ASN 100 Update
All the Americans Are Finding the Back of the Net
Josh Deaver takes a look at how members of the ASN 100 did over the weekend (yes, we know it's Wednesday), and finds plenty of successes. These dudes can play. But you already knew that.
Michael Bradley—ASN rank #1
The midfield general made his Roma return in style on Sunday, coming on as a late substitute and notching the game winner in the club’s 1-0 victory over Udinese, extending their winning streak to nine games. Bradley came on in the 78th minutes and put the home side ahead five minutes into his shift. After making his patented deep midfield run the midfielder latched on to a layoff from Kevin Strootman and expertly placed his shot in the bottom corner for his first goal of the season. Sounds good? It’s even better paired with the magisterial commentary of Ray Hudson. Clint Dempsey—ASN rank #2
Finally. After 591 scoreless minutes, the U.S captain opened his MLS account on Sunday night, scoring the opening strike for Seattle Sounders in their 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy. In front of 66,000-plus for the Sounders regular season finale, Dempsey got on the score sheet in the 30th minute, ‘side-heeling’ a Lamar Neagle cross past an overzealous Omar Gonzalez and a diving Jaime Penedo for the goal. In celebration, the Texas native pointed to his wrist, signaling to the sold out Century Link stadium, Seattle, and MLS observers alike: “It’s about damn time, right?” Jozy Altidore—ASN rank #3
In another huge sigh of relief for U.S Soccer supporters: Sunderland, the club presently holding star striker Jozy Altidore hostage, picked up its first Premier League win on the weekend, taking a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the famed Vertical Stripes derby. Starting up top, Altidore put in another efficient performance, playing 90 minutes and assisting on Fabio Borini’s 86th minute strike to secure the first win for new manager Gus Poyett and help drag the Black Cats out of the EPL cellar. Sacha Kljestan—ASN rank #14
Quietly, the mustachioed-midfielder is having his most productive offensive season ever. Kljestan added to his goal total again on Sunday, scoring in the first minute of an eventual 1-1 draw with Standard Liege. Kljestan benefitted once again from late, far-post run, getting his toe on a deflected corner to make it 1-0 for the home side. Unfortunately, the Purple and Whites failed to take points from the vulnerable league leaders, who played the final five minutes with only nine men. The strike brings his tally to five goals in 11 games this season—the fourth best mark in the Beligan Pro League—putting him only one off of his career high. Terrence Boyd—ASN rank #21
The kid stays in the picture. Terrence Boyd once again found the back of the net on Sunday, scoring a late winner in Rapid’s hard fought 1-0 win over arch rivals Austria Vienna. Fueled by the electric atmosphere of the Vienna derby, Boyd put in a solid performance in front of the Green and White faithful. Deadlocked in the 88th minute, Boyd skied to meet a Thomas Schrammel cross to send the Generali Arena into rapture and deliver a much need three points to the home side. The 22-year old is now tied for third in Bundesliga scoring this season with seven goals in 10 appearances for the club. Timothy Chandler—ASN rank #25
Playing in his first match under new head coach, former AZ boss Gertjan Verbeek, and with national team scouts in attendance, the 23-year old defender picked a good week to impress. Chandler got the start, playing 90 minutes and notching an assist in Nurnberg’s 1-1 draw with Stuttgart. It was a good performance from Chandler, but Der Club failed to come away with three points as they continue to slide down the Bundesliga table. Currently winless, FCN have earned only seven points through 10 games and already look like a possible relegation candidate in the German top flight. John Brooks—ASN rank #30
Only just recovered from a dislocated elbow suffered during international duty last month, Brooks return to the Hertha Berlin game day roster, but did not play on Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich. He did, however, sit up for the Hertha reserves on Sunday, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal in the squad’s 2-1 loss to Viktoria Berlin. Chris Wondolowski—ASN rank #38
On Wednesday, the 30-year old forward put San Jose through to the Knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, scoring the only goal in the Earthquakes 1-0 victory over Costa Rican side Heredia. Thanks to some truly all-world abysmal defending, Wondolowski was left unmarked the box and was allowed all the space necessary to convert his chance and advance the Quakes. The forward was back at it on the weekend, scoring his 11th of the year in San Jose’s 2-1 season finale win over FC Dallas. In the past four MLS seasons, Wondolowski unsurprisingly leads all players with 73 league goals. Juan Agudelo—ASN rank #39
