American goalkeepers have made a big impact in England, with three of them starting for Premier League teams. Today, two of them come face to face.
With seven shutouts and just seven goals conceded in 12 Premier League games, Manchester United's Tim Howard goes up against Blackburn's Brad Friedel at Old Trafford.
It's the first matchup between the two since Howard moved to United this season from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer. Tottenham's Kasey Keller is the other American 'keeper in the Premier League.
Howard, who took over as United's No. 1 `keeper from France's Fabien Barthez, has given the Reds more stability at the back. Friedel, meanwhile, is struggling.
With 15 shutouts, America's 2002 World Cup starter was voted the Premier League's top goalkeeper last season when Rovers finished sixth to secure a place in the UEFA Cup. But, this season, Friedel has already let in 22 league goals and Rovers have slumped to fourth from last.
Defending champion Manchester United is in third place, two points behind Arsenal, and manager Alex Ferguson is determined to maintain the pressure on the Gunners.
Two United stars were in goalscoring form in Wednesday's international games while another suffered the heartbreak of failing to make it to the European Championship finals yet again.
Ruud van Nistelrooy scored three times in the Dutch team's 6-0 thrashing of Scotland in a Euro 2004 qualifying playoff, while Diego Forlan hit two as Uruguay pulled out a thrilling 3-3 tie with Brazil in a World Cup qualifier.
But Ryan Giggs was a sad figure as Wales lost 1-0 at home to Russia and failed to qualify for the Euros in Portugal.
Against Rovers today, Giggs will face two of his former Old Trafford teammates, striker Dwight Yorke and defender Henning Berg. Another, Andy Cole, misses the game through suspension.
Yorke hasn't scored in four games against the Reds since he moved from Old Trafford a year ago. He would love to end that sequence against a club that effectively froze him out in his final season.
Another player facing his former club today is England defender Matthew Upson.
The former Arsenal centerback now lines up for fifth place Birmingham City after leaving Highbury last season frustrated at not getting any first team experience.
"To be fair to Matthew, he wanted to come and play for us. He has nothing to prove to Arsenal," said Blues manager Steve Bruce.
"He had had enough of sitting on the fringes and being on the outside looking in. When that happens, it is very hard. ... I know I keep saying this but I honestly believe he is the best left-sided defender in this country."
Second-place Chelsea, which is a point behind Arsenal, has scored nine goals without reply in its last two league and Champions League games. The Blues go Southampton seeking another big victory.
With a seven-point gap between third-place United and fourth-place Charlton, the title race is dominated by the top three.
Alan Curbishley's Charlton goes to lowly Leicester and sixth-place Manchester City visits a Newcastle team whose revival was ended by a 5-0 loss at Chelsea.
Fulham, holding a higher than expected seventh place, is not in action until Monday when Chris Coleman's team hosts promoted Portsmouth.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS