it is grand opera. And this year the fat lady has already belted out one aria. She could be making an encore this weekend.
Elsewhere around the world
In Australia, in Week 7 of the Hyundai A-League, former Revs defender
Tony Lochhead
played the full 90 as the Wellington Phoenix tied 1-1 at Melbourne Victory on Sept. 12. On Sept. 13, former FC Dallas alumnus
Victor Sikora
scored in the 16th minute to give Perth Glory a 2-0 lead over Gold Coast United. But Perth couldn't hold their lead, giving up the equalizer in a 2-2 draw in the 90th minute.
In Bolivia, in Week 11 of the Torneo Clausura, former MetroStars midfielder Joselito Vaca played the full 90 as Oriente Petrolero went down 3-0 at Real Potosi on Sept. 13.
In Brazil, in Week 24 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, on Sept. 14, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva played the full 90 as Internacional dropped a 3-2 decision to Cruzeiro at home. With that loss, Inter missed an opportunity to take over at the top of the standings, as league leaders Palmeiras also lost 3-2 on Sunday at EC Vitoria.
In Colombia, in Week 9 of the Copa Mustang II, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey was a late substitute in Atletico National's 3-1 defeat at Independiente Medellin on Sept. 13.
In Cyprus, in Week 2 of Division 1 action, multi-team MLS veteran Junior Agogo scored his first goal for his new team Appollon Limassol in their 2-1 home win over Ermis on Sept. 12.
In Denmark, neither former Revs defender Michael Parkhurst or ex-Galaxy defender Danny Califf saw action as their respective teams, FC Nordsjaelland and FC Midtjylland, faced off on Sept. 12, a 2-0 road win for FCN. Both U.S. national team defenders watched the game from the bench.
In Ecuador, in Week 8 of the Segunda Fase, El Nacional lost 1-0 at Liga de Portoviejo on Sept. 12. Former MetroStars and LA Galaxy midfielder Wellington Sanchez played the full 90 for El Nacional.
In England, the EPL returned to action on Sept. 12, and so did former D.C. United captain Ryan Nelsen. The New Zealand defender missed Blackburn Rovers last two games with a knee injury but was named to the subsitutes' bench for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers. With Rovers leading 3-0, Nelsen returned to the fray in the 76th minute. Blackburn went on to win 3-1. Ex-Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was on the bench for Wolves. After traveling back from World Cup duty in Utah and Trinidad, former New York Red Bulls starlet Jozy Altidore started on the bench for Hull City in the Tigers 4-1 pummeling at Sunderland. Hull manager Phil Brown put Altidore into the game in the 64th minute.
In Sunday action, former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel posted his second straight EPL shutout as Aston Villa won the Second City Derby, beating Birmingham City, 1-0 at St. Andrews. Back from U.S. World Cup duty ex-Chivas USA 'keeper Brad Guzan continued to back up Friedel on the Villa bench. Two other U.S. national team players back in England's green and pleasant land from World Cup duty, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard, faced off against each other at Craven Cottage. Dempsey played the full 90 as Fulham came from behind to beat Howard's Everton, 2-1. Ex-Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson did not dress for Fulham.
Down a couple of rungs on the English league ladder it was a short workday for ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh. When his Yeovil Town goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was red-carded in the 20th minute, Walsh was the player who headed to the bench so the Glovers could insert a new goalkeeper into the lineup while going down to 10-men. Undermanned Yeovil would trail twice in the game but rally each time to tie 2-2 at home with Stockport County.
In France, on Sept. 12, former Fire defender Bakary Soumare dressed but stayed on the bench as his new team U.S. Boulogne tied on the road 1-1 at Valenciennes. On Sunday, another Fire alumnus Carlos Bocanegra dropped to the bench for Stade Rennes 1-0 home win over St. Etienne. The U.S. national team skipper came into the game for the final eight minutes.
In Germany, on Sept. 12, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley dressed but did not play for Borussia Moenchengladbach in their 1-0 defeat at Nurnberg.
In Bundesliga.2 action on Saturday, former FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper was substituted at halftime as 1860 Munich recorded a 3-1 home win over SpVgg Greuther Furth. On Sunday, ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor did not dress for Bundesliga.2 bottom team FSV Frankfurt in their 3-2 home defeat to St. Pauli.
In Israel, in Week 3 of Ligat Al, former Rapids midfielder Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 as Hapoel Tel Aviv recorded their first win of the young season, a 3-1 victory at Hapoel Be'er Sheva on Sept. 13.
