a seven-game winless streak.
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."
