10/29/2009 11:36 PM ET

MLS Alums: Weekly roundup

Gallardo finds net for River Plate; Mariner earns draw in debut

By Mark C. Young / Special to MLSnet.com

• MLS Alums: New York to South Africa

• MLS Alums Tracker

Marcelo Gallardo scored for River Plate against hated Argentinian rivals Boca Juniors. (AP)

A look at the latest news and performances of former Major League Soccer standouts around the globe:

2010 FIFA World Cup

On Oct. 23, former MetroStars head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was reappointed head coach of host nation South Africa. After a woeful run of eight defeats in his last nine games at the helm of Bafana, Bafana, Parreira's predecessor Joel Santana was fired on Oct. 19. With South Africa in danger of posting the worst record of any World Cup host (that undesirable distinction is currently held by the 1994 U.S. team that posted a 1-2-1 record), and being embarrassingly uncompetitive, South African federation officials reached out to Parreira, requesting him to return to the Rainbow Nation and complete the job he began in 2007. The veteran coach resigned as South Africa's head coach in April 2008 to return to Brazil to care for his ailing wife.

UEFA Europa League

In Matchday Three Europa League action on Oct. 22, it was a long night for Tim Howard in Lisbon, Portugal as Everton crashed 5-0 at Benfica in a Group I game. The former MetroStars goalkeeper was playing behind a makeshift defense that featured two youngsters, Seamus Coleman and Dan Gosling, having to fill in for injured and ineligible veterans. Former Barcelona and Argentina star Javier Saviola knew how to take advantage of such an inexperienced backline, scoring two goals in the rout. World Cup-bound Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo also grabbed a brace.

In Group E action, Revs alumnus Clint Dempsey dressed but did not play in Fulham's 1-1 home tie with AS Roma. Former FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson did not dress for Fulham.

In a Group C clash, Colorado Rapids alumnus Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 as Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) blasted Rapid Vienna (Austria), 5-1 at home to move to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Hamburg SV (Germany.) Former MLS All-Star Juan Toja played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Steaua Bucharest (Romania) dropped a 1-0 home decision to Fenerbahce (Turkey.)

Elsewhere Around the World

In Argentina, in the Week 10 of the Torneo Apertura, former Los Angeles Galaxy defender Eduardo Dominguez played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Huracán lost 1-0 at Chacarita Juniors on Saturday, Oct. 24. On Sunday, in the latest edition of the most intense rivalry in sports (please, no Red Sox-Yankees e-mails) former D.C. United Designated Player Marcelo Gallardo gave River Plate a 1-0 first half lead against Boca Juniors on a superb 25-yard free-kick strike. But Argentina national team "miracle man" Martin Palermo scored for Boca in the 63rd minute, and the "Super Clasico" ended in a 1-1 tie.

In Australia, in Week 12 of the Hyundai A-League, on Oct. 24, FC Dallas alumnus Victor Sikora gave Perth Glory a 1-0 first half lead at North Queensland Fury. But the Glory could not hang on for winning glory, giving up two second-half goals to go down, 2-1. The Wellington Phoenix snapped its six-game draw streak in style, thumping Gold Coast United 6-0 at home on Oct. 25. Former Revs defender Tony Lochhead played the full 90 for the Phoenix.

In Brazil, in Week 31 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva did not dress for Internacional in their 1-0 home win over Gremio on Oct. 25.

In Colombia, in Week 15 of the Copa Mustang II, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey was a second half substitute for Atlético Nacional in their 2-1 home loss to Independiente Santa Fe on Sunday, Oct. 25. In other Sunday action, the Smurf -- Antony de Avila was a 67th-minute substitute for America de Cali in their 3-0 loss at Atletico Junior.

In Costa Rica, on Oct. 25, two-team MLS veteran Douglas Sequeira, had to leave the game after only 12 minutes of Saprissa 0-0 home tie with Perez Zeledon. In other Sunday action, New England Revolution alumnus William Sunsing and former LA Galaxy defender Michael Umana both started for Liberia in their 3-2 defeat at Santos de Guapiles. San Jose Clash veteran Mauricio Solis played the full 90 for Herediano in the 1-0 loss at Puntarenas. Former Crew and Fire star Andy Herron came into the game in the 63rd minute for Herediano.

In Denmark, on Oct. 25, former LA Galaxy defender Danny Califf did not dress for FC Midtjylland's 2-1 home win over Koge. Former Revs defender Michael Parkhurst was back in the starting lineup for FC Nordsjaelland as the Wild Tigers won 2-0 at Benny Feilhaber's AGF Aarhus on Monday, Oct. 26.

