Americans Abroad: Altidore gets rare start, scores twice for Alkmaar in 3-3 draw with Heerenveen.

Altidore gets rare start, scores twice for Alkmaar in 3-3 draw with Heerenveen.

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

(Tuesday, February 28, 2012) -- United States striker Jozy Altidore made the most of a rare opportunity to play, scoring twice for AZ Alkmaar in a 3-3 home draw Sunday with Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Until Sunday, Altidore had not started a match since December 18. Coach Gertjan Veerbeek said simply that Altidore was "not progressing" and thus was sitting on the bench in favor of Charilson Benschop.

On Sunday, Benschop was not available, so Altidore was given a chance.

Altidore scored the game's opener in the 26th minute when he took a pass from midfielder Rasmus Elm at the top of the penalty area, turned quickly and beat goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche to the left post.

After Heerenveen pulled even, Altiodore was the recipient of a pass from midfielder Brett Homan and found net with a hard shot from 15 yards out for his 13th goal of the season across all competitions and a 2-1 advantage.

Heerenveen went ahead 3-2 on a own goal and a tally by Narsingh in the 76th and 81st minutes, respectively, , but Alkmaar salvaged a tie on Erik Falkenberg's strike in the 83rd.

Altidore was named "Man of the Match."

In Mexico's Primera División, Mexican-Salvadoran-American midfielder Joe Corona, a member of the U.S. under-23 men, recorded his first goal of the season, staking Club Tijuana to a lead in the 15th minute in an eventual 1-1 draw Sunday with visiting Toluca.

American defender Edgar Castillo went the distance for Club Tijuana. Corona came out in the 57th minute.

Mexican American defender Greg Garza is with the U.S. under-23s and unavailable to Tijuana.

American striker Herculez Gomez opened his scoring account with Santos Laguna with a sublime header to start a comeback that fell short when he missed a penalty kick in the waning moments of a 2-1 loss Sunday to host Chivas de Guadalajara.

Santos trailed 2-0 when Gomez scored in the 77th minute, but he failed on his chance to pull out a draw.

In the English Premier league Saturday, U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey went the distance Saturday for Fulham in its 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

American keeper Brad Friedel had a rare off day for Tottenham Hotspur, making three saves, but being soundly defeated 5-2 by host Arsenal on Sunday.

American defender Tim Ream has cracked the starting lineup for Bolton Wanderers and went the distance Saturday in a 3-0 loss at Chelsea.

American defender Zak Whitbread registered an assist in 90 minutes for Norwich City, which fell 2-1 Sunday to visiting Manchester United.

American Brad Guzan was the backup keeper for Aston Villa in a 0-0 draw Saturday at Wigan Athletic.

American defender Eric Lichaj remains sidelined for Villa with a hip injury.

Seventeen-year-old American defender Adam Henley, born in Knoxville, Tenn., dressed, but did not play for Blackburn Rovers Saturday in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard and Everton had the weekend off.

In the second-tier English League Championship, defender Jonathan Spector was the only American to play when he went the distance Saturday for Birmingham City in its 2-1 setback to Nottingham Forest.

Seventeen-year-old American defender Daniel Potts dressed, but did not play for West Ham United in its 0-0 draw Sunday with Crystal Palace.

American midfielder Robbie Rogers continues to recover from a concussion and was not available to Leeds United in its 0-0 draw with Portsmouth.

U.S. striker Robbie Findley has an ailing hamstring and missed Nottingham Forest's 2-1 win over Birmingham City.

Irish-American forward Conor Doyle and Derby County had the weekend off.

In the third-division League One, American midfielder Anton Peterlin played 90 minutes for Walsall in its 0-0 draw Saturday with Preston North End.

American defender Frank Simek went the distance for Carlisle United in a 3-2 triumph over Yeovil Town.

In Scotland's Premier League, Glasgow Rangers got back in the win column with a 4-1 decision Sunday over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu and defender Carlos Bocanegra went the distance for Rangers.

In the German Bundesliga, German-American defender-midfielders Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams went the distance Saturday for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg. Williams received a yellow card.

U.S. defender Timmy Chandler played 90 minutes for 1. FC Nürnberg in a 1-0 triumph over Werder Bremen on Saturday.

U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo played 90 minutes for Hannover 96 in its 3-1 loss Sunday to Borussia Dortmund.

German-American forward Terrence Boyd is currently with the Dortmund reserve team.

German-American midfielder Jermaine Jones continues to serve his eight-match suspension, but he also suffered a calf injury. Without him, Schalke 04 lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich on Sunday.

German-Peruvian-American defender Alfredo Morales played the final 22 minutes for Hertha Berlin and was issued a yellow card in its 3-0 setback Saturday to FC Augsburg.

American David Yelldell was the backup keeper for Bayer Leverkusen in its 2-0 triumph over FC Cologne.

In the 2. Bundesliga, striker Matt Taylor was the only American to play, coming off the bench in the final minute for SC Paderborn 07 in its 4-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

American forward Bobby Wood has an ailing knee and was sidelined for TSV 1860 Munich's 1-0 victory Friday over FC Union Berlin.

American keeper Luis Robles, who is trying to leave for Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, did not dress for Karlsruher SC in a 2-1 loss to FSV Frankfurt.

In France, American striker Charlie Davies played the final 15 minutes for Sochaux Sunday in a 2-0 loss to Toulose.

In Italy, U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley sat out a yellow-cards suspension for Chievo Verona, a 1-0 winner over Cesena on Sunday.

In Belgium, U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan played 90 minutes Sunday for Anderlecht in its 0-0 draw with Lierse.

Norwegian-born American midfielder Mikkel Diskerud played 90 minutes Saturday for KAA Gent in a 2-0 decision over Bergen Mons.

In Mexico, U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley played the first hour for Puebla in a 2-1 loss Saturday to Monterrey.

U.S. midfielder Jose Torres went the distance for Pachuca in a 1-1 draw Saturday with Tigres UANL.

U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein dressed, but did not play for Tigres.

American defender-midfielder Michael Orozco Fiscal dressed, but did not play Saturday in San Luis' 1-0 loss to Atlas.

American midfielder Sonny Guadarrama did not dress in for Atlante in its 4-0 loss to Club America on Saturday.

Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent.

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