You know NSC likes to highlight American goal scorers overseas, and today we salute my good buddy Charles Kazlasukas for hustling forward from right back to score the second as TOP Oss got back to winning ways Friday night with a 3-0 decision over Telstar.
He wasn't alone - stick around for the capper from fellow backliner Geoffrey Galata, who earned himself the Jupiler League Goal of the Week honor.
Trochowski cracks the far post with a splendid 25-meter shot. Bayern are really under the gun right now.
UPDATE: At second look, Rensing did get a fingernail to the shot, pushing it to the post. Terrific save!
9'
Guerrero appears to be played in alone, but Lucio rallies to snuff the danger.
15'
HSV still tilting the pitch, but no shots.
17'
Lucio, who has been holding his defense together tonight, is trying to walk off an ankle sprain.
18'
Lucio makes a terrific tackle on Guerrero, but is clearly hurting.
20'
Benjamin is shown a very poorly conceived yellow card.
21'
Pitroipa nearly gets loose on the right, but Lahm recovers to halt the play.
23'
HSV threaten with their umpteenth cross. The Bayern midfield really needs to get in the game.
25'
The rough stuff comtinues as Demichelis is booked near midfield.
26'
A dangerous long free kick from Scwheinsteiger draws a corner kick, which is cleared to start a quick counter that Lahm is forced to squelch.
28'
Toni appears to score a strong goal, fighting off Mathijsen to finish after being released into the right channel, but it is waved away for absolutely no reason whatsoever by a linesman's foul call. Utter tripe.
31'
Trochowski and Schweinsteiger each compel encouraging attacks with fine work, but each rush is stopped by a teammate's poor decision.
34'
Jarolim undercuts Van Bommel in the air and ends up getting an accidental elbow. He's very slow to get up and Boateng is warming quickly.
38'
Rost easily handles a weak Toni header.
40'
I switched from the German broadcast to the GolTV version a few minutes back to hear what the jovial Mr. Hudson had to say. I already feel drunk.
44'
1-0 HSV! Petrić scores from what clearly seemed to be an offside position. In the aftermath of a corner kick, Rensing paws a Jarolim shot into the path of the Croatia striker, who nods home.
UPDATE: I got a better look at the goal. I'm still not convinced he was on, but it was closer than I thought.
45'
Toni nudges a long serve just wide.
HALFTIME -- A strange, fast-paced, roughhousing match thus far. A few units need to greatly improve to avoid embarrassment: the Hamburg defense, the Bayern midfield and the officials. I'm not exactly sure what they're watching out there.
-- SECOND HALF
47'
Petrić hits the post running up the gut, then Guererro fires over from 10 meters. Bayern need a spark.
48'
It looked to me like a Klose header was over the line. Rost swats it out and eventually Bayern waste a corner.
UPDATE: Second look, you ask? Booooooooy, that looked over the line to me.
49'
Benjamin sends a screamer over from distance as the teams trade blows. This is a wild one, folks.
52'
Pitroipa booked for an obvious dive in the area. Hey... they got one right! It's all up from here.
55'
A brilliant Toni corner header is cleared from the line. Bayern are starting to warm up.
58'
Trochowski stunningly fails to pull the trigger on the pass with Pitroipa streaking towards a breakaway.
Mr. Hudson is aghast.
64'
Toni errs by lunging for a poor free kick header with Lucio waiting behind him with both feet set.
Boateng is on for the nicked Reinhardt, then Altintop comes in at right back for Lell - gutsy move.
66'
Guerrero is denied a breakaway by an iffy offside, then Rost aggressively stuffs the dangerous Klose.
67'
Patoipa wiggles into fantastic position and wildly fires off target from 20. Seconds later, Trochowski rifles just over from a sharp angle.
69'
After some splendid tic-tac-toe passing, Toni somehow nods a gimme header wide.
71'
Borowski on for Zé Roberto, one Bayern sub left.
72'
Rensing blocks away a heavy, on-target Trochowski free kick.
74'
Boateng booked for clipping Ribery on the left. The danger free kick is cleared easily.
75'
Donovan getting ready to enter...
