Americans Abroad

Beasley scores, sparks PSV is 3-0 shutout of Sparta.

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

Damarcus Bealey is hugged by teammate Arouna Kone (10) after scoring for PSV Eindhoven against Soarta Rotterdam. -- PSV Eindhoven web site photo --

(Tuesday, November 8, 2005) -- Coming off PSV Eindhoven's terrific 1-0 home European Champions League victory over A.C. Milan last Tuesday, United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley picked up where he left off Saturday. He scored a goal in the first half, had an earlier tally waved off and hit the post with another shot as PSV handed visiting Sparta Rotterdam a convincing 3-0 defeat in the Dutch Eredivisie.

As usual, Beasley started on the left side of a three-man PSV front. In the 18th minute, he took a well-placed through pass and clinically finished under Sparta keeper Rene Ponk, but the goal was disallowed with the assistant referee flagging Beasley for offside. Replays showed Beasley had timed his run perfectly and was level with the last defender when the pass was made.

A minute after striker Jefferson Farfan put Eindhoven ahead by a goal, Beasley increased the advantage to 2-0. Beasley had moved to the right side of PSV's ever-shifting attack when Sparta goalkeeper Rene Ponk could not hold a long shot. Beasley volleyed the rebound out of the air from six yards for his second league goal of the season.

Before the first half ended, Beasley sent a shot from the right side glancing off the far post. Tiring, Beasley was replaced by Jason Culina in the 55th minute.

PSV (9-1-1, 28 points) sits at the top of the Eredivisie standings, three points ahead of AZ Alkmaar (8-2-1, 25).

Struggling ADO Den Haag (2-6-3, 9), standing 16th among 18 teams, continues to play without U.S. defender\midfielder John O'Brien, now out more than a month with a groin injury.

The only goal of the match came from Almani Da Silva Moreira in the 79th minute. Onyewu played the full match and was not cautioned, Standard (10-2-1, 31) stayed in first place, two points ahead of rival Anderlecht (8-0-5).

G'ladbach conceded few clean chances. Much of the match was played in a clogged midfield. Keller's best save came late on a chance by Czech midfielder David Jarolim four minutes from the final whistle.

The home side had half a dozen chances, but could not score. "We can live with a draw," said Hamburg manager Thomas Doll. "They were clearly the better side."

G'ladbach (5-3-4, 19 points) in sixth place, one point behind Hertha Berlin (6-3-3) and six behind third-place Hamburg (7-1-4). Bayern Munich (10-1-1, 31) leads the league.

Hannover 96 used a late penalty kick and a stoppage-time goal, started by a free kick by U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo to rally for a 2-2 draw with FC Mainz Saturday.

Cherundolo played well on the back-line and did well with free kicks. On the sequence leading to the tying tally, Cherundolo nearly scored on his free kick, but the shot was saved by fully-extended Mainz keeper Dimo Wache, Michael Tarnat pushed the rebound home from a crowd in front of the net for the equalizer in the 92nd minute.

Hannover (2-4-6, 12) in 13th place and three points clear of the relegation zone.

There was some good news from Mainz. American striker Conor Casey, out for five months following anterior cruciate ligament surgery, is progressing faster then anyone predicted and will begin training in a few weeks. It was thought he would miss the entire season, but he could be ready to play in the spring and back in form by the World Cup in June.

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.