Americans Abroad

Friedel is valiant, but Blackburn Rovers are eliminated from FA Cup; Sanneh scores in losing effort for Nürnberg.

(Monday, February 18, 2002) -- Two Americans were in action in the fifth round of England’s FA Cup this weekend. United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel played valiantly for Blackburn Rovers, but conceded a goal to Ugo Ehiogu in the 87th minute, allowing host Middlesbrough a 1-0 victory before 20,921 watching the meeting of Premier League rivals at BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium and advancement to the quarterfinals.

Both Friedel and his Middlesbrough counterpart, Australian international keeper Mark Schwarzer, made several fine saves to keep the match scoreless until the closing moments. Momentum had shifted to Middlesbrough in the 72nd minute when Rovers’ Lucas Neill was ordered off with a red card for a professional foul on Robbie Stockdale, a foul the Blackburn bench argued vehemently was deserving of only a yellow.

With three minutes remaining on the clock, Middlesbrough was awarded a free kick 30 yards out on a hand ball on Matt Jansen, but the ball was advanced 10 yards by referee G. Barber when the defender argued, a rule unique to England. Boro sent eight players in front of the ball and Ehiogu, a central defender, was unmarked and able to put his head on the ball to direct it past Friedel for the game-winner.

U.S. forward\midfielder Joe-Max Moore entered in the 71st minute and produced the best scoring chance of the day for Everton in its eventual 0-0 draw at home yesterday with Crewe of the First Division before 29,399 at Goodison Park. Everton, a heavy favorite being from the Premier League, faced a stout defense that yielded little in a match played in a steady downpour.

In the 88th minute, Moore was sent through on a wonderful pass by Scot Gemmill, and Moore’s low hard shot from 25 yards grazed the post. Two minutes later, Moore received a yellow card.

The match will be replayed.

U.S. keeper Kasey Keller had his usual spot on the bench for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League side’s 4-0 romp over visiting Tranmere of the Second Division before 30,696 at White Hart Lane.

In Second Division league action, American midfielder John Thorrington’s long time absence because of ankle and hamstring injuries continues for Huddersfield Town which fell to Brighton 1-0.

In the German Bundesliga, U.S. midfielder\defender Tony Sanneh scored in stoppage time but FC Nürnberg still lost 2-1 at Kaiserslautern. Sanneh, who returned to right midfield after playing the last several matches in the Nürnberg’s injury-depleted back line, was effective pushing the ball up the right side and occasionally testing the middle.

St. Pauli salvaged an improbable 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen thanks to an stoppage time penalty kick and by employing an unusual formation for most of the afternoon. The match started with St. Pauli using two defenders, including American Cory Gibbs, and six midfielders, including Dema Kovalenko of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.

Leverkusen scored almost immediately, but St. Pauli answered. Leverkusen went ahead in the second half, but was undone by a hand ball in its box in extra time.

Kovalenko struggled, was given a yellow card for a bad foul, and was removed at halftime. Gibbs had one of his typical matches, some good play interspersed with bad errors, and was cautioned in the 58th minute for dissent.

In 2 Bundesliga play, young American striker Conor Casey came on in the 60th minute and sparked a Hannover 96 comeback by scoring in the 73rd, as Hannover used two late goals to overcome Karlsruher SC 2-1. U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo who played the full 90 minutes, received a yellow card in the 13th minute for a hard foul, but turned in a solid effort.

On a wet, cold and dreary Sunday in the Netherlands, Ajax visited AZ Alkmaar and came away with a 0-0 draw before a crowd of less than 6,000.U.S. midfielder John O’Brien went the distance as Ajax coach Ronald Koeman essentially started four forwards, in a 2-2-2-4 formation in match where neither team generated much attack.

NAC Breda defeated Twente 2-1 with attacker Earnie Stewart, possibly showing the effects of playing for the U.S. in a 1-0 loss against Italy in Sicily Wednesday, turning in a strong first half before tiring and leaving in the 80th minute.

NAC’s winner came in the 85th minute.

In France, Metz fell 1-0 to Marseille on a goal from a turnover four minutes into first-half stoppage time. U.S. defender David Regis’ solid play could not prevent Metz from sinking further toward certain relegation from the first division.

American defender Greg Vanney continued to stand out for Bastia which downed Sochaux 3-0. Bastia was leading 1-0 in the 26th minute when a giveaway in the box led to a Sochaux blast from six yards, but Vanney was in position to acrobatically clear the ball away from the goal line from midair.

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