The clock is ticking for most leagues across Europe, as we’ve already seen this week club’s like Cardiff City gain promotion, and the race gets tighter as the final weeks to lift trophies, move up a division, and hopefully avoid going down. Fortunately there aren’t too many Canadians in a position to go down, as only Julian De Guzman is a certainty right now Jahn Regensburg sit in dead last in the 2.Bundesliga. Fortunately for De Guzman, his contract is only for this season and he should be able to move on come the summer.
In Germany
Nothing changed this week for the likes of Olivier Occean and Marcel De Jong in the Bundesliga, as neither saw the pitch. Occean’s Frankfurt finally got another win to keep them in the top half of the table and in a Europa League spot as they defeated Schalke 04, 1-0. De Jong’s Augsurg weren’t a fortunate as they went down 1-0 to Borussian Monchengladbach and are just three points ahead of Hoffenheim for automatic relegation and desperately need to close the three point gap with Fortuna Dusseldorf who are clear ahead of them.
With Kevin McKenna playing on Monday, it is just Rob Friend who is making noise in the 2.Bundesliga and the Canadian Tower struck again. Finally finding his confidence, Friend scored again this weekend, but in a 2-1 loss to FSV Frankfurt. Friend now has four on the season, but most importantly is hot right now scoring 3 in his last 4 games.
In the Netherlands
Atiba Hutchinson’s PSV bounced back after a gutting 3-2 loss to Ajax last weekend to earn a solid road win, something that has been tough to come by for the Eindoven club. A 3-1 victory over AZ was badly needed as Ajax have opened a nice lead atop the Eredivisie. However, Ajax drew 1-1 with Heerenveen, which make their lead over PSV just four points with three games to go.
PSV have a mixed schedule with two home games, against Groningen and NEC, and the last game of the year, away to Twente. Unfotunately for PSV, Ajax appear to be in the clear with three games against the likes of NAC, Willem II and Groningen. Unless Ajax really choke over these games, they will once again be the Champions.
In Turkey
It was a huge week for Milan Borjan whose Sivasspor moved once step closer to the Europa League, but with work left to do in the second leg of the Turkish Cup. A 2-1 win over Trabzonspor was marred by what looked to be a soft call on the final play of the game which lead to a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box, that went into the goal to erase Borjan’s clean sheet. The second leg will take place in Trabzon on Tuesday, May 7th.
To follow up that performance, Borjan was once again in goal Sunday and was steady through a 1-1 draw with Kayserispor. The draw didn’t help or hurt SIvasspor as they are sitting firmly in the middle of the pack, but a win would go a long way to getting them into the top half. With three of their last four games against teams below them in the table, Sivasspor have a good chance to get well clear of relegation and finish the year in a good spot.
Sivasspor are subject to a tough call in the Turkish Cup as a last second foul results in an away goal as Milan Borjan's side beats Trabzonspor 2-1.
Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond:
Issey Nakajima-Farran – Alki (CPR – D1):
Sunday, April 21, played 62 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Nea Salamis.
Mike Klukowski – APOEL (CPR – D1):
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over AEK Larnaca.
Simeon Jackson – Norwich City (ENG - D1):
Saturday, April 20, did not play in a 2-1 victory over Readingl.
David Edgar – Burnley (ENG - D2):
Saturday, April 20, subbed in at 46th minute and scored A GOAL in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff City.
Iain Hume – Doncaster Rovers (ENG – D3):
Saturday, April 20, subbed in at the 77th minute in a 1-0 loss to Notts County.
Marcus Haber – Stevenage (ENG – D3):
Saturday, April 20, subbed in at the 85th minute in a 3-0 loss to Swindon Town.
Haidar Al-Shaibani – Nimes (FRA - D2):
Saturday, April 20, did not play in a 2-1 victory over Lens.
Olivier Occean – Eintracht Frankfurt (GER - D1):
Saturday, April 20, did not play in a 1-0 victory over Shalke 04.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):
Friday, April 19, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER – B2):
Next match, Monday April 22 v MSV Duisburg.
Rob Friend – 1860 Munich (GER – B2):
Saturday, April 20, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 2-1 loss to FSV Frankfurt.
Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Eintracht Braunschweiger (GER - D2):
Sunday, April 21, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Erzgebirge Aue.
Julian De Guzman – Jahn Regensburg (GER – B2):
Friday, April 19, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Ingolstadt..
Adam Straith – Saarbrucken (GER - D3):
Saturday, April 20, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Darmstadt 98.
Tomer Chencinski – Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR – D1):
Next match, Monday April 22 v Ironi Ramat.
Atiba Hutchinson – PSV Eindoven (NED - D1):
Saturday, April 20, played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory over AZ.
Lars Hirschfeld – Valerenga (NOR – D1):
Friday, April 19, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Start.
Tosaint Ricketts – Sandnes Ulf (NOR – D1):
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Honefoss.
Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Freamunde.
Andre Hainault – Ross County (SCO – D1):
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with St. Johnstone.
Stefan Cebara – NK Celje (SLV – D1):
Sunday, April 21, a 0-0 draw with Domzale.
Milan Borjan – Sivasspor (TUR – D1):
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Kayserispor.
Lucas Cavallini – Juventud de las Piedras (URU – D1):
Sunday, April 21, in a 1-1 draw with Wanderers.
ACROSS THE BORDER
Dwayne De Rosario – DC United:
Sunday, April 21, did not play in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.
Kyle Porter – DC United:
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.
Dejan Jakovic – DC United:
Sunday, April 21, played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.
Patrice Bernier – Montreal Impact:
Next match, Wednesday April 24 v Toronto FC.
Karl Ouimette – Montreal Impact:
Next match, Wednesday April 24 v Toronto FC.
Will Johnson – Portland Timbers:
Next match, Sunday April 21 v San Jose.
Ashtone Morgan – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 20, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Houston.
Terry Dunfield – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 20, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Houston.
Jonathan Osorio – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 20, subbed in at the 73rd minute in a 1-1 draw with Houston.
Kyle Bekker – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 20, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Houston.
Russel Teibert – Vancouver Whitecaps:
Saturday, April 20, played 58 minutes in a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas.
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