ASN 100 Update
Brooks, Donovan, Kljestan All Scored this Weekend
With European leagues kicking into gear, there is plenty of action to report on within the ranks of the ASN 100. Josh Deaver's weekly updates provides the details, and the videos, you need.
Clint Dempsey—ASN rank #2
Only a week removed from his shock move to MLS and Seattle Sounders, Dempsey made his debut on Saturday, playing 56 minutes in a 2-1 win over Toronto FC. After an injury to Obafemi Martins in the 29th minute, Dempsey was forced into the match, perhaps a bit before Sigi Schmid intended. The former Tottenham man showed his usual inventiveness, and had some opportunities to get on the score sheet, forcing a few timely saves from the Toronto keeper. With the win, Sounders move into fifth place in the West with several games in hand over most of the conference. Still in preseason form, Dempsey knows he has to play catch up on fitness to help the team in the push to the post season. “I’m not there yet, but I was happy with the touches that I got tonight and the work that I put in,” he said after the match. “Hopefully things will start falling for me in the games to come.” Landon Donovan—ASN rank #10
On Sunday night Landon Donovan picked up right where he left off in the Gold Cup. Playing a full 90 minutes in his first league match since late June, Donovan netted a hat trick in a wild 3-3 draw with FC Dallas. After going down a goal inside of 15 minutes, Donovan drew the Galaxy level right before the halftime whistle. In first half stoppage time, Donovan slipped behind the Dallas backline, deftly headed a ball from Robbie Keane past the on-rushing Dallas keeper, and tapped it into the open net for his 150th career MLS goal. Thanks to some hard-luck officiating, L.A. would concede again early in the second half, which led to another equalizing strike from Donovan, an unmarked 15-yard driving shot in the 73rd minute. Nine minutes later, Donovan added his third. In his last 12 appearances for club and country, Donovan has 11 goals and eight assists. With his three-goal outburst on Sunday, Donovan is now only eight goals away from breaking the all-time MLS scoring record of 144. Herculez Gomez—ASN rank #13
After tweaking his knee in the opening matches of the Gold Cup, the Club Tijuana forward revealed this weekend that he will be out 4-6 weeks, putting his participation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in serious jeopardy. In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, Gomez revealed he has been feeling the effects for a few months, but is now on the mend and eager to return to the field for the national team as well as his new club. Sacha Kljestan—ASN rank #15
Kljestan picked up his first goal of the season for Anderlecht on Sunday, playing 90 minutes in a comfortable 4-1 win over Gent. Off a free kick, the ball fell to the 27-year old who pounced and instinctively slotted it past the keeper to open the game’s scoring in the 32nd minute. After dropping its season opener, the defending Belgian champions have rebounded strongly, scoring eight goals in two games. Kljestan will next travel to Sarajevo to join the National Team for a friendly against Bosnia on Wednesday. Juan Agudelo—ASN rank #39
Agudelo’s European move was made official this weekend, with Premier League club Stoke City announcing that the 20–year old striker had signed a pre-contract agreement with the Potters. Agudelo, whose contract with New England Revolution runs out at the end of the 2013 season, will join his new club in January 2014. Commenting on the deal, Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “It’s a good deal for us, because he is a very good young player who boasts a lot of talent as well as a lot of potential too.” Hughes added, “I have kept my eye on him for the last 18 months, and thankfully we were in a position where we were able to pull this deal off.” Agudelo is currently recovering from a knee injury; his time-table for return is not known. Alejandro Bedoya—ASN rank #44
Bedoya officially joined newly promoted French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes. Although available for selection, Bedoya did not see the bench for the Canaries, who picked up three points in a 2-0 win over SC Bastia. If all goes according to plan, Boedya will make his French debut next Sunday against Lorient. John Anthony Brooks—ASN rank #50
It’s fast becoming a week of milestones for the 20-year German-American. The Hertha Berlin defender made his Bundesliga debut on Saturday in memorable fashion, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal for the newly promoted side during a dominant 6-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. After a deflection in the box, Brooks capitalized and fired his shot to the bottom corner to make it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. However, there won’t be too much time for reflection as Brooks is set to make his debut for the U.S. national team on Wednesday against Bosnia in Sarajevo. Earlier in the week Brooks declined a call from the German U21 national team in order to participate in his first American senior camp. Conor O’Brien—ASN rank #80
The 24-year old midfielder received his second start of the season for FC Nordsjaelland on Sunday, playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Danish titans FC Copenhagen. O’Brien had been out of the lineup for the club since late July before making his return midweek as a substitute in a 5-0 loss to Zenit in Champions League qualification. Against Conpenhagen, O’Brien showed off his versatility, playing central midfielde for the first half and right back for the second. Despite a good showing, FCN failed to pick up three points, and currently finds itself at the bottom of the table, along with Copenhagen, with only 2 points in four matches. Bobby Wood—ASN rank #99
The Hawaii-born striker continues to impress in the 2.Bundesliga. On Friday, Wood made the starting XI for Munich 1860, playing 59 minutes and grabbing an assist en route to a 2-1 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf. In the 10th minute, off a corner kick, Wood deflected the service in the path of Benjamin Lauth who converted his chance to make it 1-0. Wood was not expected to be a starter for the Lions before the season, but has since played himself into the XI with some strong performances over the last two matches.
picked up his second goal in two games for AZ Alkmaar, scoring from the penalty spot in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ajax. Matt Hedges—ASN rank #94
scored his second goal of the year during a 3-3 draw with L.A. Galaxy. Josh Deaver is a former academic turned soccer obsessive. Follow him @USFootballGuy for daily updates.
