Americans Abroad

Onyewu's two goals, assist spark Standard's 3-2 win over Mons.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
and Chris Courtney (in Brussels)
SoccerTimes

(Tuesday, Nevember 9, 2004) -- American defender Oguchi Onyewu scored twice and assisted the game-winner, leading Standard Liege to a 3-2 victory over Mons in the Jupiler League, Belgium's first division.

"Onyewu for President!" proclaimed Belgian sportscasters after he was named "Man of the Match" for the first time this season.

Onyewu put his club ahead 1-0 in the 49th minute, putting away a towering header off a Mikki Mumlek corner kick.

Mons responded by skirting the Standard defense by serving long balls up the wings to opportunistic Aliyu Datti who scored two goals in as many minutes for a 2-1 lead.

Shortly past the middle of the second half, Standard coach Dominique D'Onofrio moved Onyewu from central defense to a forward position. In the 78th minute, a throw-in was flicked on to the penalty area where Onyewu knocked it home with a powerful left-footed drive for a 2-2 tie.

Three minutes later, Onyewu sent a snaking cross from the right corner through disorganized and static Mons defenders to Michel Garbini who was waiting at the back post to tap it in for the 3-2 decision.

The Belgian national newspaper La Derniere Heure called Onyewu "far and away the best player on the pitch." He was compared him to versatile Belgian international defender Daniel Van Buyten a former player for Standard and Manchester United, now with Hamburger SV of the German Bundesliga.

The oft-injured defender\midfielder, making his first appearance for Ajax since February 9, limped off the field with what was described as a hamstring injury, after awkwardly stepping on an opponent's foot in an easy 3-1 decision over host Willem II Tilburg in the Netherlands' Eredivisie. Ajax said the injury is not related to other ailments from which O'Brien suffered and he is expected to be out four four-to-six weeks.

Since being a starter and a standout for the United States men in their run to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, O'Brien, 27, has missed much of the past two seasons with an assortment of leg, Achilles heel and foot injuries. After rehabbing all summer and into the fall, O'Brien has seen action with Ajax reserve team over the past few weeks.

With Amsterdam coach Ronald Koeman adding a fourth defender to his usual alignment, O'Brien started in his usual left flank position while Scherer Andrade Maxwell slid into the middle. Brazilian midfielder Maxwell, who is struggling with a groin injury, was on the bench.

From all accounts, O'Brien did quite well, playing solid defense and pushing forward into the attack before getting injured.

Also in the Eredivisie, U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley played the first 59 minutes for PSV Eindhoven which defeated FC Den Bosch. The score was 1-0 when Beasley was replaced by Ji-Sung Park.

Likewise, Bodens does not expect the Seattle Sounders of the American second-division A-League to extend the loan of midfielder Leighton O'Brien next season. The Sounders are exploring entrance into MLS for 2006.