There are more than 500,000 reasons why Agudelo could already be in Europe. Instead, the shrewd gambit by New England Revolution to spurn Stoke City’s advances and keep on the 21-year old for the reminder of the season has paid huge dividends. Needing a win against Columbus Crew to punch their ticket to the MLS postseason, Agudelo’s 28th minute goal proved to be decisive in a 1-0 win for the Revolution. In a phenomenal give-and-go sequence, Agudelo worked a beautiful nutmeg back heel for the onrushing Lee Nguyen, who returned the favor, laying it into his path for a clinical finish. Having missed so much time with injury Agudelo’s season has gone largely under the radar but he finishes the regular season with an impressive 9 goals and 2 assists in only 20 appearances. Mike Magee—ASN rank #42
Magic Mike’s season of destiny came crashing down on Sunday night. Despite scoring his 21st goal of the season—a total which equals his previous seven seasons combined—Chicago Fire fell 5-1 to New York Red Bulls on Sunday, eliminating the Men in Red from playoff contention. To add insult to injury, Magee also failed to claim the MLS Golden Boot thanks to a Camillo hat trick during Vancouver’s 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids, leaving the Brazilian with 22 goals on the season. Despite the heartbreaking finish, the 29-year old is still a top candidate for the league’s MVP honors which will be announced in the coming weeks. Oguchi Onyewu—ASN rank #61
After some rumors of a move surfaced last week, the veteran defender officially joined English Championship side Queens Park Rangers. The move seemed to stem largely, according to manager Harry Redknapp, from a phone call with Jurgen Klinsmann who told (or snowed) the former England boss that Onyewu would “almost certainly” be joining the U.S in Brazil for the World Cup. On Saturday, Onyewu made the bench but did not play in QPR’s 2-0 loss to Burnley. Joe Gyau—ASN rank #74
Coming off an inconsistent season on loan to St. Pauli, Gyau has rebounded strong this year for the Hoffenheim reserves in the German fourth division. After 14 matches, Gyau has been an indispensable member of the squad’s midfield; leading the club in minutes, starts, appearances and goals. His latest came on Sunday against, scoring the final goal (highlights begin at 9:00) in a 3-0 win over Baunatal. Fellow American Fabian Hurzeler—second to Gyau in all relevant statistics—also got the start in the win. Hoffenheimerica lives.
The midfield general made his Roma return in style on Sunday, coming on as a late substitute and notching the game winner in the club’s 1-0 victory over Udinese, extending their winning streak to nine games. Bradley came on in the 78th minutes and put the home side ahead five minutes into his shift. After making his patented deep midfield run the midfielder latched on to a layoff from Kevin Strootman and expertly placed his shot in the bottom corner for his first goal of the season. Sounds good? It’s even better paired with the magisterial commentary of Ray Hudson. Clint Dempsey—ASN rank #2
Finally. After 591 scoreless minutes, the U.S captain opened his MLS account on Sunday night, scoring the opening strike for Seattle Sounders in their 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy. In front of 66,000-plus for the Sounders regular season finale, Dempsey got on the score sheet in the 30th minute, ‘side-heeling’ a Lamar Neagle cross past an overzealous Omar Gonzalez and a diving Jaime Penedo for the goal. In celebration, the Texas native pointed to his wrist, signaling to the sold out Century Link stadium, Seattle, and MLS observers alike: “It’s about damn time, right?” Jozy Altidore—ASN rank #3
In another huge sigh of relief for U.S Soccer supporters: Sunderland, the club presently holding star striker Jozy Altidore hostage, picked up its first Premier League win on the weekend, taking a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the famed Vertical Stripes derby. Starting up top, Altidore put in another efficient performance, playing 90 minutes and assisting on Fabio Borini’s 86th minute strike to secure the first win for new manager Gus Poyett and help drag the Black Cats out of the EPL cellar. Sacha Kljestan—ASN rank #14
Quietly, the mustachioed-midfielder is having his most productive offensive season ever. Kljestan added to his goal total again on Sunday, scoring in the first minute of an eventual 1-1 draw with Standard Liege. Kljestan benefitted once again from late, far-post run, getting his toe on a deflected corner to make it 1-0 for the home side. Unfortunately, the Purple and Whites failed to take points from the vulnerable league leaders, who played the final five minutes with only nine men. The strike brings his tally to five goals in 11 games this season—the fourth best mark in the Beligan Pro League—putting him only one off of his career high. Terrence Boyd—ASN rank #21