77'
Donovan on for Schweinsteiger.
78'
Rensing gobbles up a Guerrero try.
79'
Ribery runs the left, then switches over to Donovan, who smoothly tees up Borowski for a slightly mis-hit shot that squeaks wide.
80'
Moments after Donovan is rag-dolled yb the beanpole Jensen, Petrić fails to slot a slip pass beyond the onrushing Rensing.
82'
Klose is robbed from point blank range.
83'
Van Bommel is booked for de-cleating Jarolim.
85'
Bayern with sustained pressure now.
88'
Lucio races 50 meters, only to slam his shot wide at the area.
90'
Two minutes added time about to start...
90+1'
Only a terrific Mathijsen interception keeps Donovan from a through pass breakaway.
90+2'
Donovan with a cross cleared and a shot blocked.
Hamburg clear a last gasp corner with Rensing forward.
FULL TIME 1-0 HSV --
A sub-par outing from Bayern, but a gutsy win for Hamburg.
Thanks for killing some office time with NSC. I'm going to go pass out halfway through last night's The Daily Show. As I go, I only have one question: does Mr. Hudson get invited to parties or do parties just magically spring up around him where ever he goes?
I'll go into a fun story or two later to explain the title, but for now quick pops here and there...
Club Brugge have named Jared Jeffrey in the selection for Saturday's visit from Tubize.
At least it's at home, so he won't have to sport those awful brown things pictured above.
I have learned that West Ham rejected a Sunderland six-month loan offer for Jonathan Spector. Apparently, they expect him to play a big part in the second half of the season.
El Periodico Mediterraneo reports that Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore is headed to Segunda (2nd) División leaders Xerez. No official word from either club as of yet.
UPDATE: It's official. Catch my quick talk with Jozy about the loan over at S365.
Wolfsburg midfielder Kamani Hill has rejected Aue, targeting a summer move instead - which also likely means no Bodø/Glimt.
As I hinted a while back, erstwhile Lorient midfielder Andrew Jacobsen is headed to D.C. United camp.
I have break neck sneezes. Resting up so I can be fit to do a Hamburg v Bayern Munich LIVE tomorrow at 2:30 pm ET. See ya then.
UPDATE: Feeling a bit better, thanks for the well wishes. However... I woke to a lack of internet, and now the Soccer365 publisher is playing games. In other words, blog activity may be pre-empted, delayed or otherwise sacked. But I shall return! - Greg Seltzer
We spend so much time going over all things American transfer scuttlebutt, that I figured it would be good to take a quick gander at things popping overseas that don't involve our favorite soccer sons.
As you know, I am health-challenged (the term "sick" demeans my mental status... and is slightly too accurate in that regard), so it's stick-and-move time...
Bundesliga darlings Hoffenheim have been searching high and low for a replacement striker to spell done-for-the-season goal monster (and former St. Louis University Billiken) Vedad Ibišević... and they came up with a loan for Werder Bremen's Boubcar Sanogo.
Muh huh.
All that coin, all that time, all those actual excellent forwards linked with a transfer to you (Brozak, Dindane, Guilherme, Janko, Kalinić, etc.)... I hope you enjoy how he routinely gets himself in amazing positions before firing over wildly.
Bayern, enjoy your crown.
While not a transfer, PSV Eindhoven boss Huub Stevens has jettisoned himself out of FarmerTown after just over six months on the job because he's lost the room.
I'm not exactly sure why the players think they are so much better than this fine coach, being that the four-peat champs are 15 points off the league lead. I don't recall him backing off any tackles, missing any sitters, allowing any bleeders or discussing glamour moves in the media for months on end.
(giggle)
Here are some of the key club/position vacancies to watch over the last few days of the transfer window: AC Milan/center back, Ajax/striker, Arsenal/striker, Bayer Leverkusen/keeper, Bayern Munich/keeper, Everton/striker, Hamburg/defensive midfielder, Juventus/attacker, Paris. St. Germain/defender, Portsmouth/defensive midfielder, Schalke/attacker, Tottenham/striker and finally, of course, Manchester City/somebody really expensive.
Okay, I know I said this wouldn't involve American topics earlier... scrap that, I don't want to make a separate post for these snippets.
A Belgian report claims that Russian holders Rubin Kazan have Oguchi Onyewu on their short list for the obligatory Champions League strengthening.
I'm not sure this would be attractive to Gooch, but as you can see, his addition would give them quite the nice spine along with Ryzhikov/Popov/Semak/Noboa/Gökdeniz/Kabze.
No one is talking at all in the Sacha Kljestan affair, not a word. They're even sending other people to decline comment now. There has to be a new player at the table, folks. This can't just be MLS jacking the price up from a "B" friendly... right?
Heath Pearce will play out the season at Hansa Rostock, then be free to choose this summer. Two Danish teams and a Dutch team tried (to varying degrees) in recent days, but the Germans have insisted on keeping him.
And now, I'm even gonna tackle a bit of Women's Pro Soccer, which kicks off in spring. Chicago have nicked Arsenal ace Karen Carney, who can now team up with USWNY stars Carli Lloyd and Lindsay Tarpley in what should be one heck of an attack. With Kate Markgraf marshaling the back line, the Red Stars look like early favorites to me. Find out when they open against Hope Solo and St. Louis on April 5th.
The Orlando Sentinel says Real Salt Lake are battling Newell's Old Boys and others for young Quito forward Luis Miguel Escalada.
I forgot to mention this earlier: Kamani Hill reportedly has an offer from Aue and is thinking it over.
I will add as I go, there's more I want to get to, but it's dizzy time again. I usually only get ill once a year, and I've already done so twice this winter. I must be peaking.
Yes, I will update, but not at the usual rate. I shall pick up the pace, though, should Landon Donovan enter the fray. Our man is on the bench, so here are your line-ups:
No score as of yet. Toni seems to be looking around for Lando.
A quick score update: Gregg Berhalter and 1860 Munich are down 2-0 at Hamburg in the 78th minute.
11'
Somehow, Demichelis puts a completely clean free kick header over from six meters. Egads!
14'
1-0 Bayern! Basti Fantasti Schweinsteiger steals an errant pass, works toward the area and beats Lehmann.
16'
2-0 Bayern! Ribery touches home a Toni cutback after the visitors swarm Stuttgart's net.
20'
Klose wants a spot kick after Boka handles his goalward shot, and he gets it. However, Ribery's cutesy chip down the middle attempt scores an "Epic fail!" when Lehmann doesn't budge an inch and catches easily.
29'
Someone may want to inform Stuttgart that are actually participating in this game.
38'
I missed the last few moments. My roomie Pierre came home with seven people for an impromptu dinner party and I went over to the kitchen to say my hello's and spy what they were cooking up.
43'
3-0 Bayern! Toni caps another Bavarian jailbreak by softly chipping past Lehmann.
HALFTIME --
So far, Bayern are getting plenty of practice on their half-court offense. I can only assume Donovan comes on within the first 20 minutes of the second half.
SECOND HALF --
48'
Marica appears to cut into the lead by pouncing on a fat free kick rebound, but the flag is up.
55'
4-0 Bayern! Schweinsteiger scores from the spot after Zé Roberto is cut down in the area by Lehmann. Ohhhhh Landoooooon!!!
59'
Gomez beats the flailing Rensing from distance, but catches the bar.
Altintop is the first Bayern sub, replacing Schweinsteiger.
60'
5-0 Bayern!Zé Roberto slots past the onrushing Lehmann after an exquisite lead pass from Toni.
64'
Ribery sees yellow, joining Toni in the book. It shouldn't be long now, I'd think.
67'
Donovan in for Toni.
69'
Donovan scoops up a Van Bommel knock-away, starts Bayern forward in high gear with an outlet, and then gets a chance trailing the forwards. Unfortunately, he screws a pretty nice chance a few meters wide of the right post. A clear mis-hit, there. 70' Lehmann snares a cross meant for Donovan before the front-running American can pounce. SCORE UPDATES:
Stuttgart sub Lanig narrowly misses on a corner kick header.
79'
Stuttgart suddenly have become aware they are in a football contest. You're all just in time for dessert. Toffee cookies!!
85'
Goal Stuttgart 5-1! Gomez taps in after corner kick takes a pinball ricochet to his foot. Whatever... the home mascot (an alligator?) still looks utterly despondent.
FULL TIME --
Bayern do the business, and Landon looks energetic in his debut stint. To their meager credit, Stuttgart looked great over the last 15 minutes, shrewdly capitalizing on away backline fatigue from all the extra goal celebration running.
Hope we made your work afternoon go by a little bit faster. I will post full highlights in a spell. I'm off to go get Distract-notized.
I'm not what anyone would consider "well", so I'll efficiently use my "strength"...
#1 - And oh what a #1 it is! Landon Donovan gets his first chance at a competitive match when Bayern Munich travel to Stuttgart tonight for a DfB Pokal third round clash (kickoff is at the ultra-chic 8:30 pm local time).
If I can muster it, I will do a LIVE... IF! At the least, I will drop the juicier updates here. Expect that, yeah... then maybe a surprise.
I've yet to see the Cali kid listed in any "probable starting line-ups" - hardly a surprise. My bet, though? He sees some good minutes, first called probably. Klinsmann knows it's go time and the trio of Donovan/Klose/Toni hit nine goals in the winter camp friendlies between them.
He's not coming back, Galaxy fans. Sorry.
#2 - Celtic manager Gordon Strachan says he has made his Sacha Kljestan decision, but... he ain't tellin' which way or the other yet. And he makes strange comments.
Translation: a new bidder has come in and mucked this up just. Just when we had it, the kid goes and bags a (expletive deleted) hat trick and the price goes up thanks to an interloper. How do you like that?Why didn't we do this on Friday?
So who is it? Well, if I must throw a few blind darts at the board, I'd probably come up with....just hypothesizing, mostly on budget/need/potential outs... Schalke and maybe...... I don't know. That's all that leaps to mind from his long list of known admirers. Beyond that, I'd really be waving my tail pin around with a blindfold.
I wonder... who was at the HDC on Saturday? Hmmm.
#3 - Are we still doing this? Los Angeles: step up and put this to bed. Declare that David Beckham is coming back or admit he may not and figure it all out quickly.
Or... do you love the free pub? That's fine for a bit, but don't get drunk on it.
#5 - My promised bit on Euro-searchers Robbie O'Brien and Scott Sealy is now up. And here's one I missed a few days ago, where ROB talks to Jeff Carlisle at the Centerline.
#6 - S365's Richard Snowden follows the trail of Americans to Europe - always fun to see what he's cooked up.
#7 - As I get more emails, I wonder about whether or not to do the obligatory Q&A sessions you find on blogs of this ilk. I surely don't mind if that's what you want - but I will wait until the transfer window closes so all is settled and it's easier to get a grasp. If not, I'll just continue to answer individually.
On that note, I will mention a few notes received lately and answer a few questions/requests.
I was asked what nationality The Distracter holds. Well, the original Tenacious D is English. So yes, if (or dare I say, when) we get married, it will be much easier for European clubs to sign me - but no, I will not pick up one of those Brad Friedel things. You have my vow on that.
Side note: I said "if" because I still must make sure she doesn't figure out that she's way too good for me. Count the save.
I've also been submitted a fine Top 5 idea, but like the great Gordo, I shall play cards close to vest for now. Must research.
Speaking of TD, she was quite proud of one email I received in which the sender informed me that I was 'delightfully bizarre'. The Distracter agreed fully.
Then another reader asked why I haven't mentioned food lately. So here's my food tip for the day: check out the TV show Diners, Drive-ins & Dives - good stuff, makes ya hungry, gives you ideas for home.
One reader asked me to re-post the mp3 of the "Dutch hip hop song" I ran as Cut of the Day a good while back. The name of the song is Zinloss, performed by Lange Frans en Baas B with some smooth help from Ninthe. The title word means "pointless" in English, and the song is a brilliant screed against random street violence.