In Italy, in Week 3 of Serie A on Sept. 13, ex-MetroStars midfielder Roberto Donadoni saw his Napoli side humbled 4-1 at Genoa. Initially, it looked like Napoli would have things their way. Genoa went down to 10-men on 28 minutes after Domenico Criscito was red-carded, and then Napoli took the lead on a Marek Hamsik goal. But the game changed when defender Hugo Campagnaro was sent off in the 45th minute. Genoa tied the game from the subsequent penalty kick and in the second-half scored three more goals with Napoli having another player ejected, Salvatore Aronica, three-minutes from time. In Sicily, former Revs goalkeeper Walter Zenga saw his Palermo team pick up five yellow cards in a 1-1 home tie with Bari. Igor Budan got the equalizing goal for Palermo in the 90th minute.
In Mexico, on Sept. 12 in Week 8 of the Torneo Apertura, former MLS MVP Carlos Ruiz was on target in Puebla's 1-0 win at Chiapas. In other Saturday action, ex-FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino played the full 90 as Monterrey beat Atlante 3-0 at home. Colorado Rapids alumnus Alain N'Kong was back in the starting XI for the Indios in their 1-0 home loss to Toluca. Another former Rapids striker, Daniel Osorno, put in a 74-minute shift for Atlas in their 1-0 home defeat by Cruz Azul.
On Sunday, Querétaro's woes continued with a 2-0 loss at Santos. Former Chivas USA striker Isaac Romo came on at halftime in the losing cause. Another Chivas USA alumnus Paco Palencia was suspended for Pumas 2-1 home defeat to Pachuca. Former MetroStars midfielder Diego Jimenez played the full 90 for UAG as the Tecos were demolished 5-0 on the road by Club America. The Tecos played with 10 men for the majority of the game.
In Norway, on Sept. 12, it was a reunion of former MLS goalkeepers in Fredrikstad. Former Toronto FC 'keeper Kenny Stamatopoulos manned the nets for the home side, while ex-D.C. United 'keeper Troy Perkins was in goal for Valerenga. Perkins proved the busier of the two, at least in terms of pulling the ball from the back of the net, as Fredrikstad won 3-1. Stamatopoulos picked up a yellow card in the 35th minute. In Sunday action, ex-Fire and Wizards midfielder Khari Stephenson put in a 60-minute shift as Aalesunds FK won 2-0 at bottom of the table FC Lyn Oslo. In another MLS alumni reunion honors ended even as IK Start tied 1-1 at FK Bodo Glimt. Ex-Red Bulls defender Hunter Freeman and former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson both played the full 90 for Start, as did former Real Salt Lake defender Willis Forko for BG.
In Portugal, on Sept. 13, Freddy Adu did not dress for Belenenses in their 4-0 home mauling by Benfica.
In Scotland, on Sept. 12, a trio of MLS alums saw action at St. Mirren Stadium. Former Revs midfielder Andy Dorman started for the home team, with ex-Toronto FC striker Collin Samuel in the starting XI for visiting St. Johnstone. Real Salt Lake veteran Kenny Deuchar replaced Samuel in the second-half for the Johnnies. Samuel picked up a yellow card in a game that ended in a 1-1 tie. Former Chicago Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley did not dress for Rangers in the defending champions 0-0 draw at Motherwell.
In South Africa, in Week 5 of the South African Premiership on Sept. 12, former Chicago Fire and D.C. United forward Hristo Stoichkov saw his Mamelodi Sundowns held 1-1 at home for the second consecutive game, on this occasion by defending champions SuperSport United. In Sunday's action former Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake alum Dipsy Selolwane played the full 90 as his Ajax Cape Town was held 1-1 at home by Bidvest Wits.
In Spain, in La Liga action on Sunday, Sept. 13, Mexico legend and former Dallas Burn striker Hugo Sanchez saw his Almeria side go down 1-0 at Sporting Gijon.
In Venezuela, in Week 6 of the Torneo Apertura, defending champions Caracas FC defeated CD Lara 2-0 at home on Sunday, Sept. 13. Former Red Bulls defender Gabriel Cicero played the full 90 for Caracas.
Performance of the Week
In a relatively quiet week for MLS alumni overseas the POTW goes to
Junior Agogo
. A week after Ghana qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals, the Ghanaian international scored his first goal for his new team Apollon Limassol in Cyrpus on Saturday in the 2-1 win over Ermis. Agogo, who played for three MLS teams: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, spent most of last season in dispute with his Egyptian team El Zamelek and rarely played. A successful season in Cyprus is critical to Agogo if he wants to retain his place in the loaded Ghana squad for the World Cup. So, hats off to him for a getting off to a goal-scoring start this week.
Mark C. Young is an Emmy Award-winning freelance writer/TV producer who has covered several FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. He is a contributor to Goal.com and also writes for the blog "No Mas."
