International duty commenced Thursday for November's FIFA window, with a number of MLS players playing part in the action over the next few days.
Sporting Kansas City forward Krisztian Nemeth moved one step closer to advancing with Hungary to the Euro 2016 tournament after Thursday’s 1-0 victory in the first leg of a qualifying playoff against Norway.
Nemeth went the distance as Hungary made a 26th-minute strike from Laszio Kleinhesler stand up. If Hungary are able to pull out a result in the second leg at home Sunday, they’ll advance to their first major tournament in 30 years.
Elsewhere in Euro qualifying playoffs, neither LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane nor Colorado Rapids forward Kevin Doyle played in Ireland’s 1-1 first-leg draw away to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The return leg will be played Monday in Dublin.
In African World Cup qualifying action, Montreal Impact defender Ambroise Oyongo went 90 minutes for Cameroon in their 3-0 victory Friday over Niger.
A pair of MLSers played a part in Ghana’s scoreless draw with Comoros Islands on Friday, with Columbus Crew SC defender Harrison Afful playing the entire game and Chicago Fire attacker David Accam coming on in the 68th minute.
Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins came on for the final 19 minutes on Friday in Nigeria’s scoreless draw with Swaziland.
Columbus Crew SC’s Cedrick Mabwati started at midfield Thursday in Congo’s 3-2 victory over Burundi in an African World Cup qualifier.
In an international friendly Thursday, FC Dallas’ Atiba Harris played the full 90 in St. Kitts and Nevis’ 1-0 victory over Andorra.
Meanwhile, in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, D.C. United's Alvaro Saborio and Montreal Impact midfielder Johan Venegas started for Costa Rica in a 1-0 win over Haiti. Venegas played the full match, while Saborio was substituted in the 61st minute. Vancouver Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston did not feature. Sporting KC's Soni Mustivar played the final 30 minutes for the Haitians.
Trinidad and Tobago beat Guatemala 2-1 in Guatemala City, also in World Cup qualifying. Chicago Fire defensive duo Joevin Jones and Daneil Cyrus played the full game for T&T, and Columbus Crew SC's Kevan George and San Jose Earthquakes' Cordell Cato came off the bench.
On the other side, FC Dallas defender Moises Hernandez and Seattle Sounders midfielder Marco Pappa played all 90 minutes for Guatemala. Real Salt Lake's Elias Vasquez started and played 55 minutes.
Panama scored another road upset in qualifying action, beating Jamaica 2-0 in Kingston. San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Anibal Godoy and FC Dallas forward Blas Perez went the distance for the victors, while New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence, FC Dallas' Je-Vaughn Watson, Vancouver Whitecaps' Darren Mattocks and Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes all started for Jamaica. Portland Timbers defender Alvas Powell entered the game in the 70th minute. Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union) and Demar Phillips (Real Salt Lake) did not play in the game.
Houston Dynamo duo Boniek Garcia and Luis Garrido and Colorado Rapids defender Maynor Figueroa played the full 90 for Honduras in their World Cup qualifying loss to Canada at BC Place.
Down in South America, Seattle Sounders attacker Nelson Valdez started and played 58 minutes for Paraguay in a 1-0 road loss to Peru in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Paraguay currently sit in fifth place after three matchdays.