The kid stays in the picture. Terrence Boyd once again found the back of the net on Sunday, scoring a late winner in Rapid’s hard fought 1-0 win over arch rivals Austria Vienna. Fueled by the electric atmosphere of the Vienna derby, Boyd put in a solid performance in front of the Green and White faithful. Deadlocked in the 88th minute, Boyd skied to meet a Thomas Schrammel cross to send the Generali Arena into rapture and deliver a much need three points to the home side. The 22-year old is now tied for third in Bundesliga scoring this season with seven goals in 10 appearances for the club. Timothy Chandler—ASN rank #25
Playing in his first match under new head coach, former AZ boss Gertjan Verbeek, and with national team scouts in attendance, the 23-year old defender picked a good week to impress. Chandler got the start, playing 90 minutes and notching an assist in Nurnberg’s 1-1 draw with Stuttgart. It was a good performance from Chandler, but Der Club failed to come away with three points as they continue to slide down the Bundesliga table. Currently winless, FCN have earned only seven points through 10 games and already look like a possible relegation candidate in the German top flight. John Brooks—ASN rank #30
Only just recovered from a dislocated elbow suffered during international duty last month, Brooks return to the Hertha Berlin game day roster, but did not play on Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich. He did, however, sit up for the Hertha reserves on Sunday, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal in the squad’s 2-1 loss to Viktoria Berlin. Chris Wondolowski—ASN rank #38
On Wednesday, the 30-year old forward put San Jose through to the Knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, scoring the only goal in the Earthquakes 1-0 victory over Costa Rican side Heredia. Thanks to some truly all-world abysmal defending, Wondolowski was left unmarked the box and was allowed all the space necessary to convert his chance and advance the Quakes. The forward was back at it on the weekend, scoring his 11th of the year in San Jose’s 2-1 season finale win over FC Dallas. In the past four MLS seasons, Wondolowski unsurprisingly leads all players with 73 league goals. Juan Agudelo—ASN rank #39
There are more than 500,000 reasons why Agudelo could already be in Europe. Instead, the shrewd gambit by New England Revolution to spurn Stoke City’s advances and keep on the 21-year old for the reminder of the season has paid huge dividends. Needing a win against Columbus Crew to punch their ticket to the MLS postseason, Agudelo’s 28th minute goal proved to be decisive in a 1-0 win for the Revolution. In a phenomenal give-and-go sequence, Agudelo worked a beautiful nutmeg back heel for the onrushing Lee Nguyen, who returned the favor, laying it into his path for a clinical finish. Having missed so much time with injury Agudelo’s season has gone largely under the radar but he finishes the regular season with an impressive 9 goals and 2 assists in only 20 appearances. Mike Magee—ASN rank #42
Magic Mike’s season of destiny came crashing down on Sunday night. Despite scoring his 21st goal of the season—a total which equals his previous seven seasons combined—Chicago Fire fell 5-1 to New York Red Bulls on Sunday, eliminating the Men in Red from playoff contention. To add insult to injury, Magee also failed to claim the MLS Golden Boot thanks to a Camillo hat trick during Vancouver’s 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids, leaving the Brazilian with 22 goals on the season. Despite the heartbreaking finish, the 29-year old is still a top candidate for the league’s MVP honors which will be announced in the coming weeks. Oguchi Onyewu—ASN rank #61
After some rumors of a move surfaced last week, the veteran defender officially joined English Championship side Queens Park Rangers. The move seemed to stem largely, according to manager Harry Redknapp, from a phone call with Jurgen Klinsmann who told (or snowed) the former England boss that Onyewu would “almost certainly” be joining the U.S in Brazil for the World Cup. On Saturday, Onyewu made the bench but did not play in QPR’s 2-0 loss to Burnley. Joe Gyau—ASN rank #74
Coming off an inconsistent season on loan to St. Pauli, Gyau has rebounded strong this year for the Hoffenheim reserves in the German fourth division. After 14 matches, Gyau has been an indispensable member of the squad’s midfield; leading the club in minutes, starts, appearances and goals. His latest came on Sunday against, scoring the final goal (highlights begin at 9:00) in a 3-0 win over Baunatal. Fellow American Fabian Hurzeler—second to Gyau in all relevant statistics—also got the start in the win. Hoffenheimerica lives.
