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Americans in Europe

Agudelo, Packwood Shine in Otherwise Dismal Week

Injuries, suspensions, and poor form plagued many Americans playing abroad this past weekend, but ASN’s Brian Sciaretta managed to find four performances worth celebrating.
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
February 10, 2014
10:12 AM
THERE IS NO SUGARCOATING the fact that this was a weekend to forget for Americans in Europe. In fact it was one of the worst in recent memory.

This weekend will almost certainly be remembered for the wave of injuries that mercilessly hit American players. Alejandro Bedoya, Oguchi Onyewu, Jermaine Jones, Eric Lichaj, and Aron Johannsson all were unable to play over the weekend due to recent injuries. John Brooks and Steve Cherundolo are still trying to come back from longer-term injuries.

Timothy Chandler was on the upswing in 2014 but his injury on Saturday against Bayern Munich dealt a crippling blow to his World Cup chances. Puebla’s DaMarcus Beasley also left his game after being on the wrong end of a tackle against Chivas.

It wasn’t all injuries either. Fabian Johnson wasn’t able to get off the bench for Hoffenheim, and he could be in a struggle for playing time as he intends to leave the club in the summer. Clint Dempsey couldn’t even make the bench for Fulham it what has been an entirely forgettable loan to the club that first launched him into star status.

Terrence Boyd was forced to serve a red card suspension for Rapid Vienna who smashed arch-rival Austria Vienna 3-1.

Did anything go right?

We found a couple of highlights. Digging through the carnage, here were the top four American performers of the weekend.

No. 4: Juan Agudelo

Making his second start for Utrecht, Agudelo was his team’s top performer in an otherwise difficult 5-2 loss to RKC Waalwijk. Agudelo did not score but he was consistently dangerous and active in Utrecht’s attack.

When evaluating Agudelo the rest of this season, his progression and adjustment to Europe are the most important factors, along with the resume-padding he will need to ensure his work permit appeal for Stoke City is successful the second time. He’s off to a great start and he is building a great case to be named to the roster for the United States national team’s upcoming friendly against Ukraine. He is certainly not out of the picture for Brazil.

No. 3: Marc Heider

In Germany’s 3.Liga, Sacramento-born Marc Heider enjoyed a fine day for Holstein Kiel where he scored two goals in a 3-0 win over Preußen Münster. His first goal came from close range in the 22nd minute and gave Holstein Kiel a 1-0 lead. His second, a header in the 74th minute, finished off the scoring and he was subbed out eight minutes later.

Heider, 27, joined Holstein Kiel in 2009 from Werder Bremen’s reserve team. In 131 league appearances, he has scored a very respectable 55 goals.

No. 2: Will Packwood

One of the best stories in the English Championship this year has been the comeback of Will Packwood after his gruesome injury in 2013. There is no question that the Boston native is in top form right now. and in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Charlton, the Birmingham Mail called Packwood a “redoubtable presence.”

Since rejoining the team’s starting lineup following his loan to Bristol Rovers, Packwood has looked consistently strong, helping the Blues move away from the relegation zone.

Still only 20, Packwood has a bright future. It would not be a surprise to see him called into the U.S. national team’s March friendly against Ukraine to get some experience for the 2018 World Cup. But his big test is likely the 2016 Olympics, where he could be starting in central defense alongside John Brooks.

No. 1: Andrew Wooten

Andrew Wooten has made the most of his loan from Kaiserslautern to 2.Bundesliga club FSV Frankfurt, scoring goals in midseason exhibitions and looking dangerous for his new club.

On Friday against Bochum, he entered the game in the 67th minute with the teams deadlocked at 1-1. On his first possession he promptly scored on a counter-attack goal to give FSV a 2-1 win on the road (You can watch his goal at 8:53 of the video below).

Sorry—that's all the good news we could muster. Are you worried about the string of bad luck and poor form, or do you think it will pass? Share your thoughts below.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.

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