After Friday gave US fans an early Super Bowl present with Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan squaring off against each other for the first time since 2006?, the weekend had its far share of dramatic Yank moments as well. Goals from Fabian Johnson in the Bundesliga, DaMarcus Beasley in Mexico’s Primera Division, and Oguchi Onyewu in the Portuguese Primeira Liga highlighted US success abroad over the last couple of days.
*Landon Donovan won the battle between the top 2 American players, as his two assists lifted Everton over Fulham by a 2-1 scoreline. The win advances the Toffees to the 5th round of the FA Cup and eliminates Fulham from this domestic competition.
Donovan played two perfectly weighted crosses, which allowed Denis Stracqualursi and Marouane Fellaini to score headers in the 27th and 73rd minutes respectively. The goals completed an Everton comeback after Danny Murphy converted a penalty kick early on in the match to initially put the Cottagers in front.
*Meanwhile in Germany, Fabian Johnson found the back of the net for TSG Hoffenheim. Johnson scored a beauty of a goal volleying home a cross from the middle of the 18 yard box. However the goal produced little reward as Hoffenheim lost the match 3-1 to defending Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund.
Hoffenheim now sit in the 8th position of the Bundesliga table with 23 points.
*DaMarcus Beasley continues his much improved run of form in Mexico, scoring with his less-dominant right foot as he cut across the box. Friday night’s finish proved to be the game-winner in Puebla’s 1-0 win over Jaguares. Furthermore, Beasley secured Puebla’s first win in 4 matches of the Clausura.
*Oguchi Onyewu concluded the highlight reel weekend for Americans abroad with a double. Gooch found the back of the net not once but twice as he expertly headed home on both occasions. Onyewu’s goals both came in the first half, first in the 18th minute and then in 27th minute.
The goals lifted Sporting CP to a 2-0 win over Beira Mar, as Sporting rise to 4th in the table behind Portuguese giants Benfica, Porto, and Braga in that respective order.
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