and Loans."
In 2007, Perkins led the league in wins again with 16. He also gained worldwide exposure and trivia contest immortality, being "bent on by Beckham" as the world's most famous free-kick specialist scored his first goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy (in a SuperLiga game against D.C. United.)
While the 6-foot-2 keeper couldn't get to Beckham's historic strike, in December 2007 he got an offer from Norway's Vålerenga that he couldn't refuse: a 5-year contract that took him to Oslo. Last year, he helped Vålerenga win the Norwegian Cup and has posted five shutouts in the current season (which is ongoing, Norway being one of the few European countries that plays its season from spring to fall a la MLS.)
Perkins consistent play in Norway has not gone unnoticed back home. Last week, Bradley (despite being pretty busy in South Africa) named Perkins to his Gold Cup squad. And while Tim Howard has a lock on the starting goalkeeping spot -- with the possible exceptions of Brazil, Italy and Spain, he would be a lock to start for any national team in the world -- there is no guarantee he will stay healthy in South Africa next summer.
That may sound pessimistic, but come World Cup time its best to be prepared. At Germany 2006, both Trinidad and Tobago and Paraguay had their starting goalies come up lame. At Italia '90, Argentina's Nery Pumpido broke his leg in the second game, but the defending champions were deep in goal. Sergio Goycochea stepped in and became a star, his penalty-saving prowess helping Argentina reach the final.
But not every goalkeeping fable has such a happy ending. In 1970, England were also the defending champions but when the legendary Gordon Banks came down with food poisoning on the eve of the Three Lions' quarterfinal with West Germany, his replacement, Peter Bonetti, had a nightmare. England lost 3-2 in overtime and the goalkeeper nicknamed "the Cat" has been a goat ever since.
No kidding, the backup goalkeeper is a very important member of the squad. And over the next few weeks, Troy Perkins, the former loan processor hopes to show Bradley that he can bank on him.
Other 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup news
Along with Perkins, head coach Bob Bradley named three other MLS alumni to his 23-man roster: Michael Parkhurst (ex-New England Revolution), Clarence Goodson, (ex-FC Dallas), and Freddy Adu (ex-D.C. United and Real Salt Lake).
Canada head coach Stephen Hart also named four MLS alumni to his Gold Cup roster: Greg Sutton, Kenny Stamatopoulos (both former Toronto FC goalkeepers), Chris Pozniak (another Toronto FC veteran, who also played four games for Chivas USA in 2008) and Adrian Cann (who played two games for the Colorado Rapids in 2004).
Costa Rica head coach Rodrigo Kenton brings three MLS alumni to the Gold Cup: Pablo Brenes (ex-MetroStars), Andy Herron (ex-Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire) and Michael Umana (ex-Los Angeles Galaxy).
Panama bring two MLS alumni to the tournament: Ricardo Phillips (ex-New England Revolution) and Luis Tejada (ex-Real Salt Lake), while El Salvador's roster features MLS alumni Eliseo Quintanill (ex-D.C. United).
The 12-nation tournament kicks off on July 3 and concludes with the championship game on July 26.
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
The USA's remarkable run at the FIFA Confederations Cup ended with a dramatic 3-2 loss to Brazil in the final last Sunday in Johannesburg. Former Revs striker Clint Dempsey scored the opening goal (extending his scoring streak to three games.) The Fulham striker was awarded the Bronze Ball (third place in the tournament MVP vote.) Former MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard was named the tournament's best goalkeeper.
In the semifinals on June 24, the U.S. beat European champions Spain 2-0 on goals by former Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore and Dempsey. It was only the second time the U.S. had beaten a team holding the FIFA No. 1 World Ranking. The previous top-ranked toppling came at the 1998 Gold Cup, a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the semifinals. On that occasion, Brazil had used the Gold Cup to blood many youngsters from its Olympic team in full international competition (only five players on the Brazil roster would feature in that summer's World Cup in France.) While some pundits choose to put an asterisk next to the Brazil game, no one could claim that Spain was anything but the real deal in South Africa, making the U.S. victory in Bloemfontein all the more impressive.
Elsewhere around the world
In Bolivia,
Joselito Vaca
continued his goal-scoring streak on June 25, hitting the net for Oriente Petrolero in a 1-1 tie at Wilstermann. It was the former Dallas Burn midfielder's fourth goal in three games. The streak came to halt at Bolivar on Sunday, however, where the new league leaders beat OP, 1-0 on a 31st minute strike from Aquillino Villaba.
In Brazil, it was Week 8 of the Campeonato Brasileirao. On Sunday, Fluminense, led by former MetroStars head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, played Rio rivals Flamengo in the latest chapter of the "Fla-Flu derby" at one of soccer's most hallowed shrines, the Maracana. Despite the presence of such offensive stars as Adriano (for Flamengo) and Fred (for Fluminense) the game ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Also on Sunday, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva played the full 90 for Internacional as they returned to form with a 3-0 home victory against Coritiba, a result that kept them in second-place on goal differential behind Atletico Miniero, whose unbeaten streak was snapped by an upset 4-2 loss at newly promoted Barueri.
