Americans Abroad: Dempsey runs his EPL scoring streak to three games, helping Fulham tie Wigan 1-1.

Dempsey runs his EPL scoring streak to three games, helping Fulham tie Wigan 1-1.

Jermaine Jones

Clint Dempsey (right), here playing against Roma in the Europa League, has demonstrated some fancy footwork in scoring goals in his last three English Premier League outings.
-- Fulham FC web site photo --
By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Thursday, November 12, 2009) -- United States midfielder Clint Dempsey scored in a third straight league match, allowing Fulham to escape with a 1-1 draw with host Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League Sunday.

Having gone 14 matches with finding net, Dempsey's penalty-kick conversion in the 39th minute pulled the Cottagers even. During a scramble in the Wigan penalty area, Dempsey lined up a shot, but was taken down by Titus Bramble.

Dempsey easily converted his PK past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. Two minutes later, Dempsey nearly scored again with a well-hit free kick that Kirkland barely turned aside. .

Eddie Johnson did not dress for Fulham.

Last Thursday, Fulham made a major effort, but fell short, losing to Roma 2-1 in a Europa League match in Rome.

Dempsey played 90 minutes in an unusual situation. He started the match as a striker, where he played alone for 20 minutes after Erik Nevland was sent off with a red card in the 49th minute with his team leading 1-0. Dempsey had three shots, but could not convert, then moved back to the left side of midfield when another striker was inserted after Roma turned its deficit into a lead.

On Sunday, U.S. forward Jozy Altidore started for Hull City in a 2-1 decision over Stoke City.

Altidore was replaced in the 83rd minute in favor of Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and it was Hesselink who fired home the winner in the 90th minute against Stoke, which was playing one man short. Altidore had three golden chances, but shot wide twice and was denied once by Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard had a strong match for visiting Everton, which edged West Ham United 2-1 at Upton Park. Howard made five saves and was only beaten by a Tony Hibbert own goal. His best save came late when he denied Alessandro Diamanti's free kick.

U.S. defender Jonathan Spector started again for West Ham in place of the injured Herita Nkongolo Ilunga, and he went the distance.

On November 4, Spector came on in the eighth minute when Ilunga went down with West Ham using Zavon Hines' strike in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, which was reduced to 10 men when defender Habib Beye was ejected with his second yellow card in the 85th minute.

American Brad Friedel was in goal for Villa, but Hines placed a shot from the middle of the box over Friedel's left arm to give relegation-challenged West Ham a much-needed win.

On Saturday, Villa and Friedel bounced back by crushing Bolton Wanderers 5-1. Friedel had five saves, including a fine stop on a header from defender Gary Cahill off a free kick.

U.S. keeper Brad Guzan was Friedel's backup in both matches.

American Marcus Hahnemann was the backup keeper for Wolverhampton in its 4-1 loss to Arsenal.

In the second-tier English League Championship, American defender Frank Simek went 72 minutes for Sheffield Wednesday in a 2-1 setback at the hands of Queen's Park Rangers.

In the first round of the FA Cup, American attacker Mike Grella came on for the final four minutes of regulation for Leeds United and then scored in stoppage time of a 2-0 victory over Oldham Athletic of the third-division League One.

American striker Jemal Johnson did not dress for MK Dons' 1-0 triumph over Macclesfield Town.

Bradley, Cherundolo shine in Bundesliga

In the German Bundesliga, U.S. defender Michael Bradley turned in a strong defensive effort for Borussia Mönchengladbach in a 0-0 draw with VfB Stuttgart.

U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo played well over 90 minutes for Hannover 96 in a 2-2 draw with Hamburg SV.

In the 2. Bundesliga, U.S. striker Kenny Cooper playedthe final 16 minutes for 1860 Munich in its 1-0 loss at Energie Cottbus.

American keeper David Yelldell was in goal for TuS Koblenz's 2-1 setback at Paderborn.

American Luis Robles was the backup keeper for 1. FC Kaiserslautern's in its 3-1 win over Oberhausen.

American attacker Matt Taylor went 75 minutes in FSV Frankfurt's 0-0 tie with Arminia Beilefeld.

In French Ligue 1 action, U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra played the first 62 minutes for Stade Rennes, which fell 3-2 at Toulouse. After the home side went ahead 3-2 in the 62nd minute, Bocanegra was pulled in favor of an additional attacker, which did not help produce an equalizer.

In Scotland's Premier League, American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley came on in the second half of Glasgow Rangers' 2-1 victory over St. Mirren.

American Dominic Cervi was Glasgow Celtic's backup keeper in a 3-3 draw at Falkirk.

In the Portugese Liga, U.S. midfielder Freddy Adu dressed, but didn't play in Belenenses' 3-0 loss to Pacos.

In Denmark's Superliga, U.S> forward Marcus Tracy earned his first start of the season and responded with the match's only goal for Aalborg BK, which defeated FC Copenhagen 1- 0 Sunday evening. The triumph snapped a six-game slide by Aalborg.

After coming close twice, Tracy elevated in the 57th minute to head home Patrick Kristensen's cross. Tracy was replaced in the 74th minute in favor of a defensive midfielder.

U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber went the distance and American striker Jeremiah White played 75 minutes for AGF Aarhus' in a 1-1 draw away at HB Køge.

American defender Michael Parkhurst went 90 minutes for Nordsjaelland's in a 1-0 decision over SønderjyskE.

U.S. defender Danny Califf did not dress for Midtjylland's in a 2-1 win over Randers.

The Norwegian Tippeligaen, home to several Americans, has wrapped up its season.

Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent.

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