Hejduk moves to St. Gallen in Switzerland; Regis moves back into French first division.

Americans Abroad

Keller, Friedel post shutouts to lead Tottenham, Blackburn to victories in England's Premier League.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

(Tuesday, August 27, 2002) -- United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller had his good and bad moments Sunday, but with a little luck and the help of reliable defense, he allowed Tottenham Hotspur turned back visiting Aston Villa 1-0.

On two occasions, Keller was called on to make fine saves, but he looked beaten on several occasions, only to have Villa shots miss by inches wide or high. In the first half, Villa tried to play the ball high into 6-foot-7 forward Peter Crouch, but Keller patrolled his area well to diffuse the threats.

Keller was called on to make one tumbling save with a left foot jab to stop a shot from Crouch. In the second half, Keller came up big under pressure on a shot from defender Gareth Berry who had been set up by Alan Wright,. Later, he stopped a well placed free kick from Mark Delaney.

It now looks like the starting job will be Keller's for some time. Scottish international Neil Sullivan, the starter for most of the time since Keller joined Spurs last season, broke his thumb Sunday in training and will be out at least two months.

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle indicated he will not jump into the transfer market looking for another goalkeeper because of how well Keller is playing. Canadian international Lars Hirschfeld was signed at the end of last season when it was thought Keller might jump ship over lack of playing time. He will act as Keller's backup until Sullivan is fit again.

U.S. keeper Brad Friedel was again superb in the nets for Blackburn Rovers as they shut out Birmingham City 1-0.

Just before the half, he needed every inch of his long reach to tip away a Martin Grainger 22-yard free-kick. After the start of the second half, he grabbed a Geoff Horsfield flicked header out of the air when it seemed a sure goal. Finally, he somehow denied former Columbus Crew forward Stern John who ran onto a Damien Johnson right-wing cross and power a header for the upper corner, a seemingly sure goal, only to be denied by Friedel.

American attacker Jovan Kirovski's Birmingham City debut was postponed at least another week while he recovers from a pulled thigh muscles suffered in training.

It was another strong outing for U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna, but his Sunderland side fell short 1-0 at home to Everton Saturday. Sunderland did not play well and Reyna started trying some long range chances in the second half. One was well saved by keeper Thomas Sorenson. Then, in the 70th minute, it looked as if Reyna had knotted the score at 1, but his powerful shot was disallowed for an offside.

U.S. striker Joe-Max Moore still is trying to recover from his World Cup injuries and will likely not make it back for Everton for at least another month.

American midfielder Eddie Lewis' from Fulham in the Premier League to the First Division's Preston North End is beginning to look doubtful. Preston agreed to pay Fulham a $920,000 transfer fee for Lewis, but Lewis has not been agreeable to taking a huge pay cut. He reportedly is asking North End for $400,000 annually, probably something less than he is making at Fulham. While not high by Fulham standards, it would make him one of North End's higher paid players, and could throw its salary structure out of kilter. So Lewis continues to play, and do well for the Fulham reserves, providing a cross to assist the team's lone goal in a 1-1 draw with Wimbledon.

In England's Second Division, it was a bit of a lost weekend for American midfielder John Thorrington and Huddersfield Town. Yesterday, Thorrington went 88 minutes with Huddersfield conceding a two goals midway through the second half in a 2-1 setback at Tranmere 2-1. American goalkeeper Ian Feuer, who has signed with Tranmere, was not dressed.

On Saturday, Thorrington went 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with visiting Crewe.

Robert Wagman is a senior correspondent for SoccerTimes and can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com..