In Norway, on it was a busy week for former D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins. Named to the U.S. national team roster for the 2009 Gold Cup he was in the nets twice as Valerenga played two home games. On June 24, the Oslo-based team beat Bodo Glimt, 2-1. MLS veteran Thiago Martins came on as a substitute at halftime and tied the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute. A 90th-minute strike by Mohammed Abdellaoue won the game 2-1 for Valerenga. On Sunday that final scoreline was reversed, as league leaders Rosenborg won 2-1 in a game that saw Valerenga's Andrei Muri score for both teams. The defender's 39th-minute goal gave Valerenga the lead, his 70th-minute own goal leveling the score. Another 90th-minute goal settled the game, this time by Rosenborg's Rade Prica.
Ex-Fire and Wizards midfielder Khari Stephenson was a second-half substitute as Aalesunds lost 2-1 at SK Brann on Thursday, June 25. On Sunday, the Jamaican international scored Aalesunds goal in their second road loss of the week, going down 3-1 at Tromso.
On Wednesday, ex-Red Bulls fullback Hunter Freeman played the full 90 as IK Start rebounded from its 5-0 pasting by Stabaek IF in its previous game to beat Sandefjord, 3-2 at home. Former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson returned to the Start lineup against Sandefjord after missing the previous game. Goodson returns Stateside for the 2009 Gold Cup this week having been named to the U.S. national team roster.
Former Real Salt Lake defender Willis Forko started for Bodo Glimt's game's last week: the aforementioned 2-1 loss at Valerenga and the 2-2 tie at Fredrikstad on June 28. Ex-Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake defender Douglas Sequeira did his Ernie Banks impression and played two last week as well, both at home: Tromso IL lost 0-1 to Viking Stavanger on Wednesday, June 24, and, as mentioned above, downed Aeslunds, 3-1, on Sunday.
In Paraguay, former LA Galaxy, FC Dallas and Toronto FC striker Carlos Ruiz scored his 10th goal of the Torneo Apertura as Olimpia tied 1-1 at home with Guarani on Saturday. After Week 21 play, Olimpia are fourth in the standings.
In Peru on Sunday, former D.C. United goalkeeper Jose Carvallo saw his five-game shutout streak end in spectacular fashion, conceding five goals while his team still gained a valuable point on the road. Carvallo's Sporting Cristal jumped out to a 3-0 lead at Club Sportivo Cienciano, only to concede five second-half goals and the lead. But in the last minute, Roberto Palacios scored his second goal of the game to produce a 5-5 tie.
In Vietnam, it appears that Denilson's contract with V-League side Hai Phong Cement was not written in stone. After many delays and one brief appearance (45 minutes that included a goal), the cracks in the former FC Dallas midfielder's relationship with Cement soon become fissures that couldn't be patched up. On June 23, it was widely reported that the Brazilian World Cup winner (who claimed to have a leg injury) was on his way home, presumably looking to find a better footing elsewhere.
Tradewinds
Various British newspapers claim that Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is set to make Villarreal an offer for
Jozy Altidore
. Such a move would unite the former Red Bulls teen sensation with his U.S. national team colleague,
Clint Dempsey
at Craven Cottage. In an interview with Goal.com on Sunday, Altidore stated that he did not want to return to Villarreal, as he felt he needed to consider other options that would offer him regular playing time. But with Giuseppe Rossi seemingly heading to Italy and Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci already traded by Villarreal to Besitkas in Turkey, there maybe an opportunity for Altidore to stake a claim for a starting role at the El Madrigal after all.
Another former resident of Giants Stadium, Michael Bradley, could also be on the move to England. One of the stars of the U.S. national team's surprise run at the FIFA Confederations Cup, Bradley has caught the attention of Everton manager David Moyes. The Toffees top man has never been shy to invest in U.S. talent, having signed Brian McBride to loan deals at both Preston North End and Everton, and Bradley's international teammate Tim Howard. The Guardian, a British newspaper, reports that Moyes is negotiating with Bradley's Bundesliga team Borussia Moenchengladbach. Various reports suggest that Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is monitoring Bradley as well.
Former Toronto FC winger Andy Welsh has signed a contract extension with English League One side Yeovil Town. Welsh, who scored one goal in 20 games for Toronto in 2007, led Yeovil in assists last season.
German legend and former MetroStars player Lothar Matthaus will not be the new manager of Hungarian first division team FC Fehervar, the club announced on Saturday. Fehervar had previously stated on its website that they had reached an agreement with the former World Cup-winning captain. Last week Matthaus met with team officials but a deal could not be reached for him to take over as head coach. Matthaus coached Israel's Meccabi Netanya last season.
Performance of the Week
With a tip of the hat to the entire U.S. national team regardless of past, present or non-MLS affiliation, the POTW honor this week goes to
Clint Dempsey
. The former New England Revolution hit man scored in consecutive games in two of the most important games in the national team's history last week. His goal in the semifinal victory against Spain not only clinched the U.S. men's first-ever appearance in a FIFA final, but also demonstrated Dempsey's opportunistic skills -- stealing the ball off the toes of an unsuspecting Sergio Ramos in the 6-yard box and then driving the ball home. His first-half strike in the final against Brazil was perhaps a slight miscue, but after so much tireless running on behalf of the team, the Texas native had earned a piece of good fortune. That goal was his third in three games. Heartbroken at the end of the game, Dempsey (like all the U.S. players) can hold his head high heading home from South Africa. His Bronze Ball award (as the third-best player in the tournament behind Kaka and Luis Fabiano) was hard-earned and well-deserved.
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."