In England, on Oct. 24, former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel was more troubled by the driving rain in the first half than the lackluster Wolves attack in Aston Villa's 1-1 tie at Molineux. In a surprisingly lifeless contest for a West Midlands derby, Villa took the lead on a 79th minute Gabriel Agbonlahor goal. But just four minutes later, Villa conceded a penalty kick that Sylvan Ebanks-Blake gave Friedel no chance on -- banging home the equalizer with authority. A pair of U.S. national teammate goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Marcus Hahnemann watched the game from the bench for Villa and Wolves respectively.

In other Saturday EPL action, former Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore was disciplined by Hull City boss Phil Brown for arriving late for the Tigers 0-0 home tie with Portsmouth. Altidore, who did not dress for the game, revealed his tardy indiscretion via Twitter -- a maximum 140-character admission and apology that was quickly deleted from cyberspace soon after it appeared. Along with Altidore, both Pompey and the Tigers are in EPL trouble -- Saturday's game is not only the leader in the clubhouse for the "worst game of the season," but the result left both teams in the relegation zone.

Former D.C. United skipper Ryan Nelsen probably wished that a few Chelsea players had slept through their early morning wakeup calls, as the Blues hammered Rovers, 5-0 at Stamford Bridge.

In Sunday action, Tim Howard's tough week continued as he gave up a hat trick of goals as Everton lost 3-2 at Bolton Wanderers. The Toffees rallied from a two-goal deficit, but an Ivan Klasnic strike four minutes from time gave the Trotters the win. That result demonstrates the toll that injuries have taken on the Everton defense, which has now become a leaky cauldron: conceding eight goals in two games over four days. Former MLS All-Star Clint Dempsey scored in the 68th minute to give Fulham a 2-2 tie at Manchester City. Former Kansas City Wizards striker Eddie Johnson dressed but did not play for Fulham.

A rung down the ladder in The Championship, former New England Revolution assistant Paul Mariner made his debut with his old team Plymouth Argyle as head coach in the Pilgrims' 1-1 home tie with cellar dwellers (and another of his old clubs) Ipswich Town on Oct. 24.

Ex-Columbus Crew striker Stern John was a second-half substitute for Crystal Palace in the Eagles 1-1 home tie with Nottingham Forest. John came into the game in the 63rd minute and almost got a stoppage-time winner for Palace against his former team, but Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp made a diving save to deny him.

Further down the English football food chain in League One, ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh picked up another two assists as Yeovil Town rallied to win 2-1 at Bristol Rovers.

In fourth-round Carling Cup action on Oct. 27, Brad Guzan posted an overtime shutout as Aston Villa tied 0-0 at Sunderland. Villa advanced by winning the penalty shootout, 4-1. Ryan Nelsen dressed but did not play as Blackburn Rovers advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-2 home win over Peterborough United. Tim Howard played the full 90 as Everton crashed out of the competition 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur. The former MetroStars keeper saved a second-half Robbie Keane penalty kick, but the Irish star got to the rebound first and hammered it home for Spurs' second goal.

In France, on Oct. 24, ex-Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra returned to the Stade Rennes lineup after serving a red card suspension last week. He played the full 90 as Rennes beat Ligue 1 title contenders Montpellier 3-0 at home. Another former Fire defender, Bakary Soumare played the full 90 as Boulogne lost 3-1 at home to AS Monaco.

In Germany, on Oct. 24, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley played the full 90 as Borussia Moenchengladbach snapped their five-game losing streak with a 0-0 home tie with FC Cologne. But winning still remains elusive for the Foals, who have not won in the Bundesliga since beating Mainz, 2-0, on Aug. 28.

In 2.Bundesliga action on Saturday, FSV Frankfurt gained their first win of the season, a 3-2 home win over Kenny Cooper's 1860 Munich. The former FC Dallas marksman was a second-half substitute for the Lions. Ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor did not dress for Frankfurt.

In Israel, in Week 7 of Ligat Al, former Rapids midfielder Dedi Ben Dayan scored Hapoel Tel Aviv's fourth goal in the 4-0 road rout of Maccabi Ahi Nazareth on Sunday, Oct. 25.

In Italy, in Serie A on Sunday, Oct. 25, ex-Revs coach Walter Zenga saw his Palermo team win its third straight game, and move into fourth place in the standings. But Palermo left it late, a Cesare Bovo goal three minutes from time giving the Rosaneri a 1-0 home win over Udinese.

In Mexico, in Week 13 of the Torneo Apertura, on Friday, Oct. 23, former MetroStars defender Diego Jimenez went the distance and picked up a yellow card in UAG's 2-1 home win over Toluca.

In Saturday action, Chivas USA veteran Isaac Romo scored Querétaro's first goal in their 2-1 win over Cruz Azul. Mauro Villa scored a 90th-minute winner for Querétaro. Two-team MLS alumnus Ramon Nunez was a second-half substitute for Cruz Azul. Colorado Rapids alumnus Alain N'Kong was a halftime substitute for Indios de Ciudad Juarez in their 1-0 defeat at Pachuca. Another Rapids veteran Daniel Osorno played the full 90 for Atlas in their 2-0 loss at Atlante.

