After a poor start to December that saw several Canadians starting, or staying, on the bench for their club sides in Europe, this weekend saw more positive results for a handful of key players. The likes of Olivier Occean, Marcel De Jong, Atiba Hutchinson, Iain Hume and Marcus Haber all had good showings for their sides, with Haber being the lone goalscorer on this weekend.
In the Netherlands
It was a huge week for PSV Eindoven as they bounced back from a three game losing streak to win two on the bounce. Already out of the Europa League, they went into Napoli and won 3-1, with Atiba Hutchinson being rested for a critical league match on Sunday.
PSV have slipped in the table of late, with two losses that allowed the likes of FC Twente, Vitesse and Ajax to close the gap on the top spot. On Sunday, Hutchinson went the full ninety minutes in an important 3-0 win over FC Twente that has put PSV back on top of the table. Through one of the toughest spells of their schedule, PSV are in a good position to head into the winter break in first. They will need to dispatch the likes of NEC and NAC Breda to ensure they stay ahead of the opponents listed, but especially Ajax who are on a five-match winning streak in the Eredivisie.
In Germany
Olivier Occean has had a bit of a rough start to his Bundesliga career, but both he and his Eintracht Frankfurt side put in their best performance in almost a month. With Occean struggling for minutes, he went ninety minutes against Werder Bremen as Frankfurt won 4-1 to keep pace atop the table. Occean delivered the cross that lead to the third goal and will have done well to hopefully earn another start next weekend as they go on the road to Wolfsburg.
Olivier Occean slots across the assist for the third goal in a 4-1 route over Werder Bremen:
Milan Borjan has a tough outing again, as Sivasspor struggle both offensively and defensively in a 3-1 loss to table-topping Galatasaray:
Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond:
Issey Nakajima-Farran – AEK Larnaca (CPR – D1):
Sunday, December 9, subbed in at the 64th minute in a 2-1 loss to Doxa.
Mike Klukowski – APOEL (CPR – D1):
Saturday, December 8, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Anorthosis.
Simeon Jackson – Norwich City (ENG - D1):
Saturday, December 8, did not play in a 4-3 victory over Swansea City.
David Edgar – Burnley (ENG - D2):
Saturday, December 8, did not play in a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Iain Hume – Doncaster Rovers (ENG – D3):
Tuesday, December 4, subbed in at the 53rd minute in a 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandra.
Saturday, December 8, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Swindon Town.
Marcus Haber – Stevenage (ENG – D3):
Saturday, December 8, played 70 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 2-0 victory over Hartlepool United.
Haidar Al-Shaibani – Nimes (FRA - D2):
Next match, Tuesday December 11 vs. Châteauroux.
Olivier Occean – Eintracht Frankfurt (GER - D1):
Saturday, December 8, played all 90 minutes in a 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen.
Rob Friend – Eintracht Frankfurt (GER - D1):
Saturday, December 8, did not play in a 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):
Saturday, December 8, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER – B2):
Next match, Monday December 10 v. Eintracht Braunschweiger.
Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Eintracht Braunschweiger (GER - D2):
Next match, Monday December 10 v. FC Koln.
Adam Straith – Saarbrucken (GER - D3):
Saturday, December 8, did not play in a 3-0 loss to Osnabruck.
Atiba Hutchinson – PSV Eindoven (NED - D1):
Sunday, December 9, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Twente.
Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):
Sunday, December 9, played 74 mintues in a 3-2 loss to Porto II.
Stefan Cebara – NK Celje (SLV – D1):
Next match, March 1, 2013 v Gorica.
Milan Borjan – Sivasspor (TUR – D1):
Saturday, December 8, played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss to Galatasaray.
Lucas Cavellini – Juventud (URU – D1):
Sunday, December 9, played in a 2-0 loss to El Tanque Sisley.
|