Only a week removed from his shock move to MLS and Seattle Sounders, Dempsey made his debut on Saturday, playing 56 minutes in a 2-1 win over Toronto FC. After an injury to Obafemi Martins in the 29th minute, Dempsey was forced into the match, perhaps a bit before Sigi Schmid intended. The former Tottenham man showed his usual inventiveness, and had some opportunities to get on the score sheet, forcing a few timely saves from the Toronto keeper. With the win, Sounders move into fifth place in the West with several games in hand over most of the conference. Still in preseason form, Dempsey knows he has to play catch up on fitness to help the team in the push to the post season. “I’m not there yet, but I was happy with the touches that I got tonight and the work that I put in,” he said after the match. “Hopefully things will start falling for me in the games to come.” Landon Donovan—ASN rank #10
On Sunday night Landon Donovan picked up right where he left off in the Gold Cup. Playing a full 90 minutes in his first league match since late June, Donovan netted a hat trick in a wild 3-3 draw with FC Dallas. After going down a goal inside of 15 minutes, Donovan drew the Galaxy level right before the halftime whistle. In first half stoppage time, Donovan slipped behind the Dallas backline, deftly headed a ball from Robbie Keane past the on-rushing Dallas keeper, and tapped it into the open net for his 150th career MLS goal. Thanks to some hard-luck officiating, L.A. would concede again early in the second half, which led to another equalizing strike from Donovan, an unmarked 15-yard driving shot in the 73rd minute. Nine minutes later, Donovan added his third. In his last 12 appearances for club and country, Donovan has 11 goals and eight assists. With his three-goal outburst on Sunday, Donovan is now only eight goals away from breaking the all-time MLS scoring record of 144. Herculez Gomez—ASN rank #13
After tweaking his knee in the opening matches of the Gold Cup, the Club Tijuana forward revealed this weekend that he will be out 4-6 weeks, putting his participation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in serious jeopardy. In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, Gomez revealed he has been feeling the effects for a few months, but is now on the mend and eager to return to the field for the national team as well as his new club. Sacha Kljestan—ASN rank #15
Kljestan picked up his first goal of the season for Anderlecht on Sunday, playing 90 minutes in a comfortable 4-1 win over Gent. Off a free kick, the ball fell to the 27-year old who pounced and instinctively slotted it past the keeper to open the game’s scoring in the 32nd minute. After dropping its season opener, the defending Belgian champions have rebounded strongly, scoring eight goals in two games. Kljestan will next travel to Sarajevo to join the National Team for a friendly against Bosnia on Wednesday. Juan Agudelo—ASN rank #39
Agudelo’s European move was made official this weekend, with Premier League club Stoke City announcing that the 20–year old striker had signed a pre-contract agreement with the Potters. Agudelo, whose contract with New England Revolution runs out at the end of the 2013 season, will join his new club in January 2014. Commenting on the deal, Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “It’s a good deal for us, because he is a very good young player who boasts a lot of talent as well as a lot of potential too.” Hughes added, “I have kept my eye on him for the last 18 months, and thankfully we were in a position where we were able to pull this deal off.” Agudelo is currently recovering from a knee injury; his time-table for return is not known. Alejandro Bedoya—ASN rank #44
Bedoya officially joined newly promoted French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes. Although available for selection, Bedoya did not see the bench for the Canaries, who picked up three points in a 2-0 win over SC Bastia. If all goes according to plan, Boedya will make his French debut next Sunday against Lorient. John Anthony Brooks—ASN rank #50
It’s fast becoming a week of milestones for the 20-year German-American. The Hertha Berlin defender made his Bundesliga debut on Saturday in memorable fashion, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal for the newly promoted side during a dominant 6-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. After a deflection in the box, Brooks capitalized and fired his shot to the bottom corner to make it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. However, there won’t be too much time for reflection as Brooks is set to make his debut for the U.S. national team on Wednesday against Bosnia in Sarajevo. Earlier in the week Brooks declined a call from the German U21 national team in order to participate in his first American senior camp. Conor O’Brien—ASN rank #80
The 24-year old midfielder received his second start of the season for FC Nordsjaelland on Sunday, playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Danish titans FC Copenhagen. O’Brien had been out of the lineup for the club since late July before making his return midweek as a substitute in a 5-0 loss to Zenit in Champions League qualification. Against Conpenhagen, O’Brien showed off his versatility, playing central midfielde for the first half and right back for the second. Despite a good showing, FCN failed to pick up three points, and currently finds itself at the bottom of the table, along with Copenhagen, with only 2 points in four matches. Bobby Wood—ASN rank #99
The Hawaii-born striker continues to impress in the 2.Bundesliga. On Friday, Wood made the starting XI for Munich 1860, playing 59 minutes and grabbing an assist en route to a 2-1 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf. In the 10th minute, off a corner kick, Wood deflected the service in the path of Benjamin Lauth who converted his chance to make it 1-0. Wood was not expected to be a starter for the Lions before the season, but has since played himself into the XI with some strong performances over the last two matches.
QUICK NOTES:
Aron Johannsson—ASN rank #49picked up his second goal in two games for AZ Alkmaar, scoring from the penalty spot in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ajax. Matt Hedges—ASN rank #94
scored his second goal of the year during a 3-3 draw with L.A. Galaxy. Josh Deaver is a former academic turned soccer obsessive. Follow him @USFootballGuy for daily updates.
