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11/27/2009 2:57 PM ET

MLS Alums: Weekly roundup

Dempsey strikes twice for Fulham; Zenga's Palermo tenure comes to end
By Mark C. Young / Special to MLSnet.com
  • • MLS Alums: Bradley set for draw
  • • MLS Alums Tracker

    • A draw in the Sicily derby brought an end to Walter Zenga's stay with Palermo.
    A draw in the Sicily derby brought an end to Walter Zenga's stay with Palermo. (AP)
    A look at the latest news and performances of former Major League Soccer standouts around the globe:

    UEFA Champions League

    Former Fire star DaMarcus Beasley made a four-minute cameo as Rangers lost 2-0 at home to VfB Stuttgart (Germany) Tuesday, Nov. 24. That result means the Light Blues will finish at the bottom of Group G regardless of what happens in the their final game at Sevilla on Dec. 9, and eliminates them from all European competition this season.

    Elsewhere Around the World

    In Argentina, in the Week 15 of the Torneo Apertura, former D.C. United Designated Player Marcelo Gallardo played the full 90 for River Plate in their 1-1 tie at Godoy Cruze de Mendoza on Sunday, Nov. 22.

    In Australia, in Week 15 of the Hyundai A-League, on Saturday, Nov. 21, the Wellington Phoenix won 1-0 at the Newcastle Jets. That win moved the Kiwi's finest into fifth place in the standings. Former New England Revolution defender Tony Lochhead played the full 90 for the Phoenix. In Sunday action, FC Dallas alumnus Victor Sikora was a second-half substitute for Perth Glory in their 2-0 home win over Sydney FC.

    In Brazil, in Week 36 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Internacional won 1-0 at Atlético MG on Sunday, Nov. 22.

    In Colombia, in Group A playoff action, former MetroStars striker Sergio Galvan Rey made a one-minute cameo for Atlético Nacional in their 2-1 home win over Deportes Tolima on Sunday, Nov. 22.

    In Costa Rica, on Saturday, Nov. 21, former LA Galaxy defender Michael Umana played the full 90 in Liberia's 1-1 at Alajuelense. Revs alumnus William Sunsing was a second-half substitute for Liberia.

    In Denmark, on Saturday, Nov. 21, former Revs defender Michael Parkhurst played the full 90 for FC Nordsjaelland as the Wild Tigers won 2-1 at Koge. Rawez Lawan scored both Nordsjaelland goals, including the 90th-minute winner. Former LA Galaxy defender Danny Califf did not dress for FC Midtjylland in the Wolves' 3-0 home win over Esbjerg.

    In England, on Saturday, Nov. 21, former Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore was back in the starting lineup for Hull City for the visit of West Ham United. In an action-packed first half, the Tigers rallied from an early two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at halftime. But Hull couldn't hold for three much-needed points. French defender Bernard Mendy went rouge in the 54th minute and 10-man Hull saw their lead disappear with him 15 minutes later when the Hammers' Manuel da Costa tied the game in the 69th minute. The 3-3 tie left Hull one spot above the relegation zone. In other Saturday action, former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel manned the nets as Aston Villa tied 1-1 at Burnley. Villa have not beaten the Clarets in a league fixture since 1936, a streak now standing at 23-games. U.S. national team backup Brad Guzan was on the bench for Villa. The goalkeeper in front of Guzan on Bob Bradley's depth chart, MetroStars alumnus Tim Howard, was on the wrong end of a 3-0 score line as Everton went down at Manchester United. Former Revs striker Clint Dempsey played the full 90 as Fulham's five game EPL unbeaten streak was snapped by Birmingham City as the Blues downed the Cottagers 1-0 at St. Andrews. Kansas City Wizards and FC Dallas alumnus Eddie Johnson did not dress for Fulham. Ex-Rapids goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann took his customary seat on the Wolves' bench as the black and gold were demolished 4-0 at EPL leaders Chelsea.

    On Sunday, Nov. 22, former D.C. United skipper Ryan Nelsen played the full 90 as Blackburn Rovers gained their first EPL road win of the season, a 2-0 victory at Lancashire neighbors Bolton Wanderers.

    In Wednesday action, on Nov. 25, Jozy Altidore's Hull got the better of Tim Howard's Everton. Altidore played 75 minutes in the Tigers 3-2 win. Clint Dempsey scored two goals as Fulham beat Ryan Nelsen's Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at Craven Cottage.

    A rung down the ladder in The Championship, former New England Revolution assistant Paul Mariner and current Plymouth Argyle head coach saw his Pilgrims go down 1-0 at Leicester City on a late, late stoppage time goal by Andy King on Saturday, Nov. 21. Also on Saturday, ex-Columbus Crew striker Stern John was a second-half substitute for Crystal Palace in the Eagles 1-1 tie at Coventry City.

    Further down the English football food chain in League One, ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh put in his usual 60 minute shift as Yeovil Town was held 1-1 at home by Charlton Athletic on Nov. 21. On Tuesday, Nov. 24, Welsh put in another 60-minute shift as the Glovers lost 1-0 at Gillingham.

    In France, on Saturday, Nov. 21, ex-Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra began the game on the bench as Stade Rennes won 2-1 at home over Le Mans. But "Captain America" didn't ride the pine for too long, coming into the game in the 21st-minute to replace Kader Mangane, the defender who had put Rennes ahead in the 10th minute.