Below is the video, but it is not the same exact version I posted before. This one is before the Theo van Gogh version was recorded. Here are the lyrics if you feel like translating, and here is a good Dutch Wiki page with explanations. Maybe one day, I'll go through and translate the lyrics right for you all (too many slang Dutch phrases to get the full flavor). Yes, I definitely will. Hold me to that.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh... transfers! That's what you wanna know about. Darn, and I just wasted all that time Googling photos of The Crash at Crush and Britney Spears.
Alrighty, this day will unfold in a very unfold-y manner, so I'll start now and add as I learn.
I have now learned why Antalyaspor backed away from out-of-contract Houston defender Bobby Boswell: they couldn't clear a foreign player space for him (Turkish sides are allowed to dress as many as eight foreign players, with no more than six of them starters and and no more than two subs).
In addition, it seems coach Mehmet Özdilek would generally prefer to use those slots on attackers, but club spokesman Servet Çavuşoglu told me they may well ring Bobby up again. Apparently, he made a very good impression during his visit.
UPDATE: Glenn Davis reports that Boswell has inked a new four-year deal with the Dynamo.
Erzgebirge Aue trialist Kamani Hill is expected to have his final test when the 3.Bundesliga outfit face Energie Cottbus II in a friendly that kicks off in about 90 minutes (3 pm CET).
UPDATE: Aue won 2-0 on an icy field. I have yet to see a mention of Hill in any report, but then again, they have all been quite brief.
In a talk with MLS Daily, Seattle prize draft catch Steve Zakuani reveals he could have opted to join Preston North End.
Toronto FC head honcho Mo Johnston admits at the end of this video clip that the team is looking to bring in Trinidad & Tobago-based duo Keon Daniel (United Petrotin/T&T) and Gregory Richardson (Joe Public/Guyana).
American midfielder Andrew Jacobsen has officially left Lorient, presumably to turn up at D.C. United (or another MLS) camp. He also recently trialed with Danish side Esbjerg.
The erstwhile San Jose attack duo of Ronnie O'Brien and Scott Sealy are unlikely to return to MLS this season. With most teams already having filled shortened rosters, both are looking at overseas options.
Irish winger O'Brien is scoping the U.K., while Trinidad & Tobago forward Sealy is checking out the continent. I will post an expanded bit on this at Soccer365 in a while.
Former Sparta Prague and Chicago Fire reserve defender Erik Hort has signed with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv (where former Brown defender Rhett Bernstein is currently on trial) through the end of next season.
I will try to have a chat with the 21-year old Hort this week. Maccabi are struggling this term in eighth, but often earn an invite to Europe.
Brøndby training visitor Robbie Findley scored twice in 45 minutes of action in a 4-0 friendly rout of Danish second flighters Frem.
In an interview (posted over at BigSoccer by Denmark guru Ceres), the Real Salt Lake forward says he is definitely coming back to his MLS club - but I have also been hearing that the 10-time domestic champs may be thinking ahead to a summer transfer on this one.
Okay... I feel very much like rotten death on a stick, so I must now put head to pillow under a pile of blankets. I may have more later, I may not. I will definitely post that O'Brien/Sealy article at S365 when I am again able to sit upright without wanting to keel over.
Sacha Kljestan's three-spot was enough for the USMNT to see off friendly visitors Sweden 3-2 in Los Angeles on Saturday evening. Hmmm... how would Celtic explain it to the fans if they didn't buy him now?
I will have my U.S. Player Ratings up later at Soccer365, but for now, enjoy the full highlights and a few words from the hat trick hero...
NSC is run by "handsome American" Greg Seltzer (MLSsoccer.com/ Soccer365), "continental Englishman/unofficial yank" Sean O'Conor (Soccerphile) and Texan ('nuff said) Will Parchman. Combined, the three have reported on soccer across the globe for well over two decades, covering MLS, U.S. Men, Women & Youth National Teams, the FIFA World Cup, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup & U20 World Cup, the UEFA European Championship & U21 Championship, UEFA Champions League and Europa League, UEFA Cup, CONCACAF and UEFA qualifiers, Premiership, Bundesliga, Eredivisie, various second-tier leagues, domestic cups and international friendlies, NCAA and high school soccer.
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