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Posted by
Ian Clarke,
April 11, 2011 |
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It is one of the most exciting times of the year for football overseas, as leagues are down to the wire and a handful are starting anew. Quite a few Canadians are involved in heated promotion and relegation battles, specifically with a handful having the potential to be playing in a top-flight division next season. In England and Germany where things were so quiet through the winter, the spring thaw has shown more minutes for Canadians and they have rewarded their clubs with some inspiring performances.
In Turkey
The story of the week is Canadian left-back Mike Klukowski leaving his Turkish club Ankaragucu for unpaid wages. One of the most intriguing football stories of 2010 was that of former England international Darius Vassell who, while playing for Ankaragucu, was kicked out of his hotel because the club failed to pay for his accommodation. It appears that the Ankara club still does not have their finances in order and Klukowski is likely not used to these kind of conditions after leaving Belgian top side Club Brugges. Where he ends up next is anyone’s guess at this stage as there were rumours of him returning to Belgium in January and given his reputation in the Jupiler League, that could certainly be an option.
In England
The potential miracle continues for Iain Hume and Preston North End as they are officially out of the basement on goal difference. A 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on the weekend through another Hume goal, his eleventh on the campaign, has Preston at 35 points and it is Crystal Palace fourth from the bottom they are chasing who are sitting at 42. Hume Preston are in good form at the moment and their run down to the finale will be one to watch.
In The Netherlands
PSV missed a golden opportunity to go top of the table as they drew with Heerenveen 2-2 and remain two points behind leaders FC Twente. What is more concerning is that while PSV have likely been focusing on their battle with Twente, Ajax have plugged away and now sit one point behind PSV. The Eindoven club are in real danger of being knocked out of the Europa League this Thursday as they are down 4-1 to Benfica, and should they not get their form back quickly, could lose out on not just the Eredivisie title, but a coveted Champion’s League spot.
Atiba Hutchinson has a hand in the opener at 2:00, as PSV drew 2-2 with Heerenvenn:
Here is how the rest of Canada’s Internationals fared over the weekend:
Tomas Radzinski – Lierse (BEL):
Friday, April 8, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Mechelen.
Patrice Bernier – Nordsjaelland (DEN):
Sunday, April 10, played 30 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Sonderjske.
Issey Nakajima-Farran – Horsens (DEN):
Sunday, April 10, played 61 minutes in a 0-0 draw with AaB.
Simeon Jackson – Norwich City (ENG):
Saturday, April 9, subbed in at the 46th minute in a 3-0 loss to Swansea City.
Jamie Peters – Ipswich Town(ENG):
Saturday, April 9, did not play in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
David Edgar – Burnley (ENG):
Saturday, April 9, did not play in a 4-0 loss to Leicester City.
Iain Hume – Preston North End (ENG):
Tuesday, April 5, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Reading.
Saturday, April 9, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.
Gavin McCallum – Lincoln City (ENG):
Saturday, April 9, played all 90 minutes in a 4-0 loss to Gillingham.
Paul Peschisolido – Burton Albion (ENG):
Tuesday, April 5, coached in a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town.
Saturday, April 9, coached in a 2-1 loss to Morecambe.
Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER):
Sunday, April 10, did not play in a 5-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Paul Stalteri – Monchengladbach (GER):
Sunday, April 10, did not play in a 5-1 victory over FC Koln.
Rob Friend – Hertha Berlin (GER):
Monday, April 11, subbed in at the 90th minute in a 2-0 victory over Bochum.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER):
Friday, April 8, played 62 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Greuther Furth.
Adam Straith – Energie Cottbus (GER):
Saturday, April 9, subbed in at the 62nd minute in a 4-0 loss to 1860 Munich.
Olivier Occean – Kickers Offanbach (GER):
Wednesday, April 6, played 64 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Unterhaching.
Saturday, April 9, played 74 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Babelsberg.
Nik Ledgerwood – Wehen Wiesbaden (GER):
Tuesday, April 5, played all 90 minutes in a 3-3 draw with Stuttgart II.
Saturday, April 9, played all 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Jahn Regensburg.
Julian Uccello – Casale (ITA):
Sunday, April 10, did not play in a 0-0 draw with Savona.
Atiba Hutchinson – PSV Eindoven (NED):
Sunday, April 10, played all 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Heerenveen.
Lars Hirschfeld – Valerenga (NOR):
Friday, April 8, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Stabaek.
Milan Borjan – FK Rad (SER):
Sunday, April 10, played all 90 minutes and kept a CLEAN SHEET in a 2-0 victory over OFK Beograd.
Tosaint Ricketts – Timisoara (ROM):
Sunday, April 10, did not play in a 3-2 victory over Sportul Studentesc.
Marcus Haber – St. Johnstone (SCO):
Saturday, April 9, did not play in a 2-0 loss to Dundee United. *out indefinitely with an ACL injury*
Daniel Imhof – St. Gallen (SWI):
Sunday, April 10, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Neuchatel Xamax.
Mike Klukowski – Ankaragucu (TUR):
Sunday, April 10, did not play in a 3-2 loss to Gaziantepspor.
Josh Simpson – Manisaspor(TUR):
Saturday, April 9, played 50 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Konyaspor.
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