Americans Abroad

Friedel leads Rovers to 1-0 decision over Charlton in more ways than one.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
and Gary Davidson (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Monday, April 14, 2003) -- United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel made it an even dozen shutouts this England Premier League season, leading Blackburn Rovers to defeat visiting Charlton Athletic 1-0 before 27,506 at Ewood Park Saturday.

Friedel did not have a busy day and was tested only once on the afternoon. In the 72nd minute, he did well to punch away Paul Konchesky's hard shot and then was fortunate when Henning Berg, who was in the perfect place to receive the rebound, shot wide.

Friedel was involved in his team's only goal, his long left-footed punt going to Hakan Sukur who knocked the ball down and controlled it before laying it off to Damien Duff. The Republic of Ireland international took one touch before knocking a left-footer past keeper Dean Kiely from 14 yards.

U.S. keeper Kasey Keller faced a penalty kick for the third straight match in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw Saturday with host Leeds United before 39,560 at Elland Road. In an odd contest, Keller was solid, but in the 31st minute Mark Viduka took a pass from his Australian national team partner Harry Kewell, beat a defender and triggered a shot that gave Keller no chance for a 1-0 lead.

Spurs took a 2-1 lead with goals by Teddy Sheringhan in the 37th minute and Robbie Keane two minutes later. However, Keller hauled down Kewell in the right side of his box in the 76th minute and Viduka confidently put away his penalty for his second goal of the match and ninth in his last five league outings for the 2-2 tie

American striker Jovan Kirovski played the final six minutes of the match for Birmingham City which easily defeated Sunderland 2-0. With Sunderland a man short near the end, Kirovski got off a good shot which went high.

In England's First Division, U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis did not have one of his best matches, but Preston North End had little trouble with relegated-threatened Brighton, winning 2-0. Lewis was not involved in either goal and twice had good chances he could not finish. He came off in favor of Lee Cartwright in the 80th minute.

American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Reading were off this weekend after a match with Watford was postponed because Watford was playing in the FA Cup semifinals.

U.S. national-team captain midfielder and captain Claudio Reyna told reporters in England that he is ready to remain with Sunderland which will be demoted from the Premier League to the First Division next season. Reyna traveled to Sunderland last weekend to meet with new coach Mick McCarthy and to be examined by team doctors to check his progress as he rehabilitates from surgery November 18 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"I'm all set for the challenge no matter what happens," Reyna said. "The reality is we're going down, so we have to regroup and not sulk as a club. We have to be ready for next season."

Sunderland, with its 2-0 loss Saturday at Birmingham, has been relegated, sitting last among the 20 clubs with five games left. The bottom three clubs are demoted to Division One.

"If we're in the First Division, it'll be a grueling campaign, but with the players we have here and with our fans, there's no reason why we shouldn't spring back," Reyna said.

Reyna is working with U.S. national-team head trainer Jim Hashimoto at his facility in Wilmington, Del., undergoing two grueling two-and-on-half-hour sessions five days a week. He says he started running on a treadmill a couple of weeks ago, and hopes to be ready to start training by late May.

There has been speculation that Sunderland, already deep in debt, will not be able to afford to keep its highest-paid players, which include Reyna. Recent press reports in England speculate that Sunderland will reduce its squad from 40 to 25 players next season. According to the Daily Mirror, first-team players Kevin Phillips, Tore Andre Flo, Thomas Sorensen, as well as Reyna, will be among players sold to reduce the debt.

Reyna says he is not sure what is going to happen. "I don't have a relegation clause (that would nullify the contract and make Reyna a free transfer if the team is demoted) in my contract" Reyna told SoccerTimes. "I'll just have to see what happens. But I'm ready to help the club get back up quickly."

With Berhalter playing decently in the center of defense, last-place Cottbus put up a good fight, keeping Schalke off the scoreboard until injury time in the first half, although Schalke did twice see shots cleared off the Cottbus goal line before intermission. As the half was coming to an end, Berhalter was beaten and Cottbus keeper Andre Lenz was forced to pull down the attacker for a penalty kick Jorg Bohme converted for a 1-0 lead.

Ebbe Sand and Bohme scored in the first 16 minutes of the second half for Schalke. .

Berhalter was in the news with German newspapers quoting a Cottbus club official who doubted the team, after being relegated, could meet Berhalter's salary demands.

Hannover 96, with U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo, were also on the road yesterday for a 1-0 loss to VfL Wolfsburg on a goal by Diego Klimowicz in the 56th minute.

Cherundolo, in his usual right back slot, push the ball forward when he could, but Hannover, still very much in danger of relegation, could mount little offense. American forward Conor Casey did not play for Hannover, and if German press reports are to be believed, the club cannot afford to keep him on loan and he will likely be returned to Dortmund after the season.

U.S. defender Tony Sanneh e-mails from FC Nürnberg that his back problems still prevent him from training and it looks like his season is over. Team doctor Bernhard Drummer was quoted this week as saying, "Tony needs calm, the back has to recover without any strain."

Sanneh suffers from severe inflammation of the iliosacral joint and had a surgical procedure to relieve the pain in February. Sanneh will fly to Los Angeles to get a further evaluation from a specialist after playing in only 16 matches this season.

O'Brien played the full match at left back and contributed to Ajax's first goal. Ajax (19-3-5, 62 points) stayed a point ahead of Feyenoord (19-4-4) in the race for second place in the Dutch Eredivisie and a guaranteed place in next season's Champions League.

On Tuesday in the Champions League, Ajax and Italy's AC Milan fought to a scoreless draw at the Amsterdam ArenA in a tough match that was played mainly in the midfield. O'Brien went the distance at left back and put in a solid effort, at times pushing the ball forward.

Milan's Gennaro Gattuso picked up the first yellow card of the match for hauling O'Brien down, leaving Gattuso suspended for the second leg in Italy.

In Second Bundesliga action, American central defender Cory Gibbs went 90 minutes for the third straight match in FC St. Pauli's 1-1 draw at Freiburg. Gibbs appears fully recovered from a rib injury.

Bastia and American defender Greg Vanney struggled Saturday and lost 3-0 to Guingamp Vanney did not have much of a first half as Guingamp scored twice and did not return for the second half in favor of an attacking midfielder.

American goalkeeper Joe Cannon was again on the bench as shut out Paris Saint Germain 1-0 at Parc des Princes in Paris. In an interview last week, Lens coach Michel Ettorre praised Cannon's hard work in training and says he is the reason that starting keeper Charles Itandje has pushed himself to play so well the second half of the season.

Cannon has yet to make a first0team appearance. At one point in the interview Ettorre referred to Cannon as a player "who has joined us for a few months," which does not sound like he figures in Lens' long term plans.

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com. Gary Davidson is a SoccerTimes managing editor and can be e-mailed at editor@soccertimes.com.