USSoccerPlayers

American Abroad: Feilhaber On Target

Benny Feilhaber's return to his club side got off to a quality start on Monday.  He scored twice and fellow American Jeremiah White got a goal in AGF Aarhus' 4-2 win over Skive IK in preseason soccer.  With Nando Rafael putting Aarhus up in the 4th minute, Thomas Dalgaard equalized for Skive.  Feilhaber made it 2-1 in the 25th, with Skive equalizing again through Lasse Ankjaer.  Feilhaber got the lead back for the last time in the 60th, with White finishing off the scoring in the 88th minute.  Aarhus kicks off their Danish Superliga season on July 20th against AaB. 

American Abroad: Davies Joins Sochaux

United States forward Charlie Davies confirmed earlier today that he will be transferring from his Swedish club Hammarby to French Ligue 1 club Sochaux.  Davies has been one of the principle offensive forces for Hammarby, currently 13th in the Allsvenskan with 13 games played. 

It's Milan

With his contract expired with Standard Liege, US National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu has been linked to a variety of clubs since his strong showing at the Confederations Cup.  Earlier today, his move became official.  Onyewu will be playing for AC Milan, signing a three-year deal to join the traditional Serie A power. 

American Abroad: Zizzo On Loan

Hannover 96 midfielder Sal Zizzo will be on loan with Bundesliga.2 club Fortuna Dusseldorf for the 2009-10 season.  The deal was completed earlier today.  Zizzo has seven appearances for Hamburg since joining them in 2007.  He has one National Team cap, against Sweden in 2007.

Jones Injured

Schalke 04 and would-be United States National Team midfielder Jermaine Jones has a hairline fracture to his left shin that is expected to keep him out of action with Shalke for several weeks.  The injury was confirmed by an MRI earlier today.  The normal recovery time for this sort of injury varies, but is normally two months.  That would mean Jones would likely miss the start of the Bundesliga season. 

American Abroad: Brescia Misses Promotion

Brescia will be staying in Serie B for the 2009-10 season after losing their two-leg promotion series to Livorno  5-2 on aggregate.  Whether or not Danny Szetela will be with them is an open question, with his loan deal up as of the end of the season. 

Saturday's second leg ended 3-0 Livorno.  Francesco Tavano opened the scoring in the 49th minute, Alessandro Diamanti made it 2-0 on the hour, and Martin Bergvold finished it off in the 74th.  Both teams went down a man to red cards in the 90th minute.

American Abroad: Hahnemann Joins Wolverhampton

Marcus Hahnemann wasn't without an English club for long.  Let go by Reading after the club failed to win promotion, he is now a member of the Champioship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers and will be playing the 2009-10 season in the Premier League. 

"I'm excited to be here," Hahnemann told the club's official site. "Wolves were one of Reading's main rivals and I've always had good experiences when I've come up here."

Jones Switches Nations

27-year-old Shalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones has given notice to Germany's DFB that he will no longer be appearing for the German National Team and has changed his international registration to the United States.  Jones has three caps, all in friendlies.  Under FIFA rules, he is allowed to switch Federations because he has never played in a competitive game for Germany.  His father is American and Jones holds a US passport.

American Abroad: Brescia Wins

Danny Szetela's Brescia made late work of Empoli in the Serie B playoffs.  Carrying a 1-0 lead through Davide Zoboli's 53rd minute goal, Brescia scored twice in stoppage time for the 3-0 win.  Adam Vass and Andrea Rispoli picked up the late goals. 

All About: Danny Califf

United States National Team defender Danny Califf just finished up his club season with FC Midtjylland in the Danish SAS-Ligaen.  Midtjylland finished fourth in the twelve-team league, his first season with the club but third in the SAS-Ligaen after spending two seasons with Aalborg.  Danny joins us from the US National Team preparations for Wednesday's Qualifier in Costa Rica to answer some personal questions and teach us a bit of what he calls Danglish.  Because after all, you never know when you might need to make your case to a Danish referee.

Favorite city

Of the places I go regularly for soccer I would say Chicago.  I love the city.  It is more manageable than New York, has a great downtown, food, nightlife, and it has a more laid back attitude than NY.

But my Favorite place in Kauai.  My top vacation spot and I would like to live there when I am done playing.  I love the lifestyle, and the surf and I can't get enough!

