Americans Abroad

Reyna leads the way for Sunderland to draw powerful Man. U. 1-1; Keller helps Tottenham to top of Premier table.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

(Sunday, September 1, 2002) -- American Claudio Reyna solidified the midfield in the second half and helped produce the tying goal, leading Sunderland to a 1-1 draw with Manchester United before 47,586 home fans at Stadium of Light yesterday.

Sunderland, which is 1-2-1 in England's Premier League after getting its first victory, 1-0 over Leeds United on Wednesday, struggled early, as did Reyna, trailing 1-0 after Ryan Giggs scored in the seventh minute. As the match wore on, however, Reyna helped Sunderland take control of the midfield, and set things up for newly-signed striker Tore Andre Flo.

In the 70th minute, Reyna slipped the ball to midfielder Jason McAteer who shot from a tight angle. The ball glanced off several players, settling at Flo's feet for a shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and went in for the 1-1 tie. Flo, who previously was Reyna's teammate at Scotland's Glasgow Rangers, came to Sunderland in the offseason for a team-record transfer fee of $10.5 million.

United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller has been a key contributor to Tottenham Hotspur's rise to the top of the Premier League where the club sits alone at 3-0-1 with 10 points after a 2-1 victory over Southampton before 35,573 at home at White Hart Lane.

Teddy Sheringham's dramatic penalty kick in stoppage time after a hand ball provided the winning margin. The only one to beat Keller was teammate Mauricio Taricco who turned a cross into a tying own goal in the 30th minute.

Keller was brilliant when he needed to be, especially in the 24th minute. From the left flank, Rory Delap sent a long cross to the far post to unmarked Paul Telfer who met the ball in the air with a side volley. Keller managed to push what looked like a sure goal outside his right post.

With his back to goal in the 41st minute, Southhampton striker Brett Ormerod controlled the ball and then turned for a hard shot which Keller saved. Keller also made a good stop on Wayne Bridge in the 75th minute.

Striker Joseph Desire Job beat U.S. keeper Brad Friedel in the 90th minute, allowing host Southampton to hand Blackburn Rovers (1-1-2) their first loss of the season 1-0 yesterday.

Friedel, seeking his third clean sheet in four starts, was not busy, but was sharp when he needed to be. Early, he denied Massimo Maccarone who skipped past defender Nils-Eric Johansson's lunge and fired a shot which Friedel managed to parry away with a diving save. In the 62nd, minute he denied Cameroonian midfielder Ndjitap Geremi's sharply headed ball.

Soon after, came Friedel's best save of the match on a Gerermi free kick that appeared headed for net.

Johansson was victimized for the decisive tally when he chested a ball directly to Geremi who moved unmarked into the left side of the penalty area. When Friedel came out to cut down the angle, Geremi slid the ball to his unmarked countryman Job, alone in front, for the easy tap-in.

On the pines in the Premiership, U.S. attackers Jovan Kirovski (right thigh strain) and Joe-Max Moore (groin) remain injured at Birmingham City and Everton, respectively.

Ian Feuer was not signed to be the third goalkeeper at Arsenal which decided to go with Swede Rami Shaaban from Djurgċrdens Juventus after nearly signing Argentine Fabian Carini.

Feuer, who had just previously come to an agreement with Tranmere Rovers in the Second Division, reportedly impressed the Arsenal coaching staff in workouts. It's unclear whether Feuer will return to Tranmere

In England's First Division, American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was in top form, leading Reading over Walsall 2-0. With the score 1-0 in the 87th minute, Hahnemann came up big top stop a drive from Danny Sonner.

In the Second Division, U.S. midfielder John Thorrington went 90 minutes for Huddersfield Town in a rather listless 0-0 draw with Blackpool. One of few highlight for the American was when he was fouled by Tommy Jaszczun, drawing a yellow card in the 13th minute.

Regis was handed a yellow card in the 21st minute. Playing along side another newcomer, Olivier Thomas, the pair produced solid efforts, boosting a team which had managed only two draws in its first four outings.

U.S. defender Greg Vanney, who injured a knee in World Cup preparations, has yet to play for Bastia (2-1-2) which dumped winless Rennes 3-1.

NAC Breda didn't think Earnie Stewart (leg injury) was fit enough to start against NEC Nijmegen, but when its offense floundered, the U.S. attacker was brought off the bench in the 25th minute for Ali Boussaboun. The move did not help as the teams played to a somewhat uninspired 0-0 draw.

Paperwork will probably delay U.S. defender Frankie Hedjuk's Swiss debut with FC St.Gallen two weeks. After transferring from Germany. his documents did not come through in time for a work permit to be issued for FCSG's weekend match with SR Delemont. The next league FCSG league match is against powerful Grasshoppers in Zurich on September 11.

Press reports indicated the American had a fine match on the right side of defense. American striker Conor Casey remains sidelined with a leg injury, jeopardizing his chance of working into the starting side. Hannover president Martin Kind is about to announce three new signings, including one or two strikers, just before the German transfer deadline.

American Tony Sanneh was the sweeper for FC Nürnberg in a 2-0 triumph over Eintracht Trier.

Assuming he receives his German work permit expediently, U.S. defender Gregg Berhalter, after being transferred from England's Crystal Palace, will join the Bundesliga's Energie Cottbus to start training this week. Cottbus next plays a road match at Hannover on September 11.

In the third division, U.S. midfielder Joe Enochs went 90 minutes for Osnabrück in a 1-0 home victory versus Uerdingen.

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