In Sunday action, ex-FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino played the full 90 as Monterrey went down 2-1 at Pumas. Chivas USA alumnus Paco Palencia entered the game in the 60th minute for what proved a fantastic finish. Humberto Suazo gave Monterrey the lead in the 72nd minute, but Pumas won the game by scoring two goals in two minutes at the end of the game, a Pablo Barrera strike in the 83rd minute quickly followed by Ismael Iniquez's winning goal in the 85th minute.

Former MLS Golden Boot winner Carlos Ruiz put in a 79-minute shift for Puebla in their 2-1 home win over Morelia.

In Norway, on Oct. 25, former Toronto FC goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos shutout second-place Molde FK for 80 minutes, but alas, the game was played under standard rules and Molde scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to record a 2-1 victory at Fredrikstad FK. In other Sunday action, former Real Salt Lake defender Willis Forko and two-team MLS veteran Thiago Martins both played the full 90 for Bodo Glimt in their 2-0 defeat at Stabaek IF. Three-team MLS veteran Hunter Freeman and former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson, both played the full 90 as IK Start lost 3-1 at Tromso IL. Champions elect Rosenborg BK rallied to beat Aalesunds 2-1 at home. Ex-Fire and Wizards midfielder Khari Stephenson went the distance in Aalesunds losing effort. Ex-Revs goalkeeper Adin Brown was on the bench for Aalesunds. An Erik Mjelde brace past former D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins paced Sandefjord to a 2-1 win at Valerenga.

In Peru, former D.C. United goalkeeper Jose Carvallo posted his third consecutive shutout as Sporting Cristal demolished Sport Ancash 4-0 at home on Oct. 24.

In Poland, former Fire forward Tomasz Frankowski put in an 88-minute shift as Jagiellonia Bialystok tied 0-0 at Arka Gdynia on Friday, Oct. 23.

In Portugal, on Friday, Oct. 23, former D.C. United starlet Freddy Adu did not dress for Belenenses in their 0-0 home tie with Olhanense.

In Romania, on Sunday, Oct. 25, former MLS All-Star Juan Toja played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Steaua Bucharest was held at home 1-1 by cross-town rivals Rapid Bucharest.

In Scotland, on Saturday, Oct. 24, former Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley dressed but did play for Rangers as the SPL champions poor run continued with a 1-1 home tie against third-place Hibernian. In other Saturday action, ex-Toronto FC striker Collin Samuel played the full 90 as St. Johnstone lost 2-1 at Kilmarnock. Real Salt Lake alumnus Kenny Deuchar was a second half substitute for the Johnnies. Ex-Revs midfielder Andy Dorman scored St. Mirren's second goal in a dramatic 3-3 home tie with Motherwell, which scored in the 74th and 81st minutes to earn the draw.

Down a rung in Scottish Division One, former Revs striker Paul Keegan was a second-half substitute as bottom-of-the table Airdrie United lost 3-0 at Queen of the South.

In CIS Insurance Cup quarterfinals action on Oct. 27, DaMarcus Beasley made his first started of the season for Rangers in the 3-1 win at Dundee. Andy Dorman played the full 90 and had an assist on St. Mirren's first goal in the Buddies 3-0 home win over Motherwell. Kenny Deuchar played the full 90 as St. Johnstone advanced to the final four with a 2-1 home win over Dundee United. Collin Samuel did not dress for the Johnnies.

In Spain, on Oct. 25, Mexico legend and former Dallas Burn striker Hugo Sanchez saw his Almeria side lose at home for the first time this season, going down 3-0 to Valencia.

(Twitter) Performance of the Week

It was a busy week on the twitter front for MLS alums. Freddy Adu declared, "Just got FIFA2010. Whoever wants some lemme know." Jozy Altidore revealed that he was late for Hull's game against Portsmouth and was subsequently dropped from the roster for his tardiness. That tweet got him a fine on top of a place in the stands (and Phil Brown's dog house). But Twitter took a very serious turn last week when Maurice Edu tweeted about the racial abuse he had received from some Rangers fans after the Glasgow giants were humbled at home by Romania's Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League on Oct. 20. The police have launched an investigation into the incident, and Edu has received universal support from the entire soccer community, most notably from his Rangers teammate and fellow MLS alumnus DaMarcus Beasley. In a series of tweets on Twitter, Beasley posted the following: "What was said to Mo was not right. End of the day it's a game -- and race has nothing to do about it. Sad, sad. Fan or not, should NEVER happen in life, let alone after a match. But Mo is alright, just shocked. We all should be behind him. He knows you all support him which you should do on and off the pitch. Thanks." Very well said -- and for that Beasley gets the Twitter Performance of the Week.