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U.S. men's schedule, results
With knee braced, Friedel returns to stop penalty kick and lead Rovers past Fulham 2-1.
Keller, Hahnemann, Lewis shine while others sit overseas.
Friedel, Reyna have left knees surgically repaired 5,450 miles apart.
Friedel decides to end delay, have surgery on ailing left knee.
Friedel continues his strong play, leading Blackburn to 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Lewis leads Preston to 2-0 upset of Birmingham City in Worthington Cup.
U.S. goalkeepers record three shutouts in England, but only one emerges with a victory.
O'Brien is frustrated by lack of improvement with his
Achilles in injury.
Reyna's Sunderland season is over after knee diagnosis is as bad as expected.
Friedel's solid effort can't prevent Blackburn 1-0 loss to Celtic in UEFA Cup.
Reyna goes down with apparently serious knee injury.
Hobbled Friedel still sensational for Rovers who upset Arsenal 2-1.
Keller, Friedel continue to roll, while Reyna sinks in England.
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Americans Abroad Marcus Hahnemann: Clean sheets and growing whiskers.
By John Haydon
(Tuesday, December 3, 2002) -- It was another clean sheet and a few more whiskers for America's forgotten goalie Marcus Hahnemann. The superstitious Seattle native refuses to shave while his club Reading rides a six-game winning streak, much to the chagrin of his wife who hates the bristles. While United States men's coach Bruce Arena may have forgotten Hahnemann, the English media is raving about his current play in the nation's First Division. As if the U.S. national team needed another top keeper, what with Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller starting in the Premier League. Hahnemann is having his best season in professional soccer and hoping that Arena jots down his name in a lineup some day. After Saturday's 1-0 victory at Brighton, high-flying Reading (12-6-2, 38 points) is fifth in the First Division and aiming for promotion to the Premiership. Can you imagine three American goalies starting in the Premier League? That surely would be a statement about soccer in the good olde USA. And it could happen. Hahnemann, 30, has recorded an impressive 10 shutouts in 15 games this season and has been a key factor in Reading's success. The club has the best defense in the First Division, conceding just 14 goals in league play. Reading, formed in 1871, has never played top-flight soccer. Hahnemann has not given up a goal since October 26 and recorded his sixth consecutive shutout against Brighton. A week earlier, he pulled off a spectacular save when he stopped Neil Cox on a penalty kick in Reading's 1-0 win over Watford. "The defense have all done well, but nobody better than Hahnemann,' said Reading boss Alan Pardew after that game. "He is close to being the best goalkeeper in the division and he can be proud of his penalty save." His current form won him his club's "Player of the Month" honor for November. He faces his biggest test Saturday when Reading hosts league-leader Portsmouth (16-2-3, 51). The 6-foot 3 Hahnemann moved to Reading, a town 60 miles west of London, on a free transfer in August after sitting on the bench at Fulham for three years. Hahnemann arrived in England in 1999 after playing 66 games for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. He played three times for the U.S. in 1994. "I'd love more, but there are class acts like Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller ahead of me," Hahnemann told Britain's Sun newspaper. "Marcus has got the lot," Reading midfielder Kevin Watson said. "His distribution is incredible. I've never seen a keeper who can send the ball 80 yards so accurately." Hahnemann has also trimmed down recently, cutting back on the Mars bars and Coke. Now if only the United States could produce forwards to match all the talented keepers it has. American Joe-Max Moore's can no longer play for Everton in the Premier League after the 31-year-old American forward's work permit expired. Moore had not appeared for the first team this season and was relegated to playing for the reserves Everton did not apply for a renewal of the work permit even though his contract runs to June. "Everton were trying to help me by not applying for a new permit," Moore told Associated Press. "But if I can get a new club in January, they can reapply." Moore has 24 goals in 100 appearances for the U.S. men, second in career scoring behind Eric Wynalda's 32. Major League Soccer had some conversations with Everton about acquiring Moore who played 64 games for the New England Revolution before moving to Everton on a free transfer in December 1999. Moore also has played with the German clubs FC Nürnberg and Saarbruecken. U.S. World Cup veteran Brian McBride wants to play in England or Scotland. There were reports this week that Premier League clubs Manchester City and Everton, and Scotland's Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing the Columbus Crew striker once the transfer window opens in January. McBride, 30, was loaned to Preston North End two years ago, but his time in England was cut short by a blood clot. American midfielder Eddie Lewis, who plays for Preston North End, spoke about McBride's desire to the British media last week. "Brian is desperately keen to return to play soccer in Britain," Lewis said. "After the World Cup, he was disappointed not to work out a move. MLS was asking quite a bit of money for Brian, but he deserves better. Hopefully, they'll work something out so he'll be able to come over in January."
John Haydon is soccer columnist for the Washington Times and can be
e-mailed at jhaydon@washingtontimes.com.
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