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Nguyen leaves Indiana to join Beasley at PSV Eindhoven.
Lewis contributes at both ends, Leeds ties Wigan 1-1 in FA Cup.
Hahnemann signs new contract with Reading through 2007 summer.
Hahnemann's six saves keep Reading rolling 5-1 over Cardiff.
Fulham is looking to extend McBride's tenure with team.
Friedel makes four saves as Rovers blank Wigan 3-0.
Lewis helps Leeds solidify standing by beating Hull 2-0.
Reyna is out for 6-8 weeks with an ankle fracture.
Lewis tally sends Leeds past Stoke 1-0, into third place.
McBride nets another pair; Fulham draws 3-3 with Aston Villa.
Convey scores for Reading which blanks Wolves 2-0.
Keller is ranked second among goalkeepers in Bundesliga.
Injured McBride is heroic in Fulham's 3-2 loss to Chelsea.
Reyna helps dominant Manchester City drop Birmingham City 4-1.
Convey, Hahnemann help Reading thrash Brighton 5-1.
Onyewu returns, Standard shuts out Anderlecht 2-0 for share of first place.
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Americans Abroad Convey assist keeps Reading rolling 2-0 over Coventry.By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
(Monday, January 16, 2006) -- United States midfielder Bobby Convey assisted the first goal and turned in an overall strong performance for Reading which expanded its lead in the English League Championship with a 2-0 decision over visiting Coventry at Madejski Stadium. Reading just keeps on rolling, undefeated since Opening Day. On top of their game both offensively and defensively, the Royals (22-1-6, 72 points) widened their league lead over Sheffield United (19-4-6) to nine points. United drew 1-1 with Ipswich. In the first minute after intermission, Convey took a throw-in and carried down the left side before crossing into the penalty area to Dave Kitson who finished from close range for the first of his two goals and a 1-0 advantage. In the next few minutes, Convey almost scored twice, hitting the goal frame once and forcing a save from goalkeeper Marton Fulop on the other. Convey was replaced in the 71st minute. U.S. keeper Marcus Hahnemann was not busy, but was sharp to stop a free kick from Coventry striker Stern John early. Meanwhile, young midfielder Danny Szetela of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, has joined Reading for a training stint and the team has admitted interest in acquiring him. "Danny is a talented young midfielder who I have been aware of for a while, and we are grateful to Major League Soccer for allowing him to train with us during the American offseason," Reading director of football Nicky Hammond told the club's web site. The Premier League's Manchester City has also shown interest in Szetela, who carries a Polish passport and would not have problems obtaining a work permit in England. U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis played the first 81 minutes, but contributed little to Leeds United (15-7-6, 51) which suffered a 2-1 loss to lowly host Brighton (5-11-13, 28) at Withdean Stadium. Leeds is in third place, but fell 12 points behind Sheffield in the race for the second automatic promotion berth to the Premier League. Watford (13-6-10, 49) picked up ground on Leeds and remained two points ahead of fifth-place Crystal Palace (14-8-5) after defeating Stoke 1-0. American defender Jay DeMerit, who has been in and out of Watford's starting side, went 90 minutes and did well for home team which received a 54th-minute goal from Chris Eagles. American Frank Simek has played in every game for Sheffield Wednesday this season and went the distance in a 2-1 decision over visiting Leicester City Saturday. With newcomers, striker Deon Burton and goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, playing for the first time, Wednesday (7-13-9, 30) won its third straight league outing while relegation-challenged Leicester (5-12-11, 26) might have had a letdown after stunning Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League 3-2 in the third round of the FA Cup. Wednesday still is only four points above the relegation zone where Leicester resides. U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley played the first half for PSV Eindhoven which held onto first place in the Dutch Eredivisie with a 1-0 triumph over host Sparta Rotterdam Saturday. After PSV had defender Michael Lamey sent off with his second yellow card just before intermission, Beasley was replaced by back Michael Ball. PSV did not win until Sparta midfielder Anthony Obodai was guilty of an own goal in the 65th minute. PSV (14-2-3, 45) is a point ahead of Feyenoord Rotterdam (14-3-2) and four above AZ Alkmaar (13-3-2), which holds a game in hand. U.S. defender Cory Gibbs, who has yet to play this season for Feyenoord while recovering from knee surgeries in June and October, is said to be on the transfer block. New coach Erwin Koeman has told the media in the Netherlands he wants to make the team more Dutch and would like to sell off as many as six players, including Gibbs, most of whom are foreigners. Michael Bradley, a midfielder for MLS's MetroStars, has interested eighth-place Heerenveen (8-6-5, 29) in a possible transfer or loan. Bradley played the last two seasons for his father Bob Bradley, who was fired late in the 2005 season by the MetroStars and was then hired by Chivas USA for 2006. U.S. midfielder\defender John O'Brien is in California working at the High Performance Center at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., rehabilitating a bad tear in his groin suffered in training with ADO Den Haag in September. O'Brien hoped to rejoin ADO after the Dutch winter break, but he remained in California to work on his comeback. O'Brien also spent several months spring at the High Performance Center in the first half of 2005 after a series of injuries while he was with Ajax of Amsterdam. American striker Conor Casey who plays for Mainz in the German Bundesliga, has resumed training in the team's winter camp in Almancil, Portugal. He is still limited, but he is making progress and hopes to return when the Bundesliga resumes play at the end of January. Casey suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament playing for the U.S. last summer in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman. |