    In Germany, on Sunday, Nov. 22, former MetroStars midfielder Michael Bradley played the full 90 as Borussia Moenchengladbach kept their mini-revival going with a 2-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt. With the win the Foals extended their Bundesliga unbeaten streak to four games.

    In Bundesliga 2 action on Friday, Nov. 20, a knee injury forced former FC Dallas marksman Kenny Cooper to the sidelines for 1860 Munich's 1-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld. Charilaos Pappas' 82nd-minute goal gave the Lions their first road win of the season.

    In Sunday action on Nov. 22, ex-Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor dressed but did not play as FSV Frankfurt won 3-1 at RW Oberhausen.

    In Israel, in Week 8 of Ligat Al, former Rapids midfielder Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 and scored in the 67th minute as Hapoel Tel Aviv crushed Hapoel Petah Tikva 7-1 at home on Saturday, Nov. 21. Etey Shechter scored a first-half hat trick for Hap TA.

    In Italy, in Serie A on Sunday, Nov. 22, ex-Revs coach Walter Zenga was fired after his Palermo team tied 1-1 at home with Catania in the Sicily derby. The former Azzurri star took the Palermo helm in the summer but despite being unbeaten at home and leading the Rosaneri to 12th place in the Serie A standings, he was booted by team president Maurizio Zamparini after the game. Former Lazio boss Delio Rossi was appointed Palermo head coach on Monday, Nov. 23.

    In Mexico, in the Torneo Apertura playoffs, on Saturday, Nov. 21, former MLS Cup MVP Carlos Ruiz didn't dress as Puebla tied Cruz Azul, 4-4, at home in quarterfinals first leg action. Two-team MLS alumnus Ramon Nunez dressed but did not play for the Cement Makers. In other Elite Eight action, former FC Dallas defender Duilio Davino, played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as Monterrey won 1-0 at home over América.

    In Peru, on Saturday, Nov. 21, former D.C. United goalkeeper Jose Carvallo Sporting Cristal conceded a trio of goals as Sporting Cristal lost 3-1 at Colegio Nacional de Iquitos.

    In Poland, former Fire forward Tomasz Frankowski played the full 90 as Jagiellonia Bialystok tied 1-1 at Polonia Bytom on Friday, Nov. 20.

    In Romania, on Monday, Nov. 23, former MLS All-Star Juan Toja played the full 90 as Steaua Bucharest lost 2-1 at Astra Poiesti. Steaua held a 1-0 halftime lead, but gave up a brace to Georgian Paun, including the 90th-minute winning goal.

    In Scotland, on Saturday, Nov. 21, ex-Toronto FC striker Collin Samuel scored his sixth goal of the season as St. Johnstone won 2-1 at Hearts. Real Salt Lake alumnus Kenny Deuchar also played the full 90 for the Johnnies. In other Saturday action, former Revs midfielder Andy Dorman played the full 90 as St. Mirren rallied to tie Hibs 1-1 at home. Former Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley did not dress for Rangers as the defending champions cruised to a 3-0 home win over Kilmarnock.

    Down a rung in Scottish Division One former Revs striker Paul Keegan was a second-half substitute as bottom-of-the table Airdrie United blew a two-goal lead in their 4-2 home loss to Greenock Morton on Saturday, Nov. 21.

    In South Africa, on Saturday, Nov. 21, two-team MLS alumnus Dipsy Selolwane put in a 59-minute shift as Ajax Town lost 3-0 at the Orlando Pirates. In Sunday action, Bulgaria legend and former D.C. United and Chicago Fire striker Hristo Stoichkov saw his Brazilians win 1-0 at Mpumalanga Black Aces. Lebohang Mokoena's 25th-minute goal made the difference on the scoreboard. On Wednesday, Nov. 25, Stoichkov's Sundowns won again, beating the Orlando Pirates 2-0 at home. Also on Wednesday, former Fire and Real Salt Lake alumnus Dipsy Selolwane came out of the game at halftime in Ajax Cape Town's 0-0 home tie with the Free State Stars.

    In Spain, on Sunday, Nov. 22, Mexico legend and former Dallas Burn striker Hugo Sanchez saw his Almeria side lose 3-1 at Real Mallorca. With the game tied at 1-1, and with two minutes remaining, Sanchez must have been hopeful that his side would be the first team to take a point from Mallorca this season, but it didn't play out that way. Two goals by Victor Casadesus and Gonzalo Castro at the death gave Mallarca the win and a sixth straight home victory.

    In Venezuela, in Week 7 of the Torneo Apertura, defending champion Caracas FC lost 1-0 at home to Deportes Italia on Sunday, Nov. 23. Former Red Bulls defender Gabriel Cicero was back in the starting lineup for the champions and played the full 90.

    (Turkey) Performance of the Week

    FIFA, the sport's governing body, talks a good "Fair Play" game, but when it has a chance to actually send a real message that would demonstrate that sportsmanship is not dead in soccer, it inevitably passes on the opportunity. The France-Ireland game should have been replayed. FIFA makes the rules, so they can change the rules. To ensure the best opportunity for Europe's star teams (and players) to be in South Africa next year, the powers that be instituted a new seeding system on the fly for the World Cup playoffs. But apparently that same swift decision changing power does not apply to the actual field of play. FIFA can huff and puff about special meetings in South Africa next week, but that doesn't change the fact that they had the chance to hold up their hands and say, "foul play will not stand." But they sat on their hands instead, and for that FIFA gets the Turkey Performance of the 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."

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