Americans Abroad

Vanney makes an immediate impact at Bastia in France; Reyna is fit, but Man. U. gives Sunderland fits 4-1.

(Monday, February 4, 2002) -- American defender Greg Vanney did not take long to ingratiate himself to management and fans of Bastia in France.

On loan from Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, Vanney went the distance in two matches last week as Le Championnat, the French first division, is busy making up for a series of weather-related postponements.

After Saturday’s 1-0 victory over sixth-place Lille (9-6-8, 35 points) at home, Vanney had started three of the last five matches in a good defense that has not permitted more than one goal in any of those outings.

Additionally, Vanney has been handling corner kicks and free kicks, and has become popular with the team’s supporters.

On Wednesday, Vanney and the Bastia turned in a heroic effort, but lost 1-0 to fourth-place Auxerre (10-3-9, 39) despite playing with 10 men after midfielder Sebastien Piocelle was sent off in the 38th minute.

Bastia (8-13-3, 27) is tied for 12th place and has told the local media it will exercise its option to obtain Vanney via transfer when the current loan ends in March.

U.S. defender David Regis went 90 minutes for relegation challenged Metz Saturday which scored first, but lost badly 4-1 to second-place Lyon (13-6-4, 43).

On Wednesday, Regis sat out a one-match penalty for accumulated yellow cards as Metz lost at home to Guincamp 4-2.

Metz (6-13-2, 20) is tied for last with Lorient (5-14-5) with both teams sharing the two relegation spots and four points behind 16th place Rennes (6-12-6).

When new Ajax coach Ronald Koeman took over during the winter break, he let it be know that all players would have to win starting positions. After struggling for several weeks, it appears U.S. midfielder John O’Brien is off to a good start under Koeman, going the whole way in a 3-1 victory at Willem II that put Ajax (13-4-3, 42) into first place in the Eredivisie, the Netherlands’ first division. .

In an odd match, Ajax fell behind 1-0, drew level on an own goal in the 60th minute and then won on two stoppage-time goals.

During the winter break, O’Brien was limited to a substitute’s role in three training matches.

American striker Earnie Stewart played 90 minutes as usual, but NAC Breda had a man sent off in the 60th minute, gave up a penalty kick and then collapsed for a 3-0 loss to FC Groningen.

U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna is fit again, but probably didn’t enjoy his 90 minutes much Saturday when Sunderland was overwhelmed 4-1 at Manchester United in England’s Premier League.

Reyna, called on to be more of a playmaker and attack less when Gavin McCann failed a late fitness test, did well controlling the ball and setting up several Sunderland chances with pinpoint passes. In the third minute, he set up Michael Gray with a through pass, but Gray failed to control the accurate pass. In the 11th minute, Reyna drilled a free kick that sailed inches over the crossbar.

Reyna probably saved a goal when Roy Keane broke free in the 37th minute and the American took him down, earning a yellow card. Sunderland has not won at Old Trafford since 1968.

U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Blackburn Rovers continued their slide toward relgation with a pair of losses.

On Saturday, Rovers fell 2-0 at West Ham United after losing 3-2 at home to Arsenal on Wednesday. The five goals Friedel permitted for the week were more than he had conceded in Rovers’ previous eight matches.

Friedel was left helpless Saturday when West Ham’s Trevor Sinclair ran half the field through two Blackburn defenders and then triggered an unstoppable 15-yard blast past a diving Friedel in the 17th minute. In the 55th minute Friedel stopped a point-blank blast from Frederic Kanoute in a one-on-one duel, but an unmarked Kanoute beat the Rovers's defense to the rebound and put it away.

Later, Friedel stopped dangerous strikes by Kanoute and Steve Lomas to keep Rovers close, but Blackburn could not take advantage.

Rovers (6-12-7) and Bolton (5-10-10) are tied for 17th and 18th place. The three bottom finishers of the 20-team league are relegated.

After going a full 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday, U.S. forward\midfielder Joe-Max Moore came on in the 83rd minute of a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town. Manager Walter Smith brought Moore on with the hope he might help produce a tying goal and he did have one good chance, to no avail, in stoppage time.

In England’s First Division, it was an up-and-down week for Crystal Palace and its two Americans, midfielder Jovan Kirovski and defender Gregg Berhalter.

On Wednesday, Palace was beaten 3-1 at home by Coventry. Kirovski did not leave the bench, the odd man out when Trevor Francis went with three, instead of four, midfielders and added another striker. Berhalter, who has moved far down on the depth chart, did not dress.

On Saturday, Palace won 3-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. After halftime, Francis returned to his 4-4-2 and brought Kirovski into the midfield where he logged a solid 45 minutes and unselfishly gave up an almost sure goal to pass to a wide-open Clinton Morrison who put it away, but was judged to have been offside.

With defenders Kit Symons and Tony Popovic both injured and Danny Granville sitting out a red card suspension, Berhalter dressed for the first time in several weeks and also came in for the second half for a respectable effort that might help him win back some playing time.

U.S. midfielder John Thorrington continues sidelined with an injured ankle and hamstring and was unavailable for Huddersfield Town which defeated Bristol City 1-0.

In the German Bundesliga, American defender Cory Gibbs, who has been playing very well of late, had a afternoon to forget for St. Pauli against Hansa Rostock. His clumsy challenge on striker Magnus Arvidsson in the box earned him a yellow card and gave Dietmar Hirsch a penalty kick which he converted for a 1-0 Rostock win.

Midfielder Dema Kovalenko, on loan from MLS’s Chicago Fire, played 61 minutes before being substituted out for St. Pauli.

American Tony Sanneh moved up to right midfield and helped FC Nürnberg defeat Cottbus 2-0. In front of three defenders, Sanneh pushed the ball forward often.

At 4-12-4 with 16 points, Nürnberg is currently in 16th place, the top of three positions in the relegation zone.

In 2 Bundesliga action, U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo was solid for 90 minutes, helping Hannover 96 down Unterhaching, 1-0. Fellow American, striker Conor Casey entered as a sub in the 85th minute.

Senior correspondent Robert Wagman compiled this column and can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.