Americans Abroad

Keller is sharp, but G'ladbach can only draw 0-0 with Schalke.

Oguchi Onyewu (left) was handed a one-game suspension for a red card he was issued on January 25. -- Standard de Liege web site photo --

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

(Wednesday, February 8, 2006) -- United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller was sharp, earning his fourth clean sheet of the season, but Borussia Monchengladbach generated almost no attack in a 0-0 draw with visiting Schlake 04 in a German Bundesliga match today before a near capacity crowd of 51,026 at Borussia Park

Since returning from its winter-break training camp in Portugal, Monchengladbach has managed only one goal and has an 0-2-1 record.

Keller preserved with draw with a save on Ebbe Sand in the 73rd minute.

G'ladbach's poor start in the season's second-half has hampered the club's hopes of finishing at least in fifth place, good for a berth in next season's UEFA Cup tournament. G'ladbach (6-6-8, 26 points) is tied with Hannover 96 (5-4-11) for eighth place, three points behind fifth-place Hertha Berlin. Six teams are within four points of Hertha.

Schalke is in fourth place at 9-2-9 with 36 points.

Hannover continues to hold U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo out of action as a precaution after he suffered a slight concussion when he clashed heads Hertha's Gilberto 10 days ago. He did not dress for Hannover's 2-1 win over Hamburg today, but is hoping to play Saturday at Eintracht Frankfurt.

In the Netherlands' Eredivisie, PSV Eindhoven received a pair of goals from Jefferson Farfan and that was enough to defeat FC Utrecht 2-1 on the road at Nieuwe Galgenwaard Stadium.

American DaMarcus Beasley turned in a fine two-way performance for 90 minutes on the left flank of the front line. Though he didn't score, he created danger with his runs, narrowly missing with a volley in the 25th minute. Soon after, he was stripped just before triggering a shot from close in.

Beasley also effectively retreated to disript the Utrcht attack on more than one occasion.

Farfan's tally in the 78th minute proved to be the winner.

With Australia international Jason Culina out with an ankle injury, newly-signed 19-year-old American Lee Nguyen was dressed and on the PSV bench for the first time, but he did not play. "Lee can play with his left and right foot," PSV coach Guus Hiddink said before the match. "He is an attacking midfielder, a real football player and is a little naive, but he is young."

ADO Den Haag continued in free fall, losing its sixth straight outing 3-0 to visiting NAC Breda (6-11-6, 24) and falling deeper into the relegation zone. ADO (5-15-3, 18) stands 16th in the 18-team league and is six points from safety.

U.S. defender Cory Gibbs, who just signed with ADO, did not dress. He is not yet game-fit after rehabilitating from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Onyewu appealed the suspension and will have a hearing next Tuesday. Considering he already has served a three-game suspension for two red cards early in the season, Standard cannot harbor any reasonable expectation that the suspension will be withdrawn. Instead, with the suspension ordered to be instituted February 23, Standard seems to be maneuvering to have Onyewu available for the key road match two days after that at first-place Club Brugge.

Standard (12-5-3, 39) is in third place, but holds a game in hand on both Club Brugge (12-3-6, 42) and Anderlecht (11-3-7, 40). The Standard web site indicated the club will ask for the suspension to be implemented next Wednesday so Onyewu would sit out the February 18 home match against 14th-place Cercle Brugge (6-11-4, 22).

Reading manager Steve Coppell might second-guessing himself since his club from the second-tier English League Championship came close to pulling the upset over its Premiership opponent despite using many reserves.

Hahnemann was voted Readings "Courage Player of the Month" for January in voting done on the club's web site. Hahnemann captured 22.5 percent of the votes, outpointing midfielders James Harper (16.4 percent) and Glen Little (15.1 percent).

Hahnemann finished second in the League Championship's Powerade "Championship Player of the Month" balloting behind Watford striker Marlon King, who won despite scoring only one goal.

In the Premier League, U.S. defender Jonathan Spector turned in a fine effort for Charlton Athletic which surprised Liverpool 2-0 at home.

Charlton (10-11-3, 33) is tied for 11th place with Everton (10-12-3), which has played an extra game. Liverpool sits in third at 13-5-6 with 45 points.

Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman. Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes managing editor. E-mail Gary Davidson.

Do you have a comment on this story or something to say about soccer in general? Send us a letter.