Onyewu Takes Court Action

US National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu has filed suit in Belgium over an incident involving Anderlecht player Jelle Van Damme in the Belgian championship playoff with Onyewu's Standard Liege. 

American Abroad: Game Over In France

Aside from the Cup action in Scotland and England on Saturday, France's Ligue 1 finished play and Danny Califf got on the score sheet in Denmark.

American Abroad: Pachuca Can't Come Back

Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca were unable to turnaround their first leg loss to UNAM Pumas, drawing 2-2 in the second leg of the Mexican Clausura finals on Sunday night and losing 3-2 on aggregate.  Christian Gimenez put Pachuca up in the 32nd minute from the penalty spot.  UNAM Pumas' Dante Lopez equalized in the 61st.  Gimenez made it 2-1 Pachuca on the night in the 78th, 2-2 on aggregate.  That setup overtime, with Pachuca playing a man down after Javier Muñoz Mustafá was sent off in the 89th minute.  Pablo Edson Barrera scored what would be UNAM Pumas' winner in the 107th.  Jose Francisco Torres came on as a 72nd minute substitute for Pachuca. 

No Luck For Americans In Cup Finals

In hot conditions in London and Glasgow, it ended up being only Tim Howard making the squad for a Cup Final.  In Scotland, Maruice Edu's injury cost him his normal place in Rangers' starting eleven and DaMarcus Beasley wasn't included in the squad.

American Abroad: UNAM Pumas Take Lead

Jose Francisco Torres played the full ninety in the first leg of the Mexican League final for Pachuca, but it was UNAM Pumas taking the early lead 1-0 at their Olímpico Universitario.  Dante Lopez got the only goal of the game in the 21st minute.  Sergio Bernal recorded the shutout with four saves.  The second leg is Sunday at Pachuca's Nuevo Hidalgo.

American Abroad Report Card

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (May 25, 2009) --

English Premier League: Tim Howard was in goal for Everton in their 2-0 win over Fulham. Leon Osman scored twice for the Toffees. Clint Dempsey started and played the full match for Fulham. Everton and Fulham will both play in the Europa League next season after finishing 5^th and 7^th respectively. Tim Howard started and finished all 38 Prem games for Everton this season. After a slow start to the season Clint Dempsey started 28 league games for Fulham and made an additional 7 substitute appearances. He finished the campaign with seven goals and two assists.

Pachuca Advances On Aggregate

Jose Francisco Torres started and played 72 minutes as Pachuca took their slot in the Mexican Clausura final on Sunday night.  It wasn't easy, with Indios winning 3-2 on the night but losing 4-3 on aggregate.  Jose Cardenas put Pachuca up a goal in the 13th, but Indios responded with three goals of their own.  Edwin Santibanez scored in the 42nd, Juan Pablo Rodriguez in the 61st, and Ezequiel Maggiolo in the 82nd.  With the score level on aggregate, Pachuca got a 90th minute goal from Blas Perez.  They advance to play UNAM Pumas in the two-leg final.  UNAM Pumas also needed a late goal, scoring in the 88th minute against Puebla on Saturday to take that series on a best regular season record tie-breaker.

Onyewu, Edu, And Beasley Are Champions

Oguchi Onyewu's Standard Liege won a two-game playoff series against Anderlecht to take the Belgian title, while Rangers won the Scottish Premier League.  Meanwhile, Millwall remains in League 1 after losing their playoff final to Scunthorpe United.

FC Dallas Schedules Herediano Friendly

Dallas will play Costa Rican league finalists Club Sport Herediano on June 10th at Pizza Hut Park.  “We’re very excited to be playing CS Herediano from Costa Rica,” said FC Dallas Head Coach Schellas Hyndman. “They’re a very good team and this gives our players an extra opportunity to face quality competition. This game will not only help our players’ individual development, but will also help the coaching staff continue to make evaluations.”

American Abroad: Pachuca Wins First Leg

Pachuca took a 2-0 lead in their Mexican League playoff series against Ciudad Juarez on Thursday night.  Christian Gimenez scored in the 17th minute and Luis Montes got the second in the 85th at the Olimpico Benito Juarez.  Jose Francisco Torres started and played 78